2012 Okayfuture Top EDM Songs of 2012
Okayfuture, the soon-to-launch electronic music driven channel in the Okayplayer network, is back with another very biased year-end top list from me, Dantana of our top EDM songs of 2012. Largely skewed towards trap and post-dubstep, this thread is a compilation of tracks and artists I personally got stuck on in 2012, and there is no shortage of LuckyMe affiliates. 2012 was the year everyone finally admitted that EDM (a term I, and many people, despise) was running thangs. That being said, there are countless tracks and artists I never even heard, as well as sub-genres I likely have yet to even discover. Between that and tunes I am undoubtedly forgetting, I decided to skip an honorable mentions page all together (too much). So without further delay (it's already mid-January 2013!), here we go with our top edm songs of 2012. In no particular order:
1. Ango - "True Blue" [Prod. by Jacques Greene]
I wanted to start with this track. We didn't even post it when it dropped in December, which is a shame because it contains all the elements of what we think is at the core of Okayfuture: a slick, electronically-programmed sound bed with soulful, r&b vocals (or vocal chops). Also, Ango and Jacques Greene are LuckyMe family, who we know well and look to as leaders for new, progressive, thoughtful music. Kudos on the song and video, very classy stuff. Check out Ango's full-length album Serpentine released last summer via ango.ca and LuckyMe.
Baauer Roll Up Remix
2. Flosstradamus - "Rollup" (Baauer Remix)
2012 was a big year for the "trap bass," as I like to call it (it ain't trap without rap!). Acts like Flosstradamus, TNGHT, Baauer, Mess Kid, and many more lead the charge while 16th note high-hats and 808 bass rolls smashed clubs and rattled car trunks everywhere. One of the heaviest remixes of the year came in the form of Baauer's version of Flosstradamus' "Roll Up." This joint literally blew the left speaker in my AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones. I'm serious, ask Ben at Fool's Gold, he replaced them for me.
Floostradamus Major Lazer Original Don
3. Major Lazer - "Original Don" (Flosstradamus Remix)
Coming right off that last tune, have to give Flosstradamus their props for having a ground breaking year in 2012. From original tracks to bomb dropping remixes, the Hoodie Boyz straight crushed everything in their path (damn son! where DID you find that anyway?). I loved Major Lazer's original "Original Don," but once this came out, I forgot what that sounded like. And they reached their goal of 50,000 on Facebook (Like them). Way to go fellas. Bumboclaaaaat.
TNGHT Lunice Hudmo Photo by Dantana
4. TNGHT - "Higher Ground"
I dont think anyone had a bigger year when it comes to this trap EDM shit than these guys, Hudmo and Lunice, the darlings of future bass. Their debut EP got rave (get it) reviews from electronic, hip-hop, and indie rock publications alike. Jon Caramanica at the New York times even had it in his top 10 albums (across all genres) of the year. These guys even quietly worked on tracks like Kanye's "Mercy," with Hudmo receiving a credit on that and straight-up producing two other joints on Cruel Summer. I've been a fan of these guys individually since jump, so it's great to watch them blow up. VERY interested to see what they have in store for 2013. LuckyMe, once again.
Mercy RL Grime Salva remix
Kanye West - "Mercy" (RL Grime & Salva Remix)
I can't mention Kanye West "Mercy" without moving right into RL Grime & Salva's remix. This thing set the internet on FIRE. I just remember being like "OUCH" around the 40 second mark. I didn't love the first pumping portions but it's all such a headbanger anyway, I think I really may have hurt myself a few times to this joint. It got played out everywhere. Success!
6. Flying Lotus - "Sultan's Request"
I can't believe it took me this long to get to our man Flying Lotus who's Until The Quiet Comes was one of the most anticipated projects of the year. There were so many great cuts on the record (the whole thing is good, really, read our review if you don't know), but I chose "Sutlan's Request," probably for it's dubstep quality. I had a chance to see FlyLo perform a few times this year and the visuals for his live show are quite an experience. I think 2012 proved that this man, and his Brainfeeder label, are not only here to stay, but are leading the way. R.I.P. Austin Peralta who played on this song. We lost you too soon. An unofficial but authorized music video plays above.
future Turn On The Lights
Can't have an OkayFuture list without... Future? Derr. Mike Will Made It... this was his year ("Bands A Make Her Dance," "No Lie," "Still IN This Bitch, "Marble Floors," more). High pitched snyths, arpeggiated soundscapes, 808 rolls, and hints of auto-tune... I dont know if this is the future, but I like it.
Jeremih - "Fuck U All The Time" (Shlohmo Remix)
8. Jeremih - "Fuck U All The Time" (Shlohmo Remix)
This remix is SEX. Shlohmo's new Laid Out EP is out March 5th via Friends of Friends x Wedidit!! Go to Shlohmo.com for more info on that and tour dates. Vanessa Wruble put me on.
azealia banks jumanji hudson mohawke nick hook
9. Azealia Banks - "Jumanji" [Prod. By Hudson Mohawke & Nick Hook]
Joey Taste played this instrumental when we were having a meeting with Meghan (of Revive) up at the Blue Note office over the summer and I was like... "YOOOO TIMPANIS, SON." Nick Hook and Hudmo? I couldn't wait to hear what Young Rapunxel was gonna lay down over this. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. We'll be checking for Azealia Banks' album when it drops later this year.
About my bread 'til dead upI plan to blam on long hammers
Long weave out the limo
Nanananananaana
They want my photos and pictures
Inside of they candid cameras
Bloggers, critics, and scandals
Man-handle-savage, I damage ya...
Craaazy beat + crazy lyricism = Winning.
Machinedrum DDD
10. Machinedrum - "DDD"
At the top of 2012, Machinedrum released the SXLND EP on LuckyMe. Five solid, unique, masterfully crafted tunes, I could have picked any one of them. I chose "DDD" as this list is trap heavy and needed more four-on-the-floor. This house track goes deep, as does the entire project. Pick up SXLND EP from one of my personal favorite producers out, right cheeeah.
11. Baauer - "Harlem Shake"
Baauer Harlem Shake
Ok, I feel like it's back to our regularly scheduled program with this one. TRAP OR DIE, NINJA! 808s and lion roars, fuck yeah! Turn this shit up and do that thing with your arms and fists that the kids love. Oh man, rewind it back, let's go for a ride, I want to hear this shit in the truck! BOOOOOOOM. Baauer is currently on tour with Just Blaze, that's just ridiculous.
Jai Paul Jasmine Demo mp3
12. Jai Paul - "Jasmine" (demo)
Jai Paul has like two tracks in the wild. "BTSU" which was in last year's Okayfuture top 11, and this demo of "Jasmine" which I've seen on a lot of top lists for 2012. Dude is one of the most anticipated artists in the game, and I honestly don't know much about him except everything so far is top shelf. I wonder what's up? Maybe it's time to give Imran a call at XL and see if he can shed any light on the situation. Soulful, futuristic, and makes you want to run the "Rocky steps" in Philadelphia. Can it get more Okayfuture? We will only find out in what promises to be a very exciting year for music with 2013!
If you made it this far, thank you, and like Okayfuture on Facebook, follow on Twitter.
