7. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment, “Sunday Candy” [Self-Released]
Remember when hip-hop was fun, had heart, and seated in church wearing Sunday best threads? Chicago MC Chance the Rapper and his jazz-based band on the Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiement project sure do. With glistening piano chords, and downright beautiful vocals headlined by Jamila Woods and a choir of diverse voices, make this the indie hip-hop hit brimming with reminiscence and positivity that you probably missed this year. Don’t worry if you did, though — Chance will be back with a full-length of his own in 2016.