As a pop music enthusiast, I was deeply disappointed that the biggest impact the genre made on American culture in 2013 was this.
We live in troubling times when Miley Cyrus broadcasting what happens in college bars across the country moves the zeitgeist more than new albums from Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga.
This was also the year when this guy's music moved the needle more than any of the above mentioned artists.
Thankfully, not all was lost in 2013. The year produced a solid roster of singles. "Yeezus" was the least obnoxious thing Kanye West created this year.
Here are a few songs that, in my opinion, best represent 2013.
"Control"-Kendrick Lamar's verse
The song that showed Kendrick Lamar is the best young rapper working today.
"Save Rock and Roll"-Fall Out Boy
The genre most wounded by the Spotify-zation of music, rock has seen dark days. FOB was a heathy reminder of the good days, melding anthemic rock with Sir Elton John.
"Blood On the Leaves"-Kanye West
Only Yeezus could mix "Strange Fruit" with "Down For My Dreaded N-Word" and come out with a banger.
"Give It 2 U"-Robin Thicke ft. 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar
I prefer Thicke riding with Chainz and Kendrick over Tip and Pharrel.
"Timber"-Pitbull ft. Ke$ha
I have a soft spot for Mr. 305: He's cool with the fact that he gets paid to make sophomoric club bangers.
"Alive"-Krewella (Hardwell Mix)
I wanted to throw on an EDM song since we can comfortably say that the genre has gone mainstream in 2013.
For my best album, hip-hop evangelical Killer Mike and El-P's "Run the Jewels" embodied a paranoid and angry American people.
But we can all agree, regardless of musical tastes, that this is the best thing to come out of music in 2013.
