The Best Hip Hop Songs of 2021 ...(so far)

December 31, 2021

2021 was musically impressive with some of the game’s heavy-hitters dropping new songs and verses. To close the year off, fans received new music from Nas, RZA, Earl Sweatshirt and more.

Every month, HipHopDX puts a spotlight on the tracks that stand out from the overabundance of releases throughout the year, highlighting everything from Billboard chart-friendly singles to essential album cuts.







Earl Sweatshirt has returned from his recluse state first with the masterful wordplay of “2010,” and now with “Tabula Rasa” featuring underdog MVPs of 2021 Armand Hammer. Produced by 2021 HipHopDX Producer of the Year Alchemist, “Tabula Rasa” is an introspective journey into the minds of some of Hip Hop’s greatest thinkers. – David Brake



Staten Island and Brooklyn collide for RZA and the Flatbush Zombies’ latest “Plug Addicts” track. The menacing and dark sounds of RZA, of Wu-Tang Clan and Gravediggaz fame, mesh perfectly with the gristle of the NYC rap trio, backed by a triumphant but haunting string sample. – David Brake

Massachusetts experienced a landmark year in 2021, with acts such as BIA, Van Buren Records and Cousin Stizz taking the scene to new heights. On “Blessings,” Stizz reflects on his upbringing, finding gratitude for the past experiences which crafted the man he is today. – David Brake

Ceo Trayle raps like he’s possessed by the demons that have kept him alive in the trenches. On his latest track, “Monsters” shows Trayle branding himself as the title sake. He threatens he doesn’t need to wear a vest, ready to exchange .223 shells. The dark alley trap beat sounds lighter in tone compared to the ATL rapper’s demonic vocal layering. During one moment, he names bullet types like they’re math equations. The violence is simply fundamental to him. – Anthony Malone

Kanye West finally released the deluxe version of Donda on Sunday (November 14) much to the surprise of his ever-loyal fans. Although the tracklist was slightly rearranged, the updated version of the Billboard 200 chart-topping album contained the André 3000 collaboration, “Life Of The Party,” which Drake leaked in September in an attempt to outsmart his contemporary. The song features the Outkast legend opening up about the loss of his mother, which fit the theme of Donda, the name of Kanye’s late mother who died in 2008. Many are already calling it “verse of the year.”



Each Earl Sweatshirt track is a gift that keeps giving. With each listen, his music expands and contracts, sharing textures, lyrics and notes unheard on the first play. “2010,” the former Odd Future rapper’s most recent track, is another excellent addition to his canon, containing heady bars layered between clever references, all over a wonderfully discordant beat from Black Noi$e.

Gangsta rap is a tradition that despite rap’s continued metamorphosis — will never die. Freddie Gibbs’ success is proof. Gangsta Gibbs links up with legendary LOX member Jadakiss to spit some truths over a soulful beat. It’s a meeting of the minds that hasn’t occurred since 2012, and the reunion is long overdue.



Morray has proven he can sing his heart out, but his rap skills have been severely underestimated. “Never Fail” ends all doubt, as he blazes through the track possessed. His speed rapping combined with a melodic tinge pairs well with Benny The Butcher’s straight forward approach. It’s full proof that the DX Rising Star has every tool to become a superstar.



Rick Ross is back in his Big Boss Bag with his latest single “Outlawz” featuring Atlanta spitter 21 Savage and R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan. Two years have passed since Ross released Port of Miami 2, and though he’s appeared on several other artists’ tracks such as DJ Khaled’s “THIS IS MY YEAR,” DJ Snake’s “Run It” and the remix to “How Many” by Guapdad 4000, “Outlawz” represents the Florida rapper’s first solo track in a while, building anticipation for his upcoming album.





mr.siLLyfLow, the most recent album from Houston MC TisaKorean is ripe with the absurd raps which first brought him attention in 2019 with “Dip (#thewoah),” but “Silly Achilles” stands apart from the pack. Taking influence from the sounds of Crunk, Bounce and Plugg music, Tisa’s music has the benchmarks of Texas rap, but it’s tweaked with his unflinching humor and captivating, exuberant voice.





The alleged familial bonds between Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar produced the most electrifying five minutes in Rap this year. Capitalizing off the momentum from their lead single “family ties,” the duo ratchet up the energy and the absurdity with every word on “range brothers.” There’s a jarring switch from elite rapping backed by cinematic overtures to the unhinged last minute of the track. The finale’s captivating back and forth is stuffed with quotables and ad-libs that rattle in your head for weeks, leaving you muttering “rollie gang” like a madman.



Brooklyn producer Tony Seltzer acts more like a luxury tailor than producer, precisely molding the production of his tracks to match the tone and energy of his collaborators. “Wyd” features a high-pitched droning that provides a perfect foil to MAVI’s laid-back, low-octave delivery. His rambles conversely feel measured and controlled, with every one of his melancholic words coming through clear as day.



Kanye West‘s DONDA was met with mixed reception, but none can deny the intoxicating energy of “Off The Grid.” Including vintage Yeezus-esque production and some of Ye’s best bars of the album, “Off The Grid” also features arguably the greatest verse in Fivio Foreign’s career and punchy bars from Playboi Carti. Kanye, who also executive produced Carti’s WHOLE LOTTA RED, clearly holds a lot of respect for the Atlanta rapper, as “Off The Grid” sounds like Yeezy’s take on Carti’s frenetic post-SoundCloud sonics.

 

Baby Keem has had one helluva month. He claimed the best verse on Kanye West’s long-awaited Donda album and has a hit with cousin Kendrick Lamar on “family ties.” The song was released after Kendrick announced his forthcoming album will be his last with Top Dawg Entertainment. It’s too soon to say what the future has in store for the iconic Compton rapper, but if Kendrick’s new album sounds anything like the turbulent hellfire of his verse on “family ties,” fans should be excited.

Keem, too, is due for a new album. Given that he’s released a slew of singles (including the Travis Scott-assisted “durag activities”) already in 2021, hopes are high the album is on its way.

Like the entire self-titled Vince Staples album, “Lil Fade” gets better every time it’s played. The warm, loopy Kenny Beats-produced instrumental coaxes a scrap of optimism from Staples, allowing him to develop a shimmering portrait of his life as he sees it.

The careful cinematography from Staples’ best work is present here, but it’s blurry at first and the scenes don’t seem to connect to one another. The lyrics travel in time, flickering between his current ivory tower and the struggle that raised him. Initially abstract, further listening allows “Lil Fade” to coalesce into a somber and elegant scene.

 

“Clash,” on top of being a highly anticipated collaboration between two of the U.K.’s most heralded artists, is a celebration. The track highlights two beacons of the British rap scene, with Dave ascending to the top and Stormzy’s place already solidified, trading outstanding verses for over four minutes. Each line delivered is an attempt to outclass the last with both rappers rattling off luxurious purchases in consecutive bars with disarming nonchalance.

The spoils earned from their artistic prowess is listed with a blasé indifference, Rolex watches and crocodile skin purses like are checked off like items on a grocery list. As Dave wades further into the pinnacle of his career thus far, all eyes are watching his next move, yearning for more collaborations of this caliber.



Isaiah Rashad pays homage to his Dirty South lineage with his latest album, The House Is Burning. The production is filled with nods to the codeine-induced grooves of UGK’s Pimp C and Outkast — cowbells, heavy bass and cipher-ready soundtracks.

“Wat U Sed” finds Zay in a schism between his two vices: money and women. He recalls a dream where he wasn’t counting dead presidents. He puts the women aside in the search for peace of mind. The track features appearances from the intoxicating Iamdoechii and TDE’s in-house producer Kal Banx. Iamdoechii’s vocals are airy as cotton candy as she provides a show-stealing performance. “What U Sed” makes it clear Zay knows how to have the perfect vibe for those nighttime car rides.

Lil Nas and Jack Harlow take pride in coming up as unlikely stars from their respective openly homosexual and Southern white middle class farm-raised personal backgrounds. They celebrate their come-up together on “INDUSTRY BABY,” gloating about their success in a fickle rap industry.

They’re still riding the wave beyond 15 minutes of fame after Lil Nas X’s Billboard country rap record breaker “Old Town Road” in 2019 and Harlow’s 2020 Tik Tok-driven mega single “WHAT’S POPPIN.” Both artists give their 16 bars on being a product of an industry which eventually opened up for them as Xennials were drawn to be their unhindered self-expression and authenticity.



Tyler, the Creator is a master at creating cohesive sonic landscapes on his albums. While his most recent album Call Me If You Get Lost, is no exception,“WUSYANAME” stands out with its lush instrumentation and teed up features from YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla $ign. Tyler always brings out the best in his guests and this is yet another example. From T’s humorous pick up lines to DJ Drama’s drops, the song should serve as a soundtrack to the summer of 2021.



Pi’erre Bourne’s skills as a rapper are still being honed, but on “42,” from The Life Of Pi’erre 5, the rapper/producer’s latest album, the artist showcases the maturity and growth he’s undergone over the course of the five-project series. Bourne rides the beat’s pocket as he croons over electric production, full of computerized chimes and swelling synths. Bourne’s been responsible for a number of catchy hooks over his career, but none can hold a flame to the exhilarating chorus of “42.”



Whenever J. Cole releases new music, the world pauses to listen. This held true for The Off-Season, Cole’s latest studio album, which caused Spotify to crash from an overload of traffic. Cole projects tend to be particularly divisive, but none can deny the epic “m y . l i f e”

With production from WU10, Cole and Jake One, “m y . l i f e” is not only the most complete song on The Off-Season, it holds the two best features of the project, including a verse from 21 Savage, whom Cole collaborated with on “A Lot.” Also included is a breathtaking hook from Morray, North Carolina’s hottest rookie.

One thing every Hip Hop fan has come to realize about Ohio’s Trippie Redd is the former SoundCloud rapper is one of the best in the business when it comes to picking beats. Look no further than “Miss The Rage,” Redd’s latest single with King Vamp himself, Playboi Carti. Produced by Loesoe, one of the sonic architects responsible for singles such as Lil Uzi Vert’s “Futsal Shuffle 2020″ and “Miss The Rage” has been highly anticipated since Redd shared a snippet on Instagram in December 2020. 

In the following months, “Miss The Rage” wormed its way into TikTok virality and spread like wildfire across the internet. Now, with the complete track available, one can see how the hype was warranted. In addition to being the best Hip Hop song in the month of May, “Miss The Rage” is one of Redd’s greatest musical contributions to date.

As her first release under the moniker Latto, “The Biggest” finds the 22 year old rap veteran doing some serious explaining. Why she changed her name, why the change took so long, how she plans to go forward, and most prominently why you should still kiss her ass.

Heavy bass, crystalline synth, and the trademark violin provide solid ground for her to unleash a full account of her growth, as well as a condemnation of cancel-happy internet dwellers. Her talent is undeniable, as is her love for her city, but “if it ain’t drama, then it’s overlooked.” She can’t stop the haters, but she can get too big to see them.

If news broke that Young Nudy was the actual grim reaper, rap fans would be surprised, but not that surprised. His voice is thin, yet ghastly, ideal for delivering his subversively terrifying bars. The horror he exudes is magnetic, prompting the listener to drop everything and submit an evil henchman application.

“2Face” is perhaps as complete an encapsulation of Nudy’s brand as exists. Still, you come away with only the blurriest view of the man, clearly a master of inspiring devotion while giving nothing away. G Herbo, known for disrupting tracks, falls in line here, as if he too fears the monster Young Nudy.

Coi Leray and Lil Durk are two of the most sought-after artists in rap, so it’s only natural that they would come together for a remix of “No More Parties.” Produced by Okaykhan and the explosive Maaly Raw, “No More Parties” has already netted over 15 million streams on Spotify alone after repeatedly going viral on social media.

The daughter of rap veteran Benzino, Coi Leray has found herself frequently in the news, often for her dramatic interactions with her father. But Leray already has two certified hits in “BIG PURR” and “No More Parties,” and her discography has never looked stronger. Meanwhile, Lil Durk has been one of Hip Hop’s most consistent artists, simultaneously unleashing street-focused anthems and radio-ready hits like “No More Parties.”





Drake’s Scary Hours 2 was met with enormous success, even for Drizzy’s high standards. The 6 God proved he doesn’t need more than three tracks to succeed. Drake became the first artist to debut in all three of the top slots on Billboard’s Hot 100 with the release. While all three tracks were bulletproof, “Wants and Needs” featuring Lil Baby stands out. Lil Baby has come a long way since “Yes Indeed,” his first collaboration with Drake. On “Wants and Needs,” the two superstar rappers are in fierce competition, pushing each other into their highest potential.

Only The Family’s compilation album Loyal Bros might have been disappointing overall, but “Hellcats & Trackhawks” makes the project’s mediocrity completely forgivable. “Hellcats & Trackhawks” serves as a potent reminder of Durkio’s roots in unflinching Drill music, as the Chicago rapper wastes no time in laying an onslaught of bars over thumping production from Nick Slowburnz. Durk has made it on nearly every roundup we’ve done, and it doesn’t seem like he’s letting up anytime soon.

With shots fired at the filming of “4 Da Gang”‘s music video, chaos shrouded the release of the hotly anticipated single from Roddy Ricch and HipHopDX Rising Star 42 Dugg. But the two rappers didn’t let the scandal overtake the song, which finally dropped at the start of April. The two young titans are electric on “4 Da Gang,” blessing listeners with just over two minutes of unrelenting energy over one of the best beats of the year from TayTayMadeIt.

This is Drake’s peak moment on his three-track potential album teaser Scary Hours EP. The “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” is an appropriate metaphor in the track title for 6ix God’s stans to chew up what’s arguably the most tasteful hot wings flavor on any menu. Drake enlists Rozay to ante up their Midas touch for the collaborative, hookless track as they steer through a barrage of bars about the glamorous celebrity life over an airy, obscurely filtered R&B vocal-sampled instrumental with subtle boom-bap drums to make rap traditionalist and the vibes crowds bop.



Cousins Young Dolph and Key Glock have undeniable chemistry. The two rap like they’re chilling at the cookout, catching family members up on their lives.  But just because there’s camaraderie doesn’t mean there isn’t room for competition. On the standout track from their new Dum & Dummer 2 mixtape, the two enter into a friendly contest over who can be the hardest flexer. Glock boasts about his good credit, sexual prowess and deciding not to buy a Ghost in favor of a Richard Mille… though he makes it clear he could have had a Ghost. Dolph jumps in flaunting his VVS stones in his glasses, making millions off ad-libs and turning fine women into freaks, sound effects included. By the time Dolph and Glock reveal their intentions to drop a country album, it becomes impossible to pick a winner.    

The triumphant brass kicking off “What It Feels Like” sounds like a coronation of the late great Nipsey Hussle’s spirited vocals. He runs another victory lap in the Hip Hop community’s collective heart as his “marathon continues.” The collaborative single featuring JAY-Z has an uplifting, black fist-in-the-air energy, which serves as the perfect match for urban cinema’s most powerful film of the new decade, Judas and the Black Messiah.

After listening to “Substance,” the latest track from 03 Greedo and Wiz Khalifa, one thing became clear: Greedo is a helluva singer. Originally released in 2018 on Greedo’s now-infamous The Wolf Of Grape Street, the Los Angeles-based rapper recruited the Wiz Khalifa for a revival of one of his greatest songs.

Khalifa, rapping through clouds of Zaza, drops a perky verse. The original might be over two years old, but it sounds fresher than ever.



After years of waiting, Whole Lotta Red — Playboi Carti’s follow-up to 2018’s classic Die Lit — finally arrived on Christmas. The reception was admittedly more mixed than was to be expected from a hotly anticipated album from one of rap’s true superstars. But whether you love it or you hate it, the project produced some true gems, including “Sky,” a synth-heavy, melody-forward anthem that has quickly outperformed its counterparts, and then went on to TikTok virality.

Art Dealer’s moody masterpiece of a beat sounds like Daft Punk dipped in lean and perfectly upholds the song’s structure, building drama for Carti’s cathartic chorus, which is easily the best hook on the entire album. 



Atlanta rapper KEY! closed out 2020 with the most cohesive album of his career, The Alpha Jerk, produced in entirety by New York’s underground bard Tony Seltzer. KEY! raps in a JPEGMAFIA-style stream of consciousness, pumping high-intensity bars that occasionally borderline on screaming. “My Puppy” is the standout track from an overall excellent project.

Tony pairs a whining, distorted synth with rounded, booming drums as KEY! uses the production like a playground, swinging from the monkey bars, taking rides down the slide and doing flips off the swings. 

Check back at the beginning of every month for updates and check out our other lists and our playlist below, which includes all of the songs mentioned in this article and more:

Contributing writers: David Brake, Trent Clark, Kyle Eustice, Jeremy Hecht, Devon Jefferson, Dana Scott, Ben Brutocao, Anthony Malone, Kia Turner, Matthew Ritchie & Josh Svetz.

Editor’s note: Songs from this list were released between December 2, 2020 – October 1, 2021.

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