Complex Original
Complex spent the better part of December filling you in on the best this year had to offer, including the best songs and albums of 2018. With the year coming to a close, here are our staff's personal picks.
Eric Skelton
Twitter: @ericskelton
Songs
1. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
2. Lil Baby and Gunna - "Drip Too Hard"
3. Blood Orange - "Charcoal Baby"
4. Pusha-T - "The Story of Adidon"
5. Lil Wayne - "Dedicate"
6. 21 Savage f/ J. Cole - "A Lot"
7. Ariana Grande - "Sweetener"
8. Valee f/ Jeremih - "Womp Womp"
9. Denzel Curry - "Clout Cobain"
10. Nipsey Hussle f/ YG - "Last Time That I Checc’d"
Albums
1. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
2. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
3. Blood Orange - Negro Swan
4. Jay Rock - Redemption
5. Tierra Whack - Whack World
6. J.I.D - DiCaprio 2
7. Denzel Curry - TA1300
8. 21 Savage - i am > i was
9. Choker - Honeybloom
10. J. Cole - KOD
Frazier Tharpe
Twitter: @The_SummerMan
Songs
1. Pusha-T - "The Story of Adidon"
2. Drake - "Nice for What"
3. Travis Scott f/ Juice WRLD and Sheck Wes - "No Bystanders"
4. The Carters - "Nice"
5. The 1975 - "Sincerity Is Scary"
6. Nipsey Hussle f/ YG - "Last Time That I Checc’d"
7. Pusha-T - "The Games We Play"
8. Teyana Taylor - "Gonna Love Me"
9. BlocBoy JB f/ Drake - "Look Alive"
10. The Weeknd - "Wasted Times"
Albums
1. The Carters - Everything Is Love
2. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
3. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
4. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
5. Ariana Grande - Sweetener
6. Jay Rock - Redemption
7. J. Cole - KOD
8. Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap
9. Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
10. Currensy, Freddie Gibbs, and the Alchemist - Fetti
Kiana Fitzgerald
Twitter: @KianaFitz
Songs
1. Travis Scott - "Houstonfornication"
2. Currensy, Freddie Gibbs, and the Alchemist - "Now & Later Gators"
3. Tierra Whack - "Hungry Hippo"
4. J.I.D - "Off da Zoinkys"
5. Robb Banks - "Official"
6. Lil Baby f/ Starlito - "Exotic"
7. Megan Thee Stallion and Moneybagg Yo - "Make a Bag"
8. Trapperman Dale - "Trap Ambitions"
9. Mac Miller - "Perfecto"
10. Lil Baby and Gunna - "Drip Too Hard"
Albums
1. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD (chopped not slopped by Slim K/ChopStars)
2. Jay Rock - Redemption
3. Megan Thee Stallion - Tina Snow
4. SiR - November
5. Tierra Whack - Whack World
6. Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album
7. Denzel Curry - TA1300
8. 21 Savage - i am > i was
9. Currensy, Freddie Gibbs, and the Alchemist - Fetti
10. J.I.D - DiCaprio 2
Shawn Setaro
Twitter: @SameOldShawn
Songs
1. Bruce Springsteen - "The Wish (Introduction)"/"The Wish"
2. Black Thought - "Twofifteen"
3. Atmosphere - "Virgo"
4. Murs - "Melancholy"
5. Noname - "Self"
6. Jim Jones - "Never Did Three Quarters"
7. The Coup f/ Lakeith Stanfield - "OYAHYTT"
8. Father - "Thotnite"
9. Poo Bear f/ Justin Bieber and Jay Electronica - "Hard 2 Face Reality"
10. The Carters - "Apeshit"
Albums
1. Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
2. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris - Everything’s Fine
3. Bruce Springsteen - Springsteen on Broadway
4. Phonte - No News Is Good News
5. Armand Hammer - Paraffin
6. Black Thought - Streams of Thought, Vol. 1
7. Epic Beard Men - Season 1
8. Royce da 5’9” - Book of Ryan
9. Mitski - Be the Cowboy
10. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Adrienne Black
Twitter: @YoAdriBaby
Songs
1. Tekno - "Yur Luv"
2. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
3. Burna Boy - "Ye"
4. Wizkid, Ceeza Milli, Spotless, and Terri - "Soco"
5. Free Nationals f/ Daniel Caesar and Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Beauty & Essex"
6. Popcaan - "Let My Gun"
7. Masego - "Prone"
8. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake - "King's Dead"
9. Mr. Eazi - "Keys to the City (Ogede)"
10. Ozuna - "Siguelo Bailando"
Albums
1. Kojo Funds - Golden Boy
2. The Internet - Hive Mind
3. Masego - Lady Lady
4. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
5. Popcaan - Forever
6. Mac Miller - Swimming
7. Mick Jenkins - Pieces of a Man
8. Burna Boy - Outside
9. J.I.D - DiCaprio 2
10. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
Angel Diaz
Twitter: @ADiaz456
Songs
1. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
2. Lil Baby and Gunna - "Drip Too Hard"
3. Pusha T - "The Story of Adidon"
4. Bad Bunny - "Solo de Mi"
5. BlocBoy JB f/ Drake - "Look Alive"
6. Nio García, Darell & Casper Mágico f/ Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam & Ozuna - "Te Boté (Remix)"
7. Miky Woodz f/ Bad Bunny - "Estamos Clear"
8. Sheck Wes - "Gmail"
9. A$AP Rocky f/ Skepta - "Praise the Lord"
10. Pusha T - "Come Back Baby"
Albums
1. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
2. Pusha T - DAYTONA
3. The Internet - Hive Mind
4. Roc Marciano & DJ Muggs - KAOS
5. Blood Orange - Negro Swan
6. Benny the Butcher - Tana Talk 3
7. Key Glock - Glockoma
8. Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist - Fetti
9. Future & Co. - Superfly OST
10. Trouble & Mike WiLL Made-It - Edgewood
khal
Twitter: @khal
Songs
1. The Carters - "Apeshit"
2. SOB X RBE - "Paramedic!"
3. Drake - "Jaded"
4. Flame 1 - "Shrine"
5. Mariah Carey f/ Ty Dolla Sign - "The Distance"
6. Current Value - "Cold Snap"
7. YG - "Suu Whoop"
8. Boogie - "Self Destruction"
9. Queen Naija - "Karma"
10. Ross From Friends - "John Cage"
Albums
1. Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album
2. DJ Taye - Still Trippin'
3. Pusha T - DAYTONA
4. Jay Rock - Redemption
5. Armand Hammer - Paraffin
6. Shades - In Praise of Darkness
7. Tierra Whack - Whack World
8. Westside Gunn - Supreme Blientele
9. Heavee - WFM
10. Novelist - Novelist Guy
Edwin Ortiz
Twitter: @iTunesEra
Songs
1. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
2. The 1975 - "I Always Wanna Die (Sometime)"
3. Post Malone f/ Ty Dolla Sign - "Psycho"
4. Drake - "God's Plan"
5. Pusha-T - "If You Know You Know"
6. Kids See Ghosts - "Reborn"
7. Kacey Musgraves - "Golden Hour"
8. Ariana Grande - "Thank U, Next"
9. Lil Baby and Gunna - "Drip Too Hard"
10. Jacquees - "London"
Albums
1. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
2. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
3. J. Cole - KOD
4. Ariana Grande - Sweetener
5. Jacquees - 4275
6. Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys
7. The Carters - Everything Is Love
8. Jay Rock - Redemption
9. Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap
10. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Lucas Wisenthal
Twitter: @lucaswisenthal
Songs
1. Pusha-T - "Come Back Baby"
2. YoungBoy Never Broke Again - "Diamond Teeth Samurai"
3. Pusha-T - "The Story of Adidon"
4. Benny the Butcher - "Broken Bottles"
5. Drake - "Nonstop"
6. J. Cole - "1985 (Intro to 'The Fall Off')"
7. 21 Savage f/ J. Cole - "A Lot"
8. J.I.D f/ Method Man and Joey Badass - "Hot Box"
9. Lil Wayne - "Hittas"
10. The Diplomats - "Sauce Boyz"
Albums
1. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
2. Benny the Butcher - Tana Talk 3
3. Meek Mill - CHAMPIONSHIPS
4. Jay Rock - Redemption
5. J.I.D - DiCaprio 2
6. J. Cole - KOD
7. YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Until Death Call My Name
8. DJ Muggs & Roc Marciano - KAOS
9. Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album
10. Westside Gunn - Supreme Blientele
Damien Scott
Twitter: @thisisdscott
Songs
1. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
2. Pusha - "The Games We Play"
3. Jacquees - "Trip (Quemix)"
4. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake - "King's Dead"
5. BlocBoy JB f/ Drake - "Look Alive"
6. Ariana Grande - "Thank U, Next"
7. Lil Baby, Gunna, and Drake - "Never Recover"
8. Lil Wayne f/ Kendrick Lamar - "Mona Lisa"
9. Lady Gaga - "Always Remember Us This Way"
10. Drake - "That's How You Feel"
Albums
1. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
2. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
3. J. Cole - KOD
4. Benny the Butcher - Tana Talk 3
5. Currensy, Freddie Gibbs, and the Alchemist - Fetti
6. The Internet - Hive Mind
7. Future - BEASTMODE 2
8. Popcaan - Forever
9. Tierra Whack - Whack World
10. Jay Rock - Redemption
Carolyn Bernucca
Twitter: @bernucca
Songs
1. Playboi Carti f/ Nicki Minaj - "Poke It Out"
2. Ariana Grande - "R.E.M."
3. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Hunnybee"
4. Tyler, the Creator & ASAP Rocky - "Potato Salad"
5. Travis Scott f/ Juice WRLD and Sheck Wes - "No Bystanders"
6. Mitski - "Pink in the Night"
7. Kali Uchis - "In My Dreams"
8. The Aces - "Waiting for You"
9. Bad Bunny - "Solo de Mi"
10. Tierra Whack - "Hungry Hippo"
Albums
1. Ariana Grande - Sweetener
2. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
3. Empress Of - Us
4. Playboi Carti - Die Lit
5. Mitski - Be the Cowboy
6. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
7. Bad Bunny - X 100PRE
8. Tierra Whack - Whack World
9. The Aces - When My Heart Felt Volcanic
10. Kali Uchis - Isolation
Katherine Shelby
Twitter: @katherineshelby
Songs
1. Brockhampton - "Honey"
2. Snail Mail - "Speaking Terms"
3. Kacey Musgraves - "Golden Hour"
4. Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars, and Kodak Black - "Wake Up in the Sky"
5. ASAP Rocky f/ T.I., Kid Cudi, and Moby - "ASAP Forever (Remix)"
6. The Carters - "Heard About Us"
7. Kids See Ghosts - "Cudi Montage"
8. Mac Miller - "Self Care"
9. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper - "I Don't Know What Love Is"
10. Shawn Mendes - "Why"
Albums
1. Snail Mail - Lush
2. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
3. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
4. The Carters - Everything Is Love
5. Pistol Annies - Interstate Gospel
6. Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
7. Mac Miller - Swimming
8. Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley: The Searcher
9. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
10. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
Waiss David Aramesh
Twitter: @waiss_aramesh
Songs
1. The Weeknd - "Privilege"
2. SAINt JHN - "I Heard You Got Too Litt Last Night"
3. Halsey - "Without Me"
4. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
5. Drake - "Mob Ties"
6. 6lack - "Switch"
7. Drake - "Duppy Freestyle"
8. Ariana Grande - "Breathin"
9. Janelle Monáe - "Django Jane"
10. CHVRCHES f/ Matt Berninger - "My Enemy"
Albums
1. The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy,
2. Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album
3. Lil Baby and Gunna - Drip Harder
4. Camila Cabello - Camilla
5. 6lack - East Atlanta Love Letter
6. Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes
7. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
8. Meek Mill - CHAMPIONSHIPS
9. SAINt JHN - Collection One
10. Drake - Scorpion
Zach Dionne
Twitter: @ZachDionne
Songs
1. Kanye West f/ PARTYNEXTDOOR - "Ghost Town"
2. Travis Scott f/ Kid Cudi, James Blake, Stevie Wonder, and Philip Bailey - "Stop Trying to Be God"
3. Pusha-T - "The Story of Adidon"
4. Chance the Rapper - "I Might Need Security"
5. ASAP Rocky f/ Frank Ocean - "Purity"
6. Janelle Monáe f/ Zoë Kravitz - "Screwed"
7. Lil Yachty f/ Cardi B and Offset - "Who Want the Smoke"
8. Francis and the Lights - "Cruise"
9. Migos f/ 2 Chainz - "Too Playa"
10. Eels - "The Deconstruction"
Albums
1. Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
2. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
3. Noname - Room 25
4. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
5. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
6. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V
7. ASAP Rocky - TESTING
8. Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album
9. Rae Sremmurd - SR3MM
10. Lil Wayne - Dedication 6: Reloaded
Eric Diep
Twitter: @E_Diep
Songs
1. Mac Miller - "Self Care"
2. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
3. Drake - "In My Feelings"
4. Nicki Minaj - "Good Form"
5. Cardi B, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny - "I Like It"
6. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake - "King's Dead"
7. Lil Baby and Gunna - "Drip Too Hard"
8. 21 Savage - "Letter 2 My Momma"
9. Jeremih & Ty Dolla Sign - "Goin Thru Some Thangz"
10. ASAP Rocky f/ Skepta - "Praise the Lord (Da Shine)"
Albums
1. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
2. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
3. The Carters - Everything Is Love
4. Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
5. Meek Mill - CHAMPIONSHIPS
6. Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap
7. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V
8. Playboi Carti - Playboi Carti
9. City Girls - Girl Code
10. Tommy Genesis - Tommy Genesis
Brian Josephs
Twitter: @Bklyn_Rock
Songs
1. Drake - "Nice for What"
2. Pusha-T - "If You Know You Know"
3. Ariana Grande - "Thank U, Next"
4. Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee, and Big Hawk - "Sicko Mode"
5. Lil Wayne f/ Swizz Beatz - "Uproar"
6. Nine Inch Nails - "Over and Out"
7. Vince Staples - "Outside"
8. Young Thug - "Real in My Veins"
9. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake - "King's Dead"
10. André 3000 - "Me & My (To Bury Your Parents)"
Albums
1. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
2. Kali Uchis - Isolation
3. Saba - CARE FOR ME
4. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
5. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
6. DJ Koze - Knock Knock
7. Playboi Carti - Die Lit
8. Rico Nasty - Nasty
9. Tierra Whack - Whack World
10. Yves Tumor - Safe in the Hands of Love
Trace William Cowen
Twitter: @TraceCowen
Songs
1. Boygenius - "Me & My Dog"
2. Drake - "Summer Games"
3. Brockhampton - "San Marcos"
4. Jeff Rosenstock - "9/10"
5. The Regrettes - "Come Through"
6. Young Thug f/ Lil Uzi Vert - "Up"
7. Fitness - "Kill the Rich"
8. Migos - "Higher We Go (Intro)"
9. Vince Staples - "Get the Fuck Off My Dick"
10. The Aquadolls - "Communicationissexy/Idkhow2communicate"
Albums
1. Lil Peep - Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2
2. Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed?
3. Boygenius - boygenius EP
4. Pusha-T - DAYTONA
5. Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
6. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
7. Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD
8. Amy Shark - Love Monster
9. Sheck Wes - MUDBOY
10. Waxahatchee - Great Thunder EP
Sarah Jasmine Montgomery
Twitter: @WithALittleJazz
Songs
1. Rico Nasty - "Countin’ Up"
2. Mitski - "Geyser"
3. Leikeli47 - "Girl Blunt"
4. Noname f/ Yaw and Adam Ness - "no name"
5. Melii - "Icey"
6. Yaeji - "One More"
7. Teyana Taylor - "Rose in Harlem"
8. Robyn - "Honey"
9. Ariana Grande - "Goodnight n Go"
10. Bhad Bhabie f/ City Girls - "Yung and Bhad"
Albums
1. Mitski - Be the Cowboy
2. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
3. Rico Nasty - Nasty
4. Rosalia - El Mal Querer
5. Kali Uchis - Isolation
6. Boygenius - boygenius EP
7. Empress Of - Us
8. Nao - Saturn
9. Tierra Whack - Whack World
10. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Joe Price
Twitter: @BackwoodsAltar
Songs
1. Soccer Mommy - "Blossom (Wasting My Time)"
2. Brockhampton - "Weight"
3. Yung Lean - "Friday the 13th"
4. Helica, Psymun & Distance Decay - "Cellophane"
5. Moneyphone - "Domicile"
6. Bobby Raps f/ Corbin - "Heart Defect"
7. Thom Yorke - "Suspirium"
8. Mount Eerie - "Now Only"
9. Busu - "100K Coffin"
10. Olivia - "Fast Fast"
Albums
1. Yves Tumor - Safe in the Hands of Love
2. George Clanton - Slide
3. Brockhampton - Iridescence
4. Jóhann Jóhannsson - Mandy
5. Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs
6. JPEGMAFIA - Veteran
7. Mitski - Be the Cowboy
8. Tobias - Toby
9. Serpentwithfeet - Soil
10. 21 Savage - i am > i was
Tara Mahadevan
Twitter: @mhdvn
Songs
1. ASAP Rocky f/ Skepta - "Praise the Lord (Da Shine)"
2. Joey Purp - "Aw Sh*t!"
3. G Herbo - "Who Run It"
4. Anik Khan - "Big Fax"
5. Valee - "Skinny"
6. Ariana Grande - "Thank U, Next"
7. Travis Scott - "Coffee Bean"
8. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake - "King's Dead"
9. Rico Nasty - "Smack a Bitch"
10. Cupcakke - "Hot Pockets"
Albums
1. Saba - CARE FOR ME
2. Mac Miller - Swimming
3. DJ Taye - Still Trippin’
4. Omar Apollo - Stereo
5. Pusha T - DAYTONA
6. Jay Rock - Redemption
7. Currensy, Freddie Gibbs, and the Alchemist - Fetti
8. Queen Key - Eat My Pussy
9. Tierra Whack - Whack World
10. Key! and Kenny Beats - 777
Grant Rindner
Twitter: @grantrindner
Songs
1. Saba - "Prom / King"
2. Mac Miller - "Come Back to Earth"
3. Denzel Curry - "Percs | Percz"
4. The Internet - "It Gets Better (With Time)"
5. King Princess - "Holy"
6. ALLBLACK f/ Rexx Life Raj and Cash Kidd - "Y.N.A.F."
7. Soccer Mommy - "Your Dog"
8. Freddie Gibbs f/ 03 Greedo - "Death Row"
9. Open Mike Eagle - "Every Single Thing"
10. Pink Sweats - "Honesty"
Albums
1. Mac Miller - Swimming
2. Saba - CARE FOR ME
3. Snail Mail - Lush
4. The Internet - Hive Mind
5. Denzel Curry - TA1300
6. Vince Staples - FM!
7. King Princess - Make My Bed
8. Hinds - I Don’t Run
9. Octavian - SPACEMAN
10. Lil Peep - Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2
Joseph “JP” Patterson
Twitter: @jpizzledizzle
Songs
1. Ambush f/ Chip and Skepta - "Jumpy (Remix)"
2. Kojey Radical, Mahalia, and Swindle - "Water"
3. Mist f/ Jessie Ware - "Wish Me Well"
4. Chip - "Darth Vader"
5. Mahalia - "Surprise Me"
6. Gunna - "Top Off"
7. Loski - "Cool Kid"
8. Blade Brown - "12 Summers"
9. Nicki Minaj f/ Foxy Brown - "Coco Chanel"
10. Halo - "Talk That Stuff"
Albums
1. Children of Zeus - Travel Light
2. Nines - Crop Circle
3. NAO - Saturn
4. Smoke Boys - Don't Panic II
5. D Double E - Jackuum!
6. Sneakbo - Brixton
7. Headie One - The One
8. Ghetts - Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
9. Meek Mill - CHAMPIONSHIPS
10. Sheck Wes - MUDBOY