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Now that Complex's 2016 best songs and albums lists are out of the way, it's time for us to share our staff picks. Our individual selections offer a more granular look at what we loved this year. Take this as an opportunity to discover music you may have slept on in 2016. You're welcome.
Related: The Best Albums of 2017
Ross Scarano
Twitter: @RossScarano
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - “Self Control”
2. Schoolboy Q f/ Jadakiss - “Groovy Tony/Eddie Kane”
3. Travis Scott and Young Thug f/ Quavo - “Pick Up the Phone”
4. Kanye West - “Highlights”
5. Solange - “Cranes in the Sky”
6. Frank Ocean - “Wither”
7. Bruno Mars - “Calling All My Lovelies”
8. DJ Esco and Future - “Married to the Game”
9. Partynextdoor f/ Drake - “Come and See Me”
10. Ariana Grande - “Knew Better/Forever Boy”
Albums
1. Frank Ocean - Blonde
2. Beyoncé - Lemonade
3. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
4. NxWorries - Yes Lawd!
5. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
6. Schoolboy Q - Blank Face LP
7. Solange - A Seat at the Table
8. Rihanna - Anti
9. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service
10. Frank Ocean - Endless
Brendan Klinkenberg
Twitter: @brendan_klink
Songs
1. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
2. Young Thug - “Digits”
3. D.R.A.M. f/ Lil Yachty - “Broccoli”
4. Rihanna - “Needed Me”
5. Young Thug f/ Duke - “Webbie”
6. Anohni - “4 Degrees”
7. Lil Uzi Vert - “Do What I Want”
8. Maggie Rogers - “Alaska”
9. Starrah - “Rush”
10. Calvin Harris f/ Rihanna - “This Is What You Came For”
Albums
1. Bon Iver - 22, A Million
2. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service
3. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
4. Young Thug, Jeffery
5. Beyoncé - Lemonade
6. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
7. Chairlift - Moth
8. Rihanna - Anti
9. Frank Ocean - Blonde
10. Noname - Telefone
Zach Frydenlund
Twitter: @Pchopz_
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - "Nikes"
2. Migos f/ Lil Uzi Vert - "Bad and Boujee"
3. Rihanna - "Needed Me"
4. Drake - "4PM in Calabasas"
5. Travis Scott f/ Kid Cudi - "Through the Late Night"
6. D.R.A.M. f/ Lil Yachty - "Broccoli"
7. 2 Chainz f/ Drake - "Big Amount"
8. Young Thug - "Digits"
9. 2 Chainz f/ Gucci Mane and Quavo - "Good Drank"
10. Jerreau - "Really Got It"
Albums
1. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
2. Rihanna - Anti
3. Drake - Views
4. Dvsn - Sept. 5th
5. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
6. Beyoncé - Lemonade
7. Young Thug - Slime Season 3
8. YG - Still Brazy
9. Frank Ocean - Blonde
10. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Frazier Tharpe
Twitter: @The_SummerMan
Songs
1. Pusha T f/ Jay Z - "Drug Dealers Anonymous"
2. Sampha - "Timmy's Prayer"
3. Travis Scott - "Way Back"
4. Beyoncé - "Formation"
5. Kanye West - "Real Friends"
6. Blood Orange f/ Empress Of - "Best to You"
7. Beyoncé - "Sorry"
8. Frank Ocean - "Nights"
9. DJ Khaled f/ Jay Z and Future - "I Got the Keys"
10. Ty Dolla Sign f/ Joe Moses - "Wavy"
Albums
1. Beyoncé - Lemonade
2. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
3. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
4. Solange - A Seat at the Table
5. Frank Ocean - Blonde
6. Rihanna - Anti
7. Ty Dolla Sign - Campaign
8. Young Thug - Slime Season 3
9. The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
10. Kamaiyah - A Good Night in the Ghetto
Edwin Ortiz
Twitter: @iTunesEra
Songs
1. Francis and the Lights f/ Bon Iver and Kanye West - “Friends”
2. Chance the Rapper f/ 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne - “No Problem”
3. Frank Ocean - “Nights”
4. Majid Jordan - “Make It Work”
5. Childish Gambino - “Baby Boy”
6. Partynextdoor f/ Drake - “Come and See Me”
7. Gallant - “Bourbon”
8. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
9. Travis Scott and Young Thug f/ Quavo - “Pick Up the Phone”
10. Drake - “Weston Road Flows”
Albums
1. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
2. Frank Ocean - Blonde
3. Beyoncé - Lemonade
4. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
5. Majid Jordan - Majid Jordan
6. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
7. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
8. J. Cole - 4 Your Eyez Only
9. YG - Still Brazy
10. Dvsn - Sept. 5th
Angel Diaz
Twitter: @ADiaz456
Songs
1. ASAP Ant - “Set Dat Bitch Off (Icytwat Remix)”
2. Migos f/ Lil Uzi Vert - “Bad and Boujee”
3. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
4. Solange - “Cranes in the Sky”
5. ASAP Mob f/ ASAP Rocky, ASAP Twelvyy, and Key! - “Crazy Brazy”
6. Jorja Smith - “Where Did I Go?”
7. Cousin Stizz - “500 Horses”
8. Retch - “Nickel Bags”
9. 6lack - “PRBLMS”
10. Dash - “Grade A”
Albums
1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
2. Solange - A Seat At the Table
3. Schoolboy Q - Blank Face LP
4. NxWorries - Yes Lawd!
5. Rihanna - Anti
6. Frank Ocean - Blonde
7. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
8. 6lack - Free 6lack
9. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin - Savage Mode
10. Reva DeVito - The Move EP
khal
Twitter: @khal
Songs:
1. Young M.A - "Ooouuu"
2. Dom & Roland - “King of the Hustlers”
3. Commodo - “My Liege”
4. French Montana f/ Kodak Black - “Lockjaw”
5. DJ Rashad and DJ Manny - “Roll a Tree”
6. Run the Jewels - “Legend Has It”
7. Schoolboy Q f/ Traffic and TF - “Tookie Knows II”
8. Nasty Habits - “Shadow Boxing (Om Unit Remix VIP)”
9. Pusha T f/ Jay Z - “Drug Dealers Anonymous”
10. AGN7 - “Mantra”
Albums
1. DJ Rashad - Afterlife
2. Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
3. Elucid - Save Yourself
4. Noisia - Outer Edges
5. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service
6. Noname - Telefone
7. DJ Earl - Open Your Eyes
8. Jubilee - After Hours
9. Kemba - Negus
10. Invisibl Skratch Piklz - The 13th Floor
Gus Turner
Instagram: @gusturner1
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - “Rushes To”
2. David Bowie - “Blackstar”
3. Solange - “Cranes in the Sky”
4. White Lung - “Narcoleptic”
5. Blood Orange - “E.V.P.”
6. Rihanna - “Higher”
7. Sheer Mag - “Can’t Stop Fighting”
8. ScHoolboy Q f/ Traffic and TF - “Tookie Knows II”
9. Preoccupations - “Stimulation”
10. Beyoncé - “Formation”
Albums
1. David Bowie - Blackstar
2. Solange - A Seat at the Table
3. Frank Ocean - Endless
4. Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
5. Bon Iver - 22, A Million
6. White Lung - Paradise
7. Rihanna - Anti
8. Frank Ocean - Blonde
9. Angel Olsen - My Woman
10. Pure Disgust - Pure Disgust
Nadeska Alexis
Twitter: @neweryork
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - "Nights"
2 Solange - “Cranes in the Sky”
3. Beyoncé - "Formation"
4. Kanye West - "Ultralight Beam"
5. Young Thug - "Digits"
6. Travis Scott f/ Kendrick Lamar - "Goosebumps"
7. The Weeknd - "Reminder"
8. Rihanna - "Needed Me"
9. Chance the Rapper f/ Future - "Smoke Break"
10. Schoolboy Q f/ Kanye West - "That Part"
Albums
1. Frank Ocean - Blonde
2. Solange - A Seat at The Table
3. Beyoncé - Lemonade
4 Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
5. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
6. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
7. Schoolboy Q - Blank Face LP
8. Kaytranada - 99.9%
9. Rihanna - Anti
10. Young Thug - Slime Season 3
Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins
Twitter: @Jersey_Jinx
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - “Seigfried”
2. Beyoncé - “Formation”
3. Schoolboy Q f/ Traffic and TF - “Tookie Knows II”
4. Kanye West - “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”
5. Sampha - “Plastic 100°C”
6. Young Thug - “Digits”
7. ASAP Mob f/ ASAP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, Playboi Carti, and Yung Gleesh - “Telephone Calls”
8. NxWorries - “Suede”
9. 2 Chainz f/ Gucci Mane and Quavo - “Good Drank”
10. Kendrick Lamar - “untitled 07 | 2014-2016”
Albums
1. Frank Ocean - Blonde
2. Solange - A Seat at the Table
3. Schoolboy Q - Blank Face LP
4. Kanye West - The Life Of Pablo
5. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
6. Majid Jordan - Majid Jordan
7. Kaytranada - 99.9%
8. Skepta - Konnichiwa
9. Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’
10. Young Thug - Slime Season 3
Kerensa Cadenas
Twitter: @kerensacadenas
Songs
1. Beyoncé - "Sorry"
2. Solange - "Cranes in the Sky"
3. Rihanna - "Same Ol’ Mistakes"
4. Frank Ocean - "Seigfried"
5. Angel Olsen - "Those Were the Days"
6. Sampha - "Timmy’s Prayer"
7. Young Thug - "With Them"
8. Rihanna - "Sex With Me"
9. Blood Orange f/ Empress Of - "Best to You"
10. Lady Gaga - "Hey Girl"
Albums
1. Solange - A Seat at the Table
2. Beyoncé - Lemonade
3. Rihanna - Anti
4. Frank Ocean - Blonde
5. Mitski - Puberty 2
6. Blood Orange - Freetown Sound
7. Angel Olsen - My Woman
8. Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp
9. Lady Gaga - Joanne
10. Zayn - Mind of Mine
Andrew Gruttadaro
Twitter: @andrewgrutt
Songs
1. Solange - “Cranes in the Sky”
2. Chance the Rapper f/ 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne - “No Problem”
3. Bon Iver - “33 GOD”
4. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
5. Frank Ocean - “Nights”
6. Young Thug - “With Them”
7. Beyoncé - “Sorry”
8. D.R.A.M. f/ Lil Yachty - “Broccoli”
9. Blood Orange - “Augustine”
10. Angel Olsen - “Shut Up Kiss Me”
Albums
1. Solange - A Seat at the Table
2. Beyoncé - Lemonade
3. Frank Ocean - Blonde
4. Rihanna - Anti
5. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
6. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
7. Bon Iver - 22, A Million
8. Young Thug - Jeffery
9. Blood Orange - Freetown Sound
10. Dvsn - Sept. 5th
Noah Callahan-Bever
Twitter: @N_C_B
Albums
1. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service
2. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
3. Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
4. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
5. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
6. Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'
7. Rihanna - Anti
8. Beyonce - Lemonade
9. Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World
10. Kendrick Lamar - Untitled Unmastered
Alex Gale
Twitter: @AlexGale
Songs
1. Solange - "Cranes in the Sky"
2. Travis Scott and Young Thug f/ Quavo - "Pick Up the Phone"
3. Beyoncé - "Sorry"
4. Kanye West - "Ultralight Beam"
5. Rihanna - "Kiss It Better"
6. D.R.A.M. f/ Lil Yachty - "Broccoli"
7. Chance the Rapper f/ Knox Fortune - "All Night"
8. Tunji Ige - "Fired Up"
9. Anderson .Paak - "Come Down"
10. Childish Gambino - "Redbone"
Albums
1. Beyoncé - Lemonade
2. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
3. Frank Ocean - Blonde
4. Kaytranada - 99.9%
5. Rihanna - Anti
6. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service
7. Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
8. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
9. Solange - A Seat at the Table
10. Anderson .Paak - Malibu
Jessie Morris
Twitter: @jessielmorris
Songs
1. The Weeknd f/ Daft Punk - "Starboy"
2. The xx - "On Hold"
3. Chance the Rapper f/ 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne - "No Problem"
4. Francis and the Lights f/ Bon Iver and Kanye West - "Friends"
5. Gallant - "Bourbon"
6. Frank Ocean - "Pink + White"
7. Mac Miller f/ Anderson .Paak - "Dang!"
8. Fifth Harmony f/ Ty Dolla Sign - "Work From Home"
9. Travis Scott and Young Thug f/ Quavo - "Pick Up the Phone"
10. Solange - "Cranes in the Sky"
Albums
1. The Weeknd - Starboy
2. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
3. Beyoncé - Lemonade
4. Frank Ocean - Blonde
5. Lido - Everything
6. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
7. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
8. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
9. Shura - Nothing's Real
10. Post Malone - Stoney
Chris Mench
Twitter: @Chris_Mench
Songs
1. Kanye West - “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1”
2. Gallant -“Bourbon”
3. Kamaiyah - “How Does It Feel”
4. 2 Chainz f/ Gucci Mane and Quavo - “Good Drank”
5. D.R.A.M. f/ Lil Yachty - “Broccoli”
6. ASAP Ferg - “FLEM”
7. Chance the Rapper f/ Jeremih and Francis and the Lights - “Summer Friends”
8. Dvsn - “Hallucinations”
9. Kid Cudi f/ Pharrell - “Surfin'”
10. Post Malone f/ Lil Yachty - “Monte”
Albums
1. Noname - Telefone
2. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
3. Anderson .Paak - Malibu
4. Young Thug - Jeffery
5. Childish Gambino - "Awaken, My Love!"
6. Kevin Gates - Islah
7. Bas - Too High to Riot
8. Mac Miller - The Divine Feminine
9. Santigold - 99¢
10. Lady Gaga - Joanne
Eric Diep
Twitter: @E_Diep
Songs
1. Migos f/ Lil Uzi Vert - “Bad and Boujee”
2. D.R.A.M. - “Cash Machine”
3. Rae Sremmurd f/ Gucci Mane - “Black Beatles”
4. Solange - “F.U.B.U.”
5. Frank Ocean - “Nights”
6. Aminé - “Caroline”
7. Big Sean - “Bounce Back”
8. Dae Dae - “Spend It”
9. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie - “Macaroni”
10. Fat Joe, Remy Ma, and Jay Z f/ French Montana and Infared “All the Way Up (Remix)”
Albums
1. Rihanna - Anti
2. ASAP Mob - Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends
3. Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
4. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
5. Drake - Views
6. Meek Mill - DC4
7. Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’
8. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin - Savage Mode
9. Dave East - Kairi Chanel
10. Mitski - Puberty 2
Shawn Setaro
Twitter: @SameOldShawn
Songs
1. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
2. Aesop Rock - “Lotta Years”
3. Saba f/ Noname - “Church / Liquor Store”
4. Bruno Mars - “Perm”
5. Pusha T f/ Jay Z - “Drug Dealers Anonymous”
6. Joseph Chilliams - “Obama Care”
7. Solange - “Cranes in the Sky”
8. Common - “Pyramids”
9. Anna Wise - “BitchSlut”
10. Miles Davis & Robert Glasper f/ Phonte - “Violets”
Albums
1. Saul Williams - MartyrLoserKing
2. Ka - Honor Killed the Samurai
3. Kemba - Negus
4. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
5. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
6. Complex Movements - Beware of the Dandelions Soundtrack
7. Beyoncé - Lemonade
8. Common - Black America Again
9. Ab-Soul - Do What Thou Wilt
10. Frank Ocean - Blonde
Jacob Moore
Twitter: @PigsAndPlans
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - “Nights”
2. Young Thug - “Drippin”
3. D.R.A.M. f/ Lil Yachty - “Broccoli”
4. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
5. Noname - “Diddy Bop”
6. Rihanna - “Needed Me”
7. Travis Scott f/ Kendrick Lamar - “Goosebumps”
8. Saint Jhn - “Reflex”
9. Travis Scott and Young Thug f/ Quavo - “Pick Up the Phone”
10. Rae Sremmurd - “Swang”
Albums
1. Frank Ocean - Blonde
2. Anderson .Paak - Malibu
3. Noname - Telefone
4. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service
5. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
6. The Weeknd - Starboy
7. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
8. Rihanna - Anti
9. Young Thug - Slime Season 3
10. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin - Savage Mode
Alex Gardner
Twitter: @TheConstant_G
Songs
1. Chance the Rapper f/ Ty Dolla Sign, Raury, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Anderson .Paak - "Blessings"
2. Frank Ocean - "Nights"
3. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin - "No Heart"
4. Dave - "Six Paths"
5. Kanye West - “Ultralight Beam”
6. Travis Scott and Young Thug f/ Quavo - "Pick Up the Phone"
7. Jorja Smith - "Blue Lights"
8. The Weeknd - "Party Monster"
9. Rae Sremmurd - "Swang"
10. Giggs f/ CasIsDead - "501 (Hollow & Heston)"
Albums
1. Frank Ocean - Blonde
2. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
3. Noname - Telefone
4. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin - Savage Mode
5. Giggs - Landlord
6. The Weeknd - Starboy
7. Skepta - Konnichiwa
8. Young Thug - Slime Season 3
9. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
10. K9 - Mad in the Cut 2
Graham Corrigan
Twitter: @corrigraham
Songs
1. Frank Ocean - “Self Control”
2. Schoolboy Q - “John Muir”
3. Anderson .Paak - “Lite Weight”
4. Denzel Curry - “Knotty Head”
5. Kamaiyah - “How Does It Feel”
6. Danny Brown - “Ain’t It Funny”
7. The Weeknd - “Reminder”
8. Kendrick Lamar - “untitled 03 – 05.28.2013”
9. Blood Orange - “Best to You”
10. Giggs - “Lock Doh”
Albums
1. Anderson .Paak - Malibu
2. Frank Ocean - Blonde
3. Solange - A Seat at the Table
4. Noname - Telefone
5. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
6. Schoolboy Q - Blank Face LP
7. Isaiah Rashad - The Sun’s Tirade
8. Travis Scott - Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
9. Night Lovell - Red Teenage Melody
10. Rihanna - Anti
Joseph “JP” Patterson
Twitter: @jpizzledizzle
Songs
1. Ray BLK f/ Stormzy - "My Hood"
2. Wiley f/ Skepta & Belly - "U Were Always Pt. 2"
3. Mist - "Karla's Back"
4. Skepta f/ Novelist - "Lyrics"
5. Fat Joe, Remy Ma, French Montana, Infared - "All The Way Up"
6. Young M.A - "OOOUUU"
7. Giggs f/ Donae'O - "Lock Doh"
8. Sampha - "Timmy's Prayer"
9. Jorja Smith - "Blue Lights"
10. Solardo - "Tribesman"
Albums
1. Skepta - Konnichiwa
2. Giggs - Landlord
3. Kano - Made in the Manor
4. James Blake - The Colour in Anything
5. Drake - Views
6. Wretch 32 - Growing Over Life
7. Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
8. P Money - Live + Direct
9. Solange - A Seat at the Table
10. Mist - M I S to the T