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25. Janelle Monáe – “Dance Apocalyptic” [Bad Boy/Wondaland] On her stellar sophomore album, The Electric Lady, Janelle Monáe calls in the musical royalty. The likes of Prince, Miguel, Solange, Esperanza Spalding and Erykah Badu lend their talents to an album that’s a start to finish listen and a triumphant breakthrough for Monáe—nowadays it’s difficult to buy a cup of coffee …

1. Janelle Monáe – “Dance Apocalyptic” (Bad Boy/Wondaland) “Dance Apocalyptic,” the second single from Janelle Monáe’s The Electric Lady, has been kicking around for a couple months now, but hearing it in the context of the full-length release makes its soaring pop and beautifully repurposed future-funk sound even better. That’s in part because it’s one of the first tracks that …

1. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead” (Def Jam) “Kanyeezy you did it again, you a genius nigga!” Pushing harder and dirtier on Yeezus, West has created a song that can finally relieve “Rock and Roll” at the arena, one worthy of jumbotronic stadium sound. “I keep it 300, like the Romans;” indeed. 2. Pond – “Xanman” (Modular People) Pond’s shambling, …