NBA YoungBoy: Alex Welsh; Julie Byrne: Jonathan Bouknight; GoldLink: Alex Welsh; Vagabon: Ebru Yildiz
1. There's probably not much that's better for the soul than a Mick Jenkins and Kaytranada collaboration. Their new one, "Aurora Borealis," is all glow and soul.
2. "Goddamn, what a time, what a year," raps GoldLink on the smooth, bromance-hinged "Crew," which features Brent Faiyaz and Shy Glizzy. Seriously, what a year.
3. RYAN playground and swim good hopped on Ryan Hemsworth's "Holy," a very pretty song to groove to while nibbling on peppermint bark.
4. Vagabon's "The Embers" is like the rock song equivalent of a hot toddy. Intimate, but with a kick.
5. Baton Rouge 17-year-old NBA YoungBoy had a roller-coaster year. "Win Or Lose," which just got new visuals, is a good kiss-off to 2016.
6. A. G. Cook remixed one of Oneohtrix Point Never's best, "Sticky Drama," transforming it from oozing puberty opus to a pitched-down weirdo pop jam.
7. Singer-songwriter Julie Byrne revels in being alone on "Follow My Voice," a sublime folk song for cuddling yourself while it's cold out.
8. Since this is the last Songs You Need In Your Life of the year, we're sending you off with something seasonal: DeJ Loaf's gooey "All I Want For Christmas," which features Kodak Black. Happy holidays, y'all!
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