The Pit London writers pick their top three tracks from a year that saw a fantastic array of UK and World music!

BEN’S PICKS

Pip Millett - ‘Downright’

The best writers and performers can almost tease listeners with their emotional capacity. Pip Millett’s ‘Downright’, an early single from her sensational and devastating debut album When Everything Is Better, I’ll Let You Know, sucks you into the deepest crevices of a specific feeling. A dramatisation of a memory, each tonal nuance overawes, every lyrical idea a crack upon your inner soul. It’s vivid and visceral yet symbolic and elusive. A masterclass from one of the UK’s very brightest.  

Little Simz - ‘Gorilla’

Little Simz’ new album No Thank You is yet another crowning moment for one of the UK’s leading artists, with the subtle release immersed by deep reflection and majestic musicianship. ‘Gorilla’, a standout moment early on in the classy project, is an encapsulation of craft and charisma, with Simz effortlessly ascertaining an artistic capacity that most could only dream of. It’s a groove-laden instant head bopper that highlights Simz’ unparalleled talent.  

K Trap ft Skepta - ‘Warm (Remix)’

Remixes are too often overplayed, overused and tacky, but the reimagined ‘Warm’ is a lesson in how to rerelease a hit song both authentically and commercially. An honourable mention must go to Potter Payper for recruiting Nines on ‘Gangsteritus 2’, but this tune really takes the crown. K Trap is arguably the biggest breakout star in UK rap this year, which is epitomised by the remix of his viral hit ‘Warm’. Initially released last year, Trap felt inclined to revisit the opener from last year’s sleeper project Trapo, enlisting perhaps the most cherished feature in the entire UK rap scene, the supposedly retired Skepta. It’s a ferociously listenable cut, brimming with Machiavellian arrogance, robust timbre and raw acumen - as any good drill song should.  

BECKY’S PICKS

Sunkissed Child - ‘Come Round, Waste Time’

After listening to this bop, you can’t help but be in utter shock when you find out this is Sunkissed Child’s first release. A track that exudes the warmth and wonder of those late summer nights, it feels almost wrong to listen to this song in the snow-ridden Winter; the key word being almost. This song just begs to be played and experienced. Sunkissed Child is able to seamlessly blend neo-soul with hip-hop, presenting a musical ability that marks her as a future powerhouse in the UK neo-soul scene. 

B-ahwe - ‘Smile’

Having kept busy with releases this year, there’s a plethora of B-ahwe’s tracks that I wanted to select as a top track of the year. Whilst relistening to her other releases, namely ‘Next Spring’ and ‘Be True’, it was her summer release ‘Smile’ that made me do just that - I smiled throughout the entire track. B-ahwe’s angelic tracks exemplify her as a stand out within the UK music scene, it’s her collaboration with TAMBALA - who provides the silky, upbeat beats for this track - that make the track so durable and dreamy. 

Nix Northwest - ‘Satan Doesn’t Swim’

If my choices haven’t already exposed a sincere longing for those warm, summer days, my final track definitely cements it. An expert of intertwining emotive lyricism and beats to match, Nix Northwest did not fail in his track ‘Satan Doesn’t Swim’. Opening with a gently abrasive acoustic riff and fading into his velvety smooth refrain ‘I think I’m in love’, the artist has managed to opitimise my reaction to the track’s opening flawlessly. ‘Satan Doesn’t Swim’ bubbles with the poignancy and warmth of true love, even featuring real birdsong to showcase the naturally candid nature of both romantic fervour and Nix’s intensely moving lyrics.

DYLAN’S PICKS

Jam Baxter - ‘Flickers on the Fourth Floor’

Quite unlucky not to be included in project of the year, ‘Flickers on the Fourth Floor’ is the rallying cry from Jam Baxter’s Fetch the Poison album which dropped way back in January would you believe. Baxter tracks always have longevity with the hidden insights that only appear after a couple of rewinds. Definitely my most played track (cheers Spotify Unwrapped) and it’s not even close as it’s been nearly a year and it still gets left to breathe when shuffle selects it. Oh yeah and I think he performed it live at Tokyo World, or not, either way the set was unparalleled and so is this track. 

Nostalgiac ft Renelle 893 & Badi  - ‘Cup Full of Gin’

2022 was a year of me discovering, or perhaps revelling in, Scottish producers, which also makes it a good time to mention Tzusan and his WSPSNSYRP project which would’ve definitely made a top 5. Beside the point, next up is the Nostalgiac produced ‘Cup Full of Gin’ taken from his 57°N album with breakthrough emcee Renelle 893 and illusive Badi providing the lyricism- one of them where the beat and deliveries are shaking hands or some shit. Badi is a hard one to pin down, unfortunately for me, as his verse had me scrambling across streaming site search bars. He has tunes with Verbz under the alias Child of Da Ville (thanks to Nostalgiac for the info) but not enough tunes for my liking. 

Sonnyjim ft MF DOOM x Jay Electronica (prod. The Purist)  - ‘Barz Simspon’

Maybe a wasted opportunity to plug a lesser known artist, but this just had to be here. Sonnyjim’s discography makes him, for me at least, the UK’s most US-esc emcee and so this link up, although seemingly unlikely, is actually an extremely well-suited one. It’s taken from his White Girl Wasted album produced by The Purist and has some ‘nearly as impressive as DOOM’ features…but you’ll have to listen in full to find those out. Sonny brings them lavish luxuries as he lives out a lifestyle we can only dream about, and as for MF DOOM, well, he brings his usual panache. 

HANA’S PICKS

KAYTRANADA x The Weeknd - ‘Out Of Time’

KAYTRANADA had a marked year with his repeat-worthy remix of The Weeknd's hit track ‘Out of Time’. Jumping on to offer his distinct percussion-heavy finesse, the artist and producer embellished the already stellar tune with his trademark essence to present a groovy rework under The Weeknd’s nimble tenor, offering an attentively aware remix. Released in January, the tune coasted through the soundshpere in its first form to see KAYTRADNA hop on the track in April with a tidy remix bundle. Originally written and produced by The Weeknd and Oneohtrix Point Never - we hear a sampling of Tomoko Aran’s 1983 ‘Midnight Pretenders’.

mustbejohn - ‘Days Feel Like Summer’

mustbejohn embodied summer with his ‘Days Feel Like Seconds’. Personifying new-age British angst and edge, this standout tune set the tone for his equally quintessential 2022 EP Romance in Great Britain. Gifting us a fizzy exposition and provisional fusion of garage, house, and DnB with this summer banger, listeners sync with the artist's laid-back flow and confidence. Speaking on the track the rapper details ‘The best times are usually the ones that fly by’ - as he securely captured the moment with this tune.

Bawo - ‘Skate’

London-based rapper Bawo hit 2022 with his single ‘SKATE’. One half of a joint release, the artist offers his drolling flow, relatable edge and signature suave; key elements that stow the rapper in his own lane. Spotlighting his sharp lyricism atop a bass-rich tune, we thank Othello Beats for the production. A budding fan-favourite, we hear the artist flesh out his rap philosophy as he navigates his sound, often plucking elements from a broad array of genres from Baile Funk to Drill; enlisting him as a one-to-watch on the Uk rap scene.

JAMES’ PICKS

MazeyJune & Frankie Worrall - ‘Sun Outside’

Hopeful at its heart, MazeyJune and Frankie Worrall’s ‘Sun Outside’ is a shining reminder of better days to come. The creative pair moved from Cornwall to London in search of brighter opportunities, and this progression is made clear throughout the track: 

“Didn’t used to live there no / See the sunset on the rooftops / Reminds me of how far I've come / Used to look out and see rainfall”

Though you’ll still get soaked in the big smoke, serene moments like an urban sunset can be all you need to help reflect and take in life’s achievements. The duo capture this perfectly and make an unmissable track, which is in fact only MazeyJune’s second release. More please!

Dabbla & alllone - ‘Bad Tuesday’ 

UK heavyweight Dabbla links up with Austrian production pair alllone for their first release on his label, Potent Funk. The title track from their collaborative EP Bad Tuesday is a fan favourite (despite not getting a video) and truly exhibits what the team can do. We’re talking hard bars and an even harder beat, where the second leg takes a turn for badboy breaks.

Dabbz has been in a fiery pocket for a while now but alllone’s bombastic electronic production will have his one-liners and hard facts smashing the cymbals of your own eardrums. This one will get you out of bed on any bad Tuesday that comes your way.

Nilüfer Yanya - ‘midnight sun’

Released as a single back in January, Nilüfer Yanya’s ‘midnight sun’ still holds up as one of this year’s most emotive tracks. That’s perhaps why it’s recently been re-released with remixes from both Samptha and King Krule, cementing the vocalist amidst the ranks of London’s indie/alt greats.

You’ll find ‘midnight sun’ on PAINLESS - a project where pain is in the front seat, driving down dark lanes away from where it was first found. Like much of Yanya’s output, the tune is produced by Wilma Archer, who aptly welds the ethereal and the melancholic.

A deluxe edition of PAINLESS is out now, boasting an acoustic version of ‘midnight sun’ as well as those aforementioned remixes.

JAY’S PICKS

Rachel Chinouriri – ‘All I Ever Asked’ 

With vibrant, sun-soaked production, this bittersweet breakup tale is a gut punch. It’s packed with some of Rachel Chinouriri’s best songwriting, with moving words like “Just a little more time, was it really that hard to do? It was all I ever asked of you”, whilst the indie pop flavoured instrumental sounds like an all too relatable coming of age story. Coming off the Better Off Without EP, it’s the first track on the short project, and really shows how Rachel is still too overlooked - her full takeover of British radio should be imminent, her magnetism and allure is endless. 

Nia Archives – ‘Forbidden Feelingz’ 

The MOBO winner has been making non-stop waves this year for bringing Jungle back into every student house, and clubs all across the country. Nia seems to be ten places at once with how often she’s behind the decks, but seeing her live is truly an unmissable experience. I first heard of her from ‘Forbidden Feelingz’, one of her most daring, downbeat singles. It’s dark and addictive, with its monotone delivery, and frenzied 90s breakbeat sounds. It’s the perfect introduction to the star who represents rave culture, electronic music, and her Jamaican roots. We’re still itching for a debut album from Nia, as she’s a creative force to be reckoned with.

Jeshi – ‘3210’ 

3210 is, along with many others, a huge standout from Universal Credit, Jeshi’s fantastic LP from this year. With its garage laced drums, it’s an ode to British rap’s roots, but feels timeless. As police sirens pass, lyrics like “Sony Ericsson rings, see blue lights, see colour of skin” paint Jeshi’s horrifying story, whilst still managing to be one of his catchiest tracks. Earlier this year, he had the crowd at Village Underground for Pitchfork Festival chanting “3210, drag my name through the mud, skid 'round the corner and run” in a fantastic performance. The track's infectious flows and hook carry an incredible energy that immerse you in Jeshi’s paranoid, drug fuelled story.

BRIDGET’S PICKS

YT - ‘Bounce Out’

We have seen the likes of Jersey Club take over TikTok from track edits to viral dances. My introduction to its incorporation in the UK scene however was by YT, a rapper and producer hailing from Northeast London. 

Now rapping over a Jersey Club beat is no easy feat due to the sped-up bounce. But YT does so with a natural, laidback flair. The main reason I found this track so irresistible is tied into a combination of the light-hearted dance elements and witty punchlines. The up-tempo track is simply put: an embodiment of fun.

Rachel Chinouriri - ‘So My Darling (Acoustic)’

One of my favourite singers that I’ve discovered in a while, Rachel Chinouriri’s songs search for an intimacy that feels like safety. The sparse, minimal production relies on her beguiling vocals to do most of the emotive heavy lifting. 

This indie pop princess is ever so talented in unfurling her deep personal history on each track, singing openly and honestly about the themes of love and loss. For a track that she originally wrote at age 17, ‘So My Darling’ feels like reading her private journal, the perfect poetic intrusion.

Rimzee ft Tiggs Da Author x Giggs - ‘Juggin’

One of the first singles from Rimzee’s mixtape, Cold Feet, I could have told you 3 seconds into the track upon recognising Tiggs’ distinct tone that I would have this track on repeat for the rest of the year. I would also really love to see Tiggs Da Author get his flowers for being more than just a reliable hook source, yet on this he delivers effortlessly.

The smoothest refrain sets the precedent for hard hitting bars from Clapton barrer, Rimzee. Then enlisting a star guest verse from Giggs, who just floats on the track to seal the deal.

NAT’S PICKS

Obongjayar – ‘Tinko Tinko’

Obongjayar really isn’t new to the music scene, and I’m glad he is finally beginning to get the praise he deserves! ‘Tinko Tinko’ was the single released off of his latest album Some Nights I Dream Of Doors and it’s a banger from the outset. It’s one of those songs you can play over and over again, and demonstrates how he’s able to blend his Nigerian upbringing with an alternative soundscape. It is clear he is on a steady trajectory and I can’t wait to see what he was in store for 2023.

 Phabo – ‘Before I Let Her Go’

Phabo is one my favourite discoveries this year, and ‘Before I Let Her Go’ is what I would call the epitome of R&B music. The soulful vibes, the croon of Phabo’s amazing vocals, the loverman lyrics – this song has everything and more. Taken from the EP with the same name, this sonf is a standout on the project for me because it has everything I need from a love song. Phabo is intent on putting the soulful and nostalgia back into R&B and you can hear it in ever track he makes, he is an artist I think everyone needs to be paying more attention to.

 Boj ft Melissa & Moliy – ‘In A Loop’

‘In A Loop’ is a song that tells you what to do – play the song in a loop. Boj’s artistry is one of the most unique to come out of Nigeria, and this collaboration with Ghanaian sisters Moliy and Melissa is a highlight of his talent. A single from his latest album Gbagada Express, this is one of those songs that evoke involuntary movement from within. If you’re looking for a track to keep you warm this winter, this is it.  Boj is currently one of my favourite artists and is on his way to having an even better 2023.

TYRESE’S PICKS

D-Block Europe - ‘Elegant & Gang’

Released in the summer, and appearing on DBE’s latest album Lap 5, ‘Elegant & Gang’ is a sweet and smooth offering dedicated to the South Londoner's romantic loved ones. Revealing a softer side, the track combines elements of a simple catchy hook, and affectionate lyrics delicately delivered. Overall, we witness a more emotional side for Young Adz as he and Lb pose the question through the song how can you be “so elegant, and still so gang, gang, gang." However, in between the reverence, there’s still the greaziness we expect from a DBE song

Jessie Reyez x 6lack - ‘Forever’ 

There is something so overwhelming about Jessie Reyez’ powerful and raw voice. She has the ability to convey feelings and nothing gets lost in translation. Jessie continues with this intensity in ‘Forever’ as she desperately pleads for her love interest to reciprocate her feelings and stays with her in the early stages of a blossoming relationship. Slyly she sings “Say you need a shooter, I can do it from the half-court” with endearing charisma. 6lack compliments the track with a coolly delivered verse flowing over the beat.

Debbie - ‘Cherry Wine’

The soul singer’s ‘Cherry Wine’, like all her other releases, shows off the Londoner’s ability as a vocalist. The expert control and delicate delivery as she croons heavily against the jazz produced background, complimented by the expressive saxophone. It’s a song designed to be played for late nights when you’re yearning for your person. Smoothly with refined ease, she sings “With the table… Your friends around me. And a boy drinking brandy, he's kind of fine should I say hi.” Expertly she lets every note deliberately be felt, empathising with her feelings of awkwardness, uncertainty and attraction.

MEGAN’S PICKS

Burna Boy - ‘Last Last’

A song originally about heartbreak during a hard period for Burna Boy sent shock waves through the UK after release with everyone relating and loving the track. After unexpectedly going viral across the globe, Burna Boy’s track ‘Last Last’ became the trademark of the summer, getting played through Notting Hill Carnival as well as all over social media. When it came to thinking of the top track of the year , not thinking about ‘Last Last’ would of be a criminal. Arguably the hottest UK track of summer 2022, it’s impossible to listen to this track without getting flashbacks to this summer, the summer of freedom.

D-Block Europe - ‘Fantasy’

Another summer release that is still ridiculously enjoyable to listen to is D-Block’s single ‘Fantasy’. It’s almost as if ‘Fantasy’ was written to be a summer hit. The production of the track is repetitive but in a super catchy way. When looking at the lyrics of the track D-Block make references to “getting wasted” and “pool”, ‘Fantasy’ was enjoyed by the masses through the hights of the summer. Not to mention the track is still getting played through retail radios across the UK. Added to his latest album re-igniting the love for the track, ‘Fantasy’ had to make it in the year’s top singles.

Rushy - ‘Detroit Way’

Released at the very start of the year, in late January Rushy released the single ‘Detroit Way’. This freestyle-esk track of Rushy’s has potentially some of the best bars of his releases to-date. His flow on the production of this track works in unison to make a great track for dancers to get sturdy to as well as just head bopping. When it comes to describing Rushy’s style, personally ‘Detroit Way’ is the best reflection of this. Whilst Rushy is only starting to emerge into the mainstream rap sector this track makes it to the top tracks because it is an exceptional piece of work that continues to be a re-played track from January to December.

LOUIS’ PICKS

Rylo Rodriguez - ‘Set Me Free’

“Why are there so many samples in rap music these days.” Don’t worry about all of that. You  wanna know why? Because they’re doing it wrong. Enter Set Me Free. When that first “Always got  some place to gooooo,” hits you … your soul will be shuffling. Rylo Rodriguez, signed to Lil Baby’s label 4PF, has had a great year singles wise but this is the pick of the bunch. I started my days off listening to ‘Set Me Free’ every morning for over 3 months without fail. No doubt about it,  my song of the year.  

Central Cee - ‘Chapters’

Straight from his latest EP, No More Leaks, ‘Chapters’ is, for me, by far the strongest song Cench has released this year. Again, another sample focused record executed at a high level (you can tell what music I grew up listening to). The production put this song on high alert for me but Cench’s introspective lyrics and deep dive into his feelings about community, mental health and his journey so far made me stay and come back continuously.  

Dayor - ‘For Sure’

Hackney’s prince. If you are unaware of Dayor and his music then you are, respectfully, depriving yourself of one of the most talented artists London that has to offer. I first heard Dayor’s music in 2018 and haven’t stop sharing it ever since. I knew he was a star at first listen - it was really that clear. He went on a hiatus for a while and ‘For Sure’ was his first single since 2020. The melody, the lyrics, the flows, the sauce, literally everything you could need on one record.