Inspired by the amazing folks at SaintHeron.com, here's my 2013 rewind!
Songs in heavy rotation:
Pharrell, "Happy"
Beyoncé, "Blow" & "Partition"
Drake, "From Time" feat. Jhené Aiko
Mic Blaque, "The Art, The Cool"
Ed Sheeran, "Give Me Love"
Jhené Aiko, "3:16 am"
Childish Gambino, "Shadows"
Miley Cyrus, "Love Money Party"
Kid Cudi, "Young Lady"
Haim, "Red Eye" feat. Kid Cudi
Justin Timberlake, "Strawberry Bubblegum"
Kanye West, "New Slaves" & "Hold My Liquor" & "Blood on the Leaves"
Solange, "Locked In Closets"
JonnyGoFigure, "Permanent Headache"
Coldplay, "Yellow"
Justin Bieber, "As Long As You Love Me (Acoustic)"
Songs that made me feel a certain way:
Rihanna, "Pour It Up"
Beyoncé, "Drunk In Love" feat. Jay Z & "Partition" & "Yoncé
James Blake, "Retrograde"
Childish Gambino, "3005"
Kanye West, "Bound 2"
Drake, "Wu-Tang Forever"
Foo Fighters, "Tired of You" (yes, an oldie BUT goodie)
Tamar Braxton, "Hot Sugar"
The-Dream, "Pussy" feat. Pusha T & Big Sean
Justin Timberlake, "Let The Groove Get In"
Coldplay, "Sparks"
Cassie, "Indo"
Songs that made me wanna be better:
Kanye West, "I Am A God"
Iggy Azalea, "Work"
Pusha T, "40 Acres"
Big Sean, "Guap"
Beyoncé, "***Flawless"
Ed Sheeran, "You Need Me, I Don't Need You"
Childish Gambino, "Worldstar"
Jay Z, "BBC"
Kendrick Lamar, "Money Trees"
Meek Mill, "Dreams & Nightmares"
Kid Cudi, "Unfuckwittable"
Songs that need a mention:
Army (Regime), "Heaven or Hell"
Mic Blaque, "Inspiration"
Capital Ode, "Going Back Home"
Dom O Briggs, "Space That..."
Mike Classic, "Piggy Bank"
The Weeknd, "Live For" feat. Drake
Jay Z, "fuckwithmeyouknowigotit"
Childish Gambino, "Sweatpants"
Mouse Sucks, "Spin The Bottle"
Live show memories:
Beyoncé's Mrs. Carter Show at the Barclays Center
Kendrick Lamar opening up for Kanye West at the Barclays Center
Kanye West at the Barclays Center
Justin Timberlake & Jay Z's Legends of the Summer at the Yankee Stadium
Mic Blaque at Public Assembly
Solange (& Kelela) at Webster Hall
Spa77ow at Coco 66
Books I really enjoyed:
Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games Trilogy"
Steve Stout, "The Tanning of America"
Nikki Walton (Curly Nikki), "Better Than Good Hair"
Paulo Coelho, "The Alchemist"
Melody Beattie, "Codependent No More"
Jay Z, "Decoded"
Unforgettable films:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Fruitvale Station
Aziz Ansari, Buried Alive
Wreck-It-Ralph
Pitch Perfect
Jobs
The Best Man Holiday
Identity Thief
Stand out music videos:
Beyoncé’s entire Beyoncé record
Janelle Monae, “Q.U.E.E.N.” feat. Erykah Badu
Kanye West, "Black Skinhead"
Pharrell, "Happy"
Kris Kasonova, "Tomorrow"
Childish Gambino, "3005"
Ylvis, "The Fox"
Incksalonius, "Baptizm"
Jhené Aiko, "Bed Peace" feat. Childish Gambino
Solange, "Lovers in the Parking Lot"
Drake, "Worst Behavior"
Ralph Rosss, "College Women & Dreams" feat. Janee Latrice
Creatives who opened my eyes:
Pharrell Williams
Kanye West
Beyoncé
Shaun Ross
Heron Preston
Joe Perez
Matthew M. Willams
Virgil Abloh
Solange
Shannon Boodram
Amanda Wachob
Issa Rae
Peter Lindbergh
Curly Nikki
Marina Abramovic
Nigel Barker
Queen Latifah
Terry Richardson
Hopefully next year, I'll make my own list!