DH’s Top 20 of 2016 [20 – 16]:
20. “Tears” – LDN Noise & Pretty Sister
19. “Say It” – Flume ft. Tove Lo
18. “Get Up” – R3hab & Ciara
17. “Amber Light” – Fraser Churchill
16. “Waiting” – Oliver Heldens & Throttle

15. “all of YOU” – JAHKOY
An artist I was pleased to be introduced to this year, Toronto soloist JAHKOY dropped a string of cuts each better than the previous leading up to the release of October’s Foreign Water EP. Standout of the bunch was “all of YOU,” a swelling electro-R&B cut that culminates with a beautiful vocal payoff. Now I can’t wait to see what 2017 holds for this dude.

14. “Back On The Wall” – Greyson Chance
This was a touch call because viral-sensation-turned-legitimate-star Greyson Chance had a couple of surprisingly solid choices off of his Somewhere Over My Head EP. I ultimately settled on the synth-laden, electro-pop number “Back On The Wall,” but it only barely edged out “Hit & Run,” another strong piece of matured pop from the young crooner. Seriously, don’t sleep on him. You’ll be glad you didn’t.

13. “Finesse” – Bruno Mars
The freshest addition to this year-ender, Bruno Mars’ XXIVk Magic party-starter “Finesse” is a contemporary blast from the past as it blends 80’s new jack swing with a funked up take on today’s bass-heavy rhythms. I’ve yet to drop it from my current rotation and don’t see any reasons to on the horizon.

12. “No Problem” – Chance The Rapper ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
You’d be hard pressed to find an artist who had a more successful 2016 than rising legend Chance The Rapper. With his Coloring Book mixtape, the Chicago rapper became the first artist to debut a streaming-exclusive album in Billboard 200’s Top 10 back in May. From top to bottom another smash-heavy release, the project would go on to tremendous chart success thanks in large part to its independent spirit and genre-spanning boldness. Anchoring the boom along the way, “No Problem” checks in at number 12. A collaboration with fellow flowicists Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz, the gospel-tinged hip-hop track is a testament to forging your own path in life, something Chance shows no signs of stopping.

11. “This Is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
If Calvin Harris releases a song in a given year, safe money is on it ending up on this list. “This Is What You Came For,” the house-tinged collaboration with Rihanna [and cameo from Taylor Swift] wowed pop music fans all summer long thanks to its subtle-trop influences, infectious hook, and dancefloor wherewithal. It’d be a surefire top 10 if it weren’t for another of the Scottish superstar’s tunes. Stay tuned…