Am I kicking the year off feeling confident or conceited? Take a listen and find out!
I have recently banned myself from uttering the phrase new year, new me. Those words alone turn my stomach, implying I have to wait annually to start new goals or cramming reinventing myself in twelve months, when I know the pressure will suffocate me into stagnation. So I’ve concluded I’m going to stay with me, whether it’s daily, monthly, or seasonally.
To kick off 2026, my monthly themes playlists are back! Below are 10 songs that remind me to stay confident, get me hype, and stay feeling like im theshit. Featuring tracks from MIKE, UnoTheActivist, Kendrick Lamar, and more, I hope that when you press play, it does the same for you!
“nuthing I can do is wrng”- MIKE
The track opens on NYC-raised rapper MIKE’s eighth studio album, Beware of the Monkey. What sounds like church bells introduces the song, signaling his arrival into this next phase of life. Over a chopped lo-fi sample of Forrest’s “I Just Want to Love You,” MIKE raps about his trials and tribulations, showcasing the soulful, slightly muddy style he’s become known for.
“UnoTheActivist” – Man of The Year
My current favorite feel-good track. It opens with the lyrics, “And the winner is…,” leaving the blank for you to fill in with your own name. Rapper UnoTheActivist and producer/streamer Plaqueboymax debuted it on stream while juggling other projects. As they flipped through their discography, Uno joked that the song could even snag a Grammy, leaving Max grinning and saying, “…man, anything is possible!”
“Element”- Kendrick Lamar
Beyond beautiful visuals, Kendrick Lamar’s lyricism is notorious for resonating with listeners. In the chorus, the catchiest part, Lamar breaks down that despite all the ugly adversity he faces, he’s willing to go through it all in the sexiest way possible. Remaining in his element.
I hope you enjoyed the read! For more content, follow me on Instagram and Spotify:@sydneyy._
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