Out of all the “Best of” lists I’ve put together, this listing of my 30 favorite tracks of 2018 might have been the most difficult to compile. In my opinion, you can probably randomize the list and you would have a decent argument for that order.

Due to the fact that there were so many great tracks in 2018, from jazz to electronic music, hip-hop to soul, and many great grooves from around the globe, I put together a playlist below featuring my top 135 songs of the year. Therefore, the list below is only a starting place. As always, I recommend diving in deeper!

BeatCaffeine’s Favorite 30 Tracks of 2018

30. Harvey Sutherland ft. Nubya Garcia — “Amethyst”
29. Ishmael Ensemble — “Tunnels”
28. Phil France — “Circle (Reprise)”
27. Yussef Dayes, Alfa Mist, Mansur Brown — “Love Is The Message”
26. The Mauskovic Dance Band — “Down In The Basement”
25. Auntie Flo — “Cape Town Jam”
24. Khruangbin — “Maria También”
23. Skinny Pelembe ft. Hejira — “I Just Wanna Be Your Prisoner”
22. AMA / MIZU — “Goldie”
21. Maribou State ft. Khruangbin — “Feel Good”
20. Nubya Garcia — “When We Are”
19. Kassin — “A Paisagem Morta”
18. The Vels Trio — “The Wad”
17. Kadhja Bonet — “Mother Maybe”
16. Childish Gambino — “This Is America”
15. Peggy Gou — “It Makes You Forget (Itgehane) (Edit)”
14. Lindstrøm ft. Ronika — “Didn’t Know Better”
13. Georgia Anne Muldrow — “Overload”
12. Joe Armon-Jones ft. Asheber — “Starting Today”
11. Yazmin Lacey — “90 Degrees”
10. The Shacks — “Texas”
09. Nu Guinea — “Parev’ Ajere”
08. DjeuhDjoah ft. Lieutenant Nicholson — “El Niño”
07. Kamasi Washington — “Vi Lua Vi Sol”
06. Altin Gün — “Goca Dünya”
05. Mildlife — “The Magnificent Moon”
04. Sampology — “Smile”
03. Pete Beardsworth — “To The Place”
02. The Midnight Hour ft. Laetitia Sadier, Questlove, Keyon Harold — “Dans Un Moment D’errance”
01. KOKOROKO — “Abusey Junction”

Check out this BeatCaffeine Best of 2018 Playlist featuring over 130 tracks.

ALSO CHECK OUT:
Our Favorite New Albums of 2018
Our Favorite New EPs of 2018
Our Favorite Reissues of 2018

• Best of