5. Ryan Hemsworth/Cyril Hahn
2012 was the year of the remix, and nobody stamped their names on that scene more than Canadian producers Cyril Hahn and Ryan Hemsworth. While Hemsworth released a large stable of original tracks, much of his best work came in the form of his deft, tasteful re-thinks of undeniably brilliant pop songs. Hahn’s remixes generally involved much more jarring facelifts, but he always managed to keep the integrity of the original in tact. It’ll be interesting to see how much staying power each artist has, but until they fall off, their Soundcloud feeds are absolute must-follows.
4. Joe Goddard
Nobody seized control of the dancefloor with more aplomb than prolific Londoner, Joe Goddard. The vet teamed up with UK veteran DJ Raf Rundell to form the 2 Bears, and they unleashed their life-affirming, über-underrated debut, Be Strong. He also was responsible for the scorching solo single, “Gabriel,” a string of must-see DJ sets, an army of remixes, and another scintillating LP from his day job, Hot Chip. Oh, and he also had a baby. That’s pretty important too, I guess.
3. Danny Brown
Even though he didn’t release a new album (or even a full-length mixtape), it’s hard to argue that there is any rapper who had a better year than Detroit wild-man Danny Brown. Brown leant his eccentric flow to string of devastating collabs, while finding time to release a solid EP with his crew Bruiser Brigade. He also cemented his name as one of the most exciting live performers in music and was responsible for the best YouTube video of the year. Throw his gregarious and approachable personality on top, and he couldn’t be better poised to take the next step. A major label debut beckons…
2. Young Chop
Chief Keef may be the face of the divisive, fascinating Chicago drill scene, but nobody was more important to crafting the sound that shook the hip-hop world than previously-unknown teenage producer Tyree “Young Chop” Pittman. The architect of the brutal-but-undeniable sound, Pittman’s knack for crafting melodic, intimidating soundscapes belies his youth. Tracks like Keef’s ubiquitous “I Don’t Like,” Lil’ Reese’s “Us,” and Lil’ Durk’s “Rite Here” highlight the young producer’s under-appreciated versatility and deft ability to get the most out of his lyrically (shall we say?) limited MC’s. When you hear that little kid go “Young Chop on the beat,” you know shit’s about to get real.
1. Frank Ocean
The War in Iraq. The moral fiber of Kirsten Stewart. The presence of alien life forms living in the Midwest. I would have an easier time making a case for any of these things than arguing that anybody other than Frank Ocean demands the top spot on this list. Though I spent last year falling in love with his quirky debut, nostalgia ULTRA, I never would have guessed that he was capable of crafting an album as strong as his unforgettable, Channel Orange. As impressive the album is, his open letter addressing his sexuality is the single defining statement in music this year. As time goes on, I believe it will be viewed as was a watershed moment in hip-hop and R&B and will open the door for other artists to live and write openly and honestly.
