This Rocko Ballin song is a contender for SOTY but is definitely sample of the year–Duranice Pace of the Anointed Pace Sisters singing "I'll Always Be Thankful":

Sampling was one of the best beat trends of the year (along with rage beats) and for my money nobody nailed it like producer A Lau from Brooklyn, especially on this song. It's one of the many reasons I wanted to interview him for BRICK Mag 10th edition go grab that. "Grateful" is a single, not on an official Rocko Ballin project and is in preview mode on YouTube and private on SoundCloud, so remains frustratingly semiunreleased with no real push. It would be nice to see a video but I'll take what I can get: a classic BK anthem that will soundtrack my Thanksgiving 2021.

Sampling being a "trend" is somewhat of a misnomer, although it did have a moment this year with sample drill from Brooklyn, and is an integral part of Griseldacore and the Muggs/Alchemist universe. Misnomer because sampling never really left hip-hop and is always being done in some form or another. And of course gospel sampling is it's own artform within the art. I wrote this piece about Jake One flipping gospel records in 2013 –– maybe you will enjoy reading it!

It might be too soon to do Best of 2021 content but fuck it, it's gotta start sometime and I'm certain this pick won't change.