We asked Pitchfork writers and editors to share their personal highs and lows of 2013. Check back for more installments of My Year in Music.
Favorite Tracks of 2013:
01 Kanye West: "Hold My Liquor"
02 Autre Ne Veut: "Play By Play"
03 Drake: "Worst Behaviour"
04 Migos f/ Drake: "Versace (Remix)"
05 Future f/ Miley Cyrus & Mr. Hudson: "Real and True"
06 Haim: "The Wire"
07 Sky Ferreira: "24 Hours"
08 Lil Durk: "Dis Ain't What You Want"
09 Ciara: "Body Party"
10 James Blake: "DLM"
Favorite Albums of 2013:
01 Kanye West: Yeezus
02 Drake: Nothing Was the Same
03 Chance the Rapper: Acid Rap
04 Autre Ne Veut: Anxiety
05 Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City
06 Haim: Days Are Gone
07 Volcano Choir: Repave
08 Pusha T: My Name Is My Name
09 Sky Ferreira: Night Time, My Time
10 Propain: Ridin' Slab
Most Played Song of 2013: I rarely watch music videos twice, but some really great songs that I kept coming back to the videos for—often because I didn't have mp3s—included Stunt Taylor's "Fe Fe on the Block", Lil Bibby and King Louie's "How We Move", "Bop-a-thon" (featuring Lil Chris's "I Got This"), Nelly's "Hey Porsche", Michael Christmas's "Daily", Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone", Kate Bush's "Deeper Understanding", Iyanya's "Kukere" and the NSJ Crew's "Khaki Pants". I also listened to Florida Georgia Line's "Hell Raisin' Heat of the Summer" on repeat any time I was driving—which wasn't often, but that song rules.
An Old Album I Discovered/Rediscovered This Year: Right around the time Yeezus came out, I ended up listening to Eric B. and Rakim's Paid In Full a lot. I hadn't listened to it in years, and even then I mostly thought of it as Rakim's album and treated it, with the exception of "I Ain't No Joke", as a studying-the-classics kind of obligation (sorry, I wasn't alive when it came out). But this time around I've been focused on the production—it's mostly Eric B's show. There are so many instrumental tracks on that album, which is really bizarre and amazing if you think about it in the context of modern rap albums, which almost never do that. Eric B. is the president of the duo and Rakim's just out there Bidening his way to the glory.
Musical Highlights: Hugging my friends at Lil B's Pitchfork set and singing along to "I Love You". Dancing compulsively with my girlfriend in her room while listening to Haim. Going to Stagecoach music festival and learning the words to "Chicken Fried". Playing "Worst Behaviour" and loudly rapping along with other people whenever possible. Crying at the Yeezus tour. "Trap Lord in stores August 20th."
Musical Lowlights: Attending A Tribe Called Quest's second-to-last show at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn but not being able to hear any words because my seats were too high above the speakers. Interacting with brands. Spending three hours frantically checking Twitter, thinking that Lil Wayne had died.