Welcome to the first edition of the Snobby Awards for the year of 2016’s best singles. We assembled a panel of seven women and one guy. If there is a bias, it’s that five of us are based in New York (Snobette editors Lois & Samia, up-in-the-NYC-mix Euro, repping for the teen-set Kyla aka Young K, plus musician, videographer and our lone male, Mauricio). We have West Coast representation with Soleil B and our music plug in London is Bri Bri.
Think of our list as what happens when a woman-owned site and almost all female panel diverse in terms of race, age and background has its say about what’s popping in music.Because we’re communists, we picked the top ten singles for the year and then listed in alphabetical order the remaining picks.
Young M.A.‘s single was chosen by all but one of our panelists. It was that powerful and game changing. As for Beyoncé “Sorry,” it’s one of those singles that really strikes a chord for women. Not unlike Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” it falls into the genre of male f-u anthems. Play either one at an event and watch every woman in attendance sing along in unison and probably hit the dance floor if there is one. What can we say, guys? We put up with a bunch of your b.s., internalize most of it and it’s empowering when someone says loudly and proudly in a song what we have no choice to keep to ourselves.
Probably the surprise pick is Kehlani‘s “Distraction” at No. 3, but she had widespread support across our panel and in addition to “Distraction,” has three additional songs in our best-of list. In other words, look out for her upcoming album launch in January because it has the potential to be huge.
Snobette’s top ten singles for 2016
1. Young M.A.: “OOOUUU”
2. Beyoncé: “Sorry”
3. Kehlani: “Distraction”
4. Rihanna: “Work”
5. Princess Nokia: “Tomboy”
6. Drake: “Controlla”
7. Kanye West: “Fade” (though really TLOP in general)
8. Solange: “Cranes in the Sky”
9. Leikeli47: “Money”
10. Frank Ocean: “Pink & White” tied with Mick Jenkins: “Spread Love”
On the top ten bubble: 21 Savage: “X,” Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna: “This Is What You Came For” and Rae Sremmurd: “Black Beatles.”
All panel picks in alphabetical order:
21 Savage & Metro Boomin Ft. Future: “X”
Aanysa x Snakehips: “Burn Break Crash”
A-Boogie & Don Q: “Bag on Me”
Beyoncé: “Sorry”
Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna: “This Is What You Came For”
Chrisette Michele: “Diamond Letter”
Chynna Rogers: “PAF”
Desiigner: “Timmy Turner”
Drake: “Controlla”
Drake: “One Dance”
Era Istrefi: “Bon Bon”
Frank Ocean: “Nights”
Frank Ocean: “Pink & White”
Gabi’el ft Monique Lawrence & Ms. Banks: “Pop That”
Giggs ft. Donaeo: “Lock Doh”
Jahkoy ft. Schoolboy Q: “California Heaven”
Jeezy ft. Bankroll Fresh: “All There”
Jessie Reyez: “Figures”
Justine Skye ft. Wizkid: “U Don’t Know”
Kahdja Bonet: “Gramma Honey”
Kanye West: “Fade”
Kanye West: “Famous”
Kanye West: “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”
Kehlani: “CRZY”
Kehlani: “Distraction”
Kehlani: “Gangsta”
Kehlani ft. Little Simz: “Table”
Kendrick Lamar: “Untitled 07”
Konshens: “Bruk Off”
Leikeli47: “Bitch Switch”
Leikeli47: “Money”
Lil Debbie ft. Njomza: “Tell Me”
Meek Mill ft. Tory Lanez: “Litty”
