One Great Song From Great Hip-Hop Albums in Recent Memory

Slowthai puts his character and integrity over a dollar, and packages it in a gloomy, brooding package.

Album: Tyron

As a Memphis crunk revivalist, Duke Deuce‘s talent lies in harkening back to the old days while still adding in a modern twist. Here, he recruits A$AP Ferg for a track that would’ve shut down parties all across the country if we weren’t in a pandemic when it dropped.

Album: Duke Nukem

Usually known for their obscure sports references and sense of humor, L.A. duo BlueBucksClan come up with a song on which they describe themselves from the eyes of an overzealous hater. Hilarity (and many a sharp couplet) ensue.

Album: Clan Virus 2

Rod Wave‘s music has always been personal and somber. “Tombstone” is about the relief of the afterlife while living in the present, where he feels pulled in too many different directions.

Album: SoulFly

The late Young Dolph was taken from the world much too soon last November. On his last project before his death, Dum and Dummer 2, Dolph and his cousin Key Glock do what they do best: work off each other’s energy and rap at a high level.

Album: Dum and Dummer 2

The Neptunes step into a time machine and revert back to their late 2000’s style on this track, which is the perfect canvas for Moneybagg Yo to rap about how he narrowly survived hustling before he became a rap star.

Album: A Gangsta’s Pain

An unsung aspect of Conway The Machine‘s talent is he sounds solid over any style of rap production. Here, he gets loose over a borderline trap beat with a polished hook to boot.

Album: La Maquina

Nothing says “I’m back” like getting a feature on a well-respected rapper’s track a few months after being released from prison like Rowdy Rebel did with this one. He shines right alongside Young Thug, one of the most talented artists out there.

Album: Slime Language 2

J. Cole likens rap to working a 9-to-5, and also navigates the fact that his success hinges on the pain of his past.

Album: The Off-Season

Originally taking off as a snippet, “Eeenie Meenie” finds Baby Tate having fun with a tongue-in-cheek spin on being a woman with plenty of suitors to choose from or dismiss. She’s not tripping too hard on how they feel about that.

Album: After The Rain: Deluxe

An underground rapper who has been working for a while, but is getting his just deserts now, Mach-Hommy is one of the nicest. “Murder Czn” illustrates his haunting singing ability along with his upper-tier lyricism after Westside Gunn sets the scene.

Album: Pray For Haiti

Pi’erre Bourne has locked in the label of being one of most talented producers of the last five years, and he also likes to rap. “Drunk And Nasty” is a fun song that describes a late night rendezvous, composed perfectly from the lyrics to the hook and beat.

Album: The Life Of Pi’erre 5

Tyler, The Creator has evolved as an artist in different arenas over the years. He’s become better with time, from his rhymes to his production, and even his music became more experimental. “Hot Wind Blows” is a showing of two revered MCs kicking it while performing at a high level.

Album: Call Me If You Get Lost

Vince Staples‘ self-titled album is incredible and personal, and on “The Shining,” he shares why he’ll never leave his neighborhood of Long Beach, Calif. behind, even though he has the money to do so whenever he wants.

Album: Vince Staples

There isn’t much that’s outside of Yung Bleu‘s wheelhouse in the studio. He raps, sings and producers, too. Here, he turns in an excellent vocal performance alongside Kehlani for a song about preferring to keep a fantasy going even as it falls apart.

Album: Moon Boy

On this aptly titled song, Boldy James shares a tale in which he gets jammed up in a criminal investigation by someone he isn’t that close to. The Alchemist crafts a classic beat and Boldy’s vivid imagery shines.

Album: Bo Jackson

Over an oddly haunting beat, Westside Gunn continues his streak of kicking off verses perfectly, and every bar in his verse lands. Then Boldy comes on and weaves in clever biblical references to rap about surviving the streets and jail.

Album: Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf

On a song that could’ve easily slotted onto his 2020 album Wunna, Gunna displays everything that makes him such a famous and successful act on “Flooded.” He’s got a signature flows that blends right into the beat and never lets go. No one makes being rich sound flyer.

Album: DS4EVER

Chief Keef‘s 4NEM has a throwback appeal in that it sounds like the music he was making when he first blew up as a teenager. What has changed is he is an even better rapper now, and “See Through” has the energy of his old days, with the developed sense of humor and lyricism of his current form.

Album: 4NEM

More than two years after his passing, Juice WRLD is still praised as a venerated artist—one that flipped what it means to be a rock star in rap on its head. “Doom,” the dark, dreary album cut, is about dealing with drugs and depression, while experiencing new love and musical success.

Album: Fighting Demons