Barack Obama is a big-time pop culture fan, and he’s made it a tradition to take a minute at the end of the year to share the music he enjoyed the most over the past 12 months. Now Obama has shared his 2018 list of favorite songs (as well as books and movies), and there’s some great variety in his mix. His list includes hip-hop via Chance The Rapper, Cardi B, Jay-Z and Beyonce, and others, country courtesy of Ashley McBryde, soul from Leon Bridges, indie via Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett, and more.
Posting the lists on social media, he wrote, “As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers — some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Swipe through to see my best of 2018 list — I hope you enjoy reading, watching, and listening.”
Find Obama’s full lists below.
“Apes**t”” by The Carters
“Bad Bad News” by Leon Bridges
“Could’ve Been” by H.E.R. (feat. Bryson Tiller)
“Disco Yes” by Tom Misch (feat. Poppy Ajudha)
“Ekombe” by Jupiter & Okwess
“Every Time I Hear That Song” by Brandi Carlile
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” by Ashley McBryde
“Historia De Un Amor” by Tonina (feat. Javier Limón and Tali Rubinstein)
“I Like It” by Cardi B (feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin)
“Kevin’s Heart” by J. Cole
“King For A Day” by Anderson East
“Love Lies” by Khalid & Normani
“Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monáe
“Mary Don’t You Weep (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version)” by Prince
“My Own Thing” by Chance the Rapper (feat. Joey Purp)
“Need A Little Time” by Courtney Barnett
“Nina Cried Power” by Hozier (feat. Mavis Staples)
“Nterini” by Fatoumata Diawara
“One Trick Ponies” by Kurt Vile
“Turnin’ Me Up” by BJ the Chicago Kid
“Wait” By The River” by Lord Huron
“Wow Freestyle” by Jay Rock (feat. Kendrick Lamar)And in honor of one of the great jazz singers of all time, who died this year, a classic album: The Great American Songbook by Nancy Wilson.”
Ashley McBryde and Cardi B are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music.
