In general, 2016 was pretty shit. We don’t have to go into detail but I know we can all point to one of many deaths of a creative pioneer or the decaying political environment of any continent for proof. However through this, the shining light was always music.
We were blessed with albums, tracks, and new artists across our favourite genres. We clung to the grit on hip hop and the soul of R&B to get use through the workweek. Then we would lose ourselves on the weekend through the lows and highs of house tracks before reminiscing about each night over electronic tracks as late nights faded into mornings.
As December and in turn 2016 came to a close, the HOL family- both the nucleus of Slim, Kyle and Bobby and the extended members of RayRay and Mama C started formulating lists of our favourite releases & rinses (tracks released prior to this year but still in heavy rotation) of 2016.
We’re excited to share these lists with you. These are the songs we played too often, danced a little weird to, played daily to remind us who we are, tracks found and played in sets and tossed on during after parties at the clinic- if you’ve been you know. These are the songs we heard for the first time overseas, across the border and at the late night club around the corner; and loved immediately.
We kissed; partied; fucked; walked; tripped out; got faded; stayed loose; drove- okay maybe sped a bit and cut someone off; designed systems; programmed software; sold merch; planned marketing campaigns; built out presentations; and fucking danced to all these songs.
We hope they do to you what they did/do to us.
Enjoy
-Mama C
RayRay’s Selections:
1.McCallaman – Lovely
2.Raury – Like a Star
3.Mickey Blue – We Just Be
4.Drake – With You (Ft. Partynextdoor)
5.Majid Jordan – Learn from Each Other
6.Krs. – Baby
7.Kehlani – CRZY
8.Frank Ocean – Nikes
9.Amir Obe – Before the Vomit
10.Oshi, Krs. & BNJMN. – ~Scott_3
Kyle’s Selections
1.Solange – Cranes in the Sky
2.Craig David – Got it Good (Prod. KAYTRANADA)
3.Frank Ocean – Nikes
4.Nyquill & Aqvol – Count
5.Dutch – No Measure
6.Jamie Woon – Sharpness (Kaytranada Edit)
7.Abhi//Dijon – Often
8.DVSN – Too Deep
9.Sonder – Too Fast
10.K.Forest – O.M.M
Bobby’s Selections:
1.A. Chal – Gazi
2.Majid Jordan – Make It Work
3.Jeremih – Berlin (She Wit It)
4.Partynextdoor X TM88 – Party at 8
5.Frank Ocean – Nikes
6.Roy Woods – Why
7.Post Malone – Money Made Me Do It
8.Khalid – Location
9.Partynextdoor – Not Nice
10.MIKNNA – Ness
Mama C’s Selections:
1.Beyonce – Hold Up
2.DVSN – With Me
3.Solange – Mad ft. Lil Wayne
4.Tory Lanez – Say it
5.Rihanna – Needed Me
6.Jeremih – Berlin (she wit it)
7.Solange – Cranes in the Sky
8.Majid Jordan – Learn from Each Other
9.Roy Woods – Down Girl
10.The Weeknd – I Feel It Coming