From Christmas parties to Christmas adverts, December is a month in which almost everything becomes centred around the festive season and the festivities also have an impact on the music scene. As we get closer to the big day, one question stays on the minds of many music fans; what’s going to be the number one single this Christmas?
Every year there’s a battle between a particular bunch of artists for the number one spot over the Christmas period and every year traditional, family-friendly singles top the charts (however, last year Stormzy attempted to challenge the status-quo by launching his #ShutUpForXmasNo1 campaign). Imagine, if for some strange reason, 2016 was a year of change, a year where the most raw and uncut tracks were in with a chance to be crowned this year’s Xmas number one. Well, below are seven outrageous hits we shouldn’t expect to see top the Christmas charts this year but are worthy of battling the usual, conventional Christmas chart toppers.
Tempa T – “Next Hype”
The conventional Xmas No.1 is slow, ballad-like and sometimes depressing, and this is why “Next Hype” would be the perfect banger to put an end to tradition. The track is a classic in its own right and it’s guaranteed to hype up anybody who listens to it. With lyrics about “clearing” and “smashing” things alongside Tempa T’s dominant tone, some would say that “Next Hype” is too aggressive but the track is actually a high-spirited tune accompanied by lively visuals. “Next Hype” would make a sick Christmas No.1 because it’s just what’s needed to get rid of the Winter blues that comes with the cold weather.
Skepta – “All Over The House” (Feat. Shorty)
With its very descriptive and direct lyrics, “All Over The House” quickly became one of the standout tracks from Skepta’s 2011 album Doin’ It Again, although not neccesarrily for the right reasons. The track details a steamy sex session on a mellow yet intense instrumental and Skepta doesn’t leave much to the imagination in his details. As if the track wasn’t raw enough, Skepta followed the release of “All Over The House” with a video which is definitely NSFW. The track would make a sick Xmas No.1 because Xmas is a time for love and that’s exactly what “All Over The House” is centred around – just with a few graphic bars.
Nu Brand Flexx – “Gash By Da Hour”
Xmas No.1s often have catchy hooks and Nu Brand Flexx were able to create just that in their 2008 hit “Gash By Da Hour”. While the traditional Xmas chart topper may be a nice ballad about love, “Gash By Da Hour” is an energetic track about how much love the collective receive from women. It may not be the conventional festive tune but it’s definitely a track which captures the lively aspect of the Christmas period.
Terminator – “Painful Truth”
While it may be the season to be jolly, Christmas is also a time to reflect and Terminator forces you to look back on your decisions and mistakes on what is probably the most straight-to-the-point track of 2016. From baby-mum problems to property investment, T uses “Painful Truth” to explain where you may be going wrong in life and also offers some sound advice. With New Year’s Resolutions on the minds of many over Christmas, “Painful Truth” could help change the lives of the masses but Terminator’s direct approach is too real for the Christmas charts.
Giggs – “Bum Titty Bum”
One track that we shouldn’t expect to see in the no.1 spot this Christmas is Giggs’ throwback record “Bum Titty Bum”. On “Bum Titty Bum”, Giggs pays homage to his favourite womanly assets and he doesn’t beat around the bush in doing so. The title itself is nowhere near the generally reserved nature of the usual chart toppers and the title also demonstrates the plain-spoken content within the track. Despite this, “Bum Titty Bum” is as playful as many Xmas hits from previous years so perhaps it could worm its way into the charts one day.
DMX – “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”
DMX is one of the most raw and controversial rappers from the US. so the thought of him topping the charts over Xmas is bizarre (but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to). “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” is a salute to DMX’s record label and it includes lyrics about snitches, killers and crime – topics which contrast completely with the usual, conservative Christmas number one. However, the record is full of energy and fire which reflects the enthusiasm we all have towards Christmas and New Years (or at least the time off that comes with the festive season). The “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” may not become a Christmas anthem any time soon but it’s still a timeless hit from DMX.
Rick Ross – “Same Hoes”
Because of phrases such as “Ho! Ho! Ho!”, ‘Ho’ is a word we hear many times during the festive season but it’s also heard several times on Rick Ross’ 2016 banger “Same Hoes”. On this particular track Rozay realises most male celebrities, specifically rappers, tend to meet similar types of women. Although the single can be interpreted as pretty misogynistic by many, there are still a few hilarious lines we can all appreciate (or laugh at, at least) such as the wild statement that Rick Ross and the legendary comedian, Steve Harvey, sleep with the same women. Also included in Ross’ name-dropping spree are big stars such as Justin Bieber, Kevin Hart and David Beckham. Christmas gives us all a chance to take a break for at least a day and “Same Hoes” is a light-hearted single we can all enjoy to forget about the 101 important things to do once the festivities are over.