As is often the case in hip-hop discourse, the true fun arises in the journey, not the results. The debates, the ensuing justifications. The hot takes given further life by incredulous disbelief. The attempt to find objective truth in something so delightfully subjective. Not to mention that deciding a clear criteria is often as slippery as assembling the songs themselves.
But this is tradition, and with every passing year comes a comprehensive ranking of the songs that came to define it. For 2020, a year damned by so many circumstances, the music was among the high points. Artists rallied to keep momentum with so many facets of their livelihood - namely live performance -- derailed by the ongoing pandemic. Thriving platforms like TikTok proved a valuable asset for musicians, with a viral track often going hand-in-hand with a lofty chart placement. Many of the game’s elite lyricists seemed to collectively agree upon bringing their A-Game, a fact reflected by the rap album nominations by The Grammy Awards of all places.
When it came time to collectively arrange the forty best songs of 2020, a shadow loomed overhead. The consumption of music is never stationary. What resonates today may not resonate in one year’s time; on the other end, a song that initially flew under the radar now may find new life in the same timeframe. For now, rest assured that each song included held merit in 2020, whether defining a moment, showcasing dazzling penmanship, or simply going hard. True, that certain selections may come at the expense of others will doubtless ruffle a few feathers, but rest assured that no list is definitive. With that being said, have a thorough look at our own, taking the time to read each breakdown, as we know you will.
- Mitch
40. 6lack - "Know My Rights" feat. Lil Baby
“Know My Rights”, a single off of 6lack’s latest project, 6pc Hot, which came out in summer 2020, was just what fans needed. It was — in typical 6lack fashion — poetic, melodic, and even haunting at times. This particular track hit noticeably harder than the gentler, more emotional tracks off of the EP, offering contrast and variety, and veering us directly into "hip-hop" territory.
If there’s one thing we know about 6lack, it’s that he can be paired with virtually any artist and make something magical — he’s been a go-to feature artist for the last couple of years. This time, however, he invited someone to be featured on his song, Lil Baby, and it was a match made in rap heaven.
The entire project that birthed this single is a transcendent, perfectly produced collection of songs, worthy of being listened to on loop, and “Know My Rights” is the ultimate response to all the criticism the genre faced this year.
- Ellie
39. Lil Keed - "Fox 5"
If there was a trap banger in 2020, there's a good chance Gunna was involved. His feature run has been on point this year, and further proof can be seen here. "Fox 5," is a hood anthem performed by Lil Keed featuring Gunna, and produced by Supah Mario. Although Fox doesn't get much love in hip-hop culture (and vice versa), Lil Keed and Gunna give them a spotlight, and not in a way they would enjoy. The premise is destroying an enemy so publicly and abrasively that it makes it to Fox News.
Even though the lyrics and basis seem dark, a playful instrumental highlighted by a fun xylophone brings a fun side to "Fox 5." Rampant threats and slick one-liners pepper this track, giving the listener enough courage to get ignorant to this banger.
- Karlton
38. Lil Durk - "3 Headed Goat" feat. Polo G & Lil Baby
Lil Durk, Polo G and Lil Baby gave us a three-peat of sorts with this lineup of current rap kings featured on “3 Headed Goat,” hence the song title. All three have different flows and rap cadences, therefore making the collaboration sound even more fruitful. Even though the track clocks in at just under three minutes long, what it lacks in length it sure makes up for in fire production-- sinister keys kick off an altogether ominous feeling that persists throughout the record, with Baby's identifiable pitched-up cadence stealing the hook from the jump. Once the verses start, the production gets muddled into the background, and braggadocio lyrics become the theme, which is perhaps unsurprising considering they're referring to themselves as GOATs with that song title.
As Polo G put it in his verse: these rappers really nice as hell, indeed.
- Keenan
37. Saweetie - "Tap In"
Saweetie is no stranger to going viral, and she refused to slow down in 2020. Following up on the success from her “My Type” and “ICY GRL” singles, the new queen of samples came through with yet another classic callback in “Tap In,” which has become her latest hit.
It’s impossible to ignore the sample of Too $hort’s “Blow The Whistle” in “Tap In.” It provides the basic groundwork for Saweetie to absolutely go off. Much like $hort did in 2006, Saweetie delivers energy over the track, coming through with major quotables that women have been using as captions all year long. “Now what’s my favorite word? Icy,” raps the Icy Queen, stunting her Bay Area inspirations in a clear-as-day fashion.
The gold-certified single, which is expected to appear on Saweetie’s highly-anticipated debut studio album Pretty Bitch Music, is her highest-charting record to date, peaking at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The budding superstar did it again with this one, and she’s bound to have plenty more moments like this one in her career.
- Alex Zidel
36. Dreamville - "Up Up And Away"
As we were just breathing new life into 2020, Dreamville decided it was a good time to share the deluxe version of Revenge of the Dreamers III. At the time— way back in January prior to the COVID-19 lockdown— Dreamville was celebrating the successes of the collaborative effort as the record was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. The track’s singles “Middle Child” and “Down Bad” were also tapped by the Recording Academy for Best Rap Performance.
An addition to the upgraded deluxe was the track “Up Up Away,” a formidable force by J.I.D and EarthGang’s Doctur Dot with a feature by Vince Staples, who holds down the chorus. The trio of esteemed emcees trades witticisms over a haunting, piano-heavy production lead by Westen Weiss and Christo.
“Up Up Away” isn’t a charting single with viral craze; there is no TikTok dance or gimmick to catch. Instead, this track warrants accolades because it exemplifies what Dreamville does best: plays to the heart of Hip Hop. J. Cole and Co. have a knack for enchanting rap fans with the art of storytelling and J.I.D, Dot, and Staples hone that in as they comfortably complement one another. ROTDIII deserved its praise as does this standout.
- Erika M
35. Mulatto - "On God"
Mulatto had more than a few viral moments this year. She’s seemingly always wrapped up in some sort of controversy, which makes sense considering her problematic stage name, but it’s undeniable that Big Latto has broken out in a major way in 2020, striking with a number of hit records, including “On God”.
Off of the 21-year-old’s star-studded Queen Of Da Souf debut album, “On God” features Mulatto displaying all kinds of confidence, boastfully getting through her verses with Instagram caption-worthy punchlines that would make anybody and their grandmother do a double-take.
Latto gets raunchy in this single, which was accompanied by an even-dirtier video. The Cole Bennett-directed flick shows Latto in a highly-stylized setting, being that bitch and walking into the men’s room -- a clever metaphor to show how she’s infiltrated the male-dominated rap sphere -- walking right up to a man and pissing in his face. Graphic? Definitely. But it sure did mark Mulatto’s arrival, boosting her to become one of the top voices among women in rap.
- Alex Zidel
34. Internet Money - "Lemonade" Remix
Internet Money’s “Lemonade” featuring the likes of Don Toliver, NAV, and Gunna was an undeniable hit during our somewhat muted summer. While many are primarily aware of the OG version, sometimes you gotta give the remix its props. Not to mention, whenever you put Roddy Ricch on your song, you are immediately opting to use a cheat code.
This particular version leaves Nav and Gunna on the sidelines, all while Don Toliver receives some more air time in the form of a verse outside of the hook. Of course, Roddy is the main attraction here as he delivers some of the auto-tuned crooning that has made him such a phenom over the past 12 months. Toliver’s melodies work harmoniously with Roddy’s, and with the guitar loops hanging around in the background, you can’t help but lose yourself within the vibes.
- Alex Cole
33. Jack Harlow - "What's Poppin"
Just weeks after we rang in the new year, Jack Harlow launched his 2020 with a bang. At the top of the year, the Kentucky native dropped his single “What’s Poppin” and once TikTok got ahold of the single, it was quickly etched in viral history. Eleven months later, “What’s Poppin” is one of the biggest hits of the year, amassing accolades that include an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Song of the Summer and a RIAA certification after going 3x Platinum.
Six months after its initial release, the “What’s Poppin (Remix)” touched down. It was apparent that the song’s momentum wasn’t slowing down anytime soon, but after Harlow added features from Lil Wayne, DaBaby, and Tory Lanez, it was undeniable that its reign would continue. The remix reached the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts— only second to DaBaby’s monstrous Roddy Ricch collaboration, “Rockstar.”
Harlow isn’t quite finished with his biggest single to date. “What’s Poppin” was initially included on the rapper’s March 2020 release, Sweet Action EP, and it’s also highlighted on Harlow debut studio album, That’s What They All Say. We can only imagine what Harlow has in store next.
- Erika M
32. NBA Youngboy - "Kacey Talk"
Youngboy Never Broke Again loves to overwhelm his audience with content, releasing video after video, song after song, and even album after album. This year alone, the 21-year-old superstar rapper dropped a total of five projects, giving us more than enough material to consider for our year-end lists. Each project was solid, but Youngboy has admitted that he’s lost some of his passion for music-making, which was unfortunately apparent in some of his drops, recycling flows and melodies from older records.
NBA Youngboy may have been on auto-pilot mode for part of this year, but he most certainly was not for his standout single “Kacey Talk.” Perhaps that’s because the song also combines another one of the rapper’s passions: his children.
Released as the second single from Top, YB’s focus album of the year, “Kacey Talk” sees the rapper exploring new territory, which is always exciting to hear from an artist who can sometimes fall into old habits. His flows are catchy, recalling some of Lil Wayne’s earlier work. His delivery is unique, tapping into his higher range and playing around with sound effects. We’ve also got a quick feature from Kacey, Youngboy’s one-year-old baby, who provides ad-libs.
The JULiA LEWiS and 1Mind-produced banger was also accompanied by one of the more creative music videos that Youngboy Never Broke Again dropped all year. Generally, the rapper doesn’t mind filming casual visuals around the house, or around the block, but this time, YB actually put in some effort sketching out an entire plan, painting up some walls with his kids and getting inventive with the release. When Youngboy tries, he’s a real threat.
- Alex Zidel
31. Rod Wave - "Rags2Riches" feat. Lil Baby
The name really says it all with this one. Rod Wave grabs Lil Baby for "Rags2Riches 2." The original version features the same instrumental, but has ATR Son Son on the track instead of Lil Baby. Although both versions ride, Lil Baby undeniably steals the show on the second iteration, and amps up the power, as well as replay value, of the record.
A somber instrumental utilizes poignant pianos to really stir the feelings of rags, while Rod Wave and Lil Baby's bars highlight the riches. Both artists vent about their journeys, and the pitfalls that led them to become the men they are today. While there isn't anything new about this concept, "Rags2Riches 2" finds an efficient way to capitalize on the emotion of triumph, in a year filled with uncertainty.
- Karlton
30. A Boogie wit Da Hoodie - "7 Mac 11s"
The most appealing thing about A Boogie's rap steez is his signature melodic flow. That's not to say he can't get gritty with it either; "7 Mac 11's" for the most part showcases his ready-for-war stance when it comes to those who once hated on him and his crew by calling them "dirty Bronx guys" -- and now his foes have to deal with their respective girls sending heart emojis his way. Again, the melodic nature as he's saying these things makes it sound sweeter than what's actually being described, which ultimately shows the cleverness in his artistry. Basically, he's clowning his haters but making it catchy enough that they'll still want to knock to it.
- Keenan
29. Conway - "Calvin"
The Alchemist never fails to construct instrumentals that stir the soul in some way. If you could capture the tensest emotions of 2020 and put it into a beat, this would be it. The eerie and haunting vibes of "Calvin" give Conway the perfect backdrop to lay down bars dripping with street knowledge. A feeling of pure anxiety and tension builds in the beat during the chorus when an alien-sounding synth vibrates between Conway's bars. He uses a flow that pushes his breath control to the limits, packing each line with as many words as he can before taking a pause. "Calvin" will be on many playlists long after 2020 wraps.
- Karlton
28. Rick Ross - "Pinned to the Cross"
It seems as if 2020 came in waves. The Black Lives Matter protests swept the globe, causing the entire world to pause and pay attention to the political and social climates of not only the United States but various communities across the globe. From that, artists began to find creative ways to express themselves as they shared how they had been moved by the protests, and Rick Ross used “Pinned to the Cross” with the help of Finn Matthews to give his take.
Rozay took listeners on a lyrical history lesson of the Black American experience while noting the rage, not hatred, he felt seeing injustices unfold. Of course, we can’t receive a Rick Ross track without a bit of boasting from the rapper, but unlike his other hits, he kept the bravado to a minimum. Ross also released a powerful visual for “Pinned to the Cross” that told a story of a revolution— not televised, but taken by force, leaving many to interpret what the Florida lyricist was attempting to communicate.
As there was an immense amount of backlash regarding riots that in city streets, Ross gave them a soundtrack.
- Erika M
27. Lil Wayne - "Mahogany"
I look at Funeral as Lil Wayne’s proper comeback album. Tha Carter V was cool but it was a compilation of songs recorded throughout the early decade leading up to its release. Some of it sounded dated while the majority of it was mostly enticing out of curiosity rather than merit. Plus, the controversy surrounding Birdman and Martin Shkreli’s involvement in its rollout only add to its storied history.
Weezy’s Funeral was a formal update on the legendary NOLA rapper's creativity. He surprisingly eased up on the half-assed sex bars and showcased his effortless ability to concoct a flurry bars with the utmost precision. Mind you, it was a bloated 20+ s
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