2020...1 Star. Very bad. Would not recommend. The consensus opinion is in and it's very clear...2020 was a disaster. But at least we had music to lift our spirits. After a slow and tepid start, hip hop finally gave us some anthemic songs to help us protest, push back, put in perspective and of course, escape the myriad of troubling issues that we collectively faced.
I am sure I forgot or just missed some great tracks altogether. But nevertheless, even in the hot mess of 2020, I relished the opportunity to take stock of the music that moved me. Below, in alphabetical order, are my 25 favorite songs of the year (Top Albums coming soon). Read, listen, argue, share, and hit me back to express your beefs. But above all...enjoy.
33 – POLO G (Produced by DJ Ayo) – Polo is back with more cautionary tales about gangsta life survival, this time while paying subtle homage to Chi legend Scottie Pippen.
Burden Of Proof – BENNY THE BUTCHER (Produced by Hit-Boy) – The Butcher kicks in the door of mainstream hip hop, spittin’ hard coke bars over a harder Hit-Boy track.
Dragonball Durag – THUNDERCAT (Produced by Thundercat & Flying Lotus) – One listen and you’ll be convinced that Thundercat is right when he says a durag is a “superpower to turn your swag on.”
For The Night – POP SMOKE (Ft. Lil Baby & DaBaby) (Produced by Wylo, Mike Dean, Daniel Moras, Raab, Palaze, Jess Jackson and CashMoneyAP) – A slinky, syrupy earworm that sticks to you like a cheap suit on a humid day. Maybe the best song from an album full of monster hits.
Freeze Tag – DINNER PARTY (Ft. Cordae & Phoelix) (Produced by Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin & 9th Wonder) – Jazz meets hip hop meets neo soul, brought to life by some of the most gifted composers on the planet. Plus bars from Cordae. I’m buying whatever they’re selling.
Good Intentions – NAV (Produced by Nav, Pro Logic, Wallis Lane & Jack Lomastro) – Nothing new here from Nav. Just another hazy joyride that’s fully detached from everybody's reality except his own.
Hard Life – SAULT (Produced by Inflo) – Pro-black world music with trunk rattling boom bap. Sounds like something Soul To Soul might have dropped back in ’89. Super, extra dope.
Hate The Other Side – JUICE WRLD (Ft. Marshmello & The Kid Laroi) (Produced by Marshmello) – “I got pain in my heart, I told you a hundred times…” Juice Wrld’s gift for expressing anguish was unmatched. RIP young man. We hope your soul is at rest.
How I Move – FLIPP DINERO (Ft. Lil Baby) (Produced by Kyle Stemberger & Pluto Beats) – This song’s got one of those melodic hooks that never gets old. But it’s the flutes that did it for me tho.
I Do It – LIL WAYNE (Ft. Big Sean & Lil Baby) (Produced byRex Kudo & Charlie Handsome) – This is a 360 windmill dunk of a track. Slick bars, slippery flows and a sick beat. Degree of difficulty: off the charts.
Laugh Now Cry Later – DRAKE (Ft. Lil Durk) (Produced by Cardo, G. Ry, Yung Exclusive & Chahayed) – I gotta be honest. I didn’t really feel this track until I saw the video. Now I can’t get it out of my head.
Lemonade – INTERNET MONEY (Ft. Don Toliver, Gunna & Nav) (Produced by Taz Taylor, Nick Mira, Alec Wigdahl, E-Trou & Pharaoh Vice) – Over a lovely acoustic guitar, Internet Money assembles a hit squad to croon Xanny bars about their love for sex, drugs and the rock star life…and money…and jewels…but mostly drugs.
Life Is Good – FUTURE (Ft. Drake) (Produced by D. Hill, Oz & Ambezza) – “Working on the weekend like usual…” Drake delivers the best line of the year on this pre-Covid moonshot. 2020 might have been rough for many, but in Future and Drake’s world the lavish life rolled on unabated.
Lockdown – ANDERSON PAAK (Produced by Anderson Paak & J. LBS) – Conscious hip hop was m.i.a. in 2020 until Anderson Paak stepped up to meet the BLM moment with eloquent vocals about racial injustice over this bouncy, laid back track from J. LBS.
Look Over Your Shoulder – BUSTA RHYMES (Ft. Kendrick Lamar) (Produced by Nottz) – Busta Rhymes is in excellent form here, and Nottz MJ sample is magical…but this track is all about the verse from Kendrick.
No Commas – D SMOKE (Produced by J. LBS) – Propelled by revolutionary drums and pristine keys from producer J. LBS, D Smoke puts the world on notice with blistering vocals in 2 languages.
Respect It – BIG SEAN (Ft. Young Thug) (Produced by G-Dav, Corbett & Hit-Boy) – There are a lot of hits to choose from on Detroit 2, but this is the one I keep coming back to. Like Sean’s best work, it’s a deceptively clever rhymefest masquerading as a straightforward brag session.
Rockstar (BLM Remix) – DABABY (Ft. Roddy Ricch) (Produced by SethInTheKitchen) – With its soaring cords, soulful singing and unforgettable chorus, Rockstar was already anthemic. Then DaBaby’s BLM remix verse made it indelible.
Savage Remix – MEGAN THEE STALLION (Ft. Beyonce) (Produced by J. White Did It) – Megan officially ascends to the head of the class with a co-sign from Bey (who reminds us once again that she can seriously flow). Dazzling, dymanic and simply undeniable.
Spicy – NAS (Ft. Fivio Foreign & A$AP Ferg) (Produced by Hit-Boy) – Nas sounds energized on this Hit-Boy party starter, throwing down the gauntlet with extra spicy couplets and daring the young guns to keep pace.
Sum 2 Prove – LIL BABY (Produced by Twysted Genius) – Aided by a dark and sinister Twysted Genius groove, Lil Baby continues to soar above your average trap rapper with vivid storytelling and relentless drive.
The Climb Back – J. COLE (Produced by J. Cole) – So soulful. So deep. So crafty. Bear witness to a GOD MC at the top of his game. Cole is operating at a level here that few have ever been able to reach. I’m out of platitudes. This is special talent on display.
The Light – JOEY BADA$$ (Produced by Statik Selektah) – “This is mumble rap extermination / this is Godly interpolation / this is that ‘who your top 5’? conversation”. Joey and Statik are locked in here with a righteous true school banger that skillfully blurs the line between contemporary and classic.
The Way – TRIPPIE REDD (Ft. Russ) (Produced by Igor Mamet, Pearl Lion & Angel Lopez) – If you had told me last year that I’d have a sad love song by Trippie Redd and Russ on my list of favorite songs, I would have laughed and said that 2020 will be a very strange year. Well…here we are.
Whats Poppin – JACK HARLOW (Produced by JetsonMade, Pooh Beatz, & LosTheProducer) – It’s hard to decide what makes this song so irresistible, Jack Harlow’s goofy swagger or that piano loop at the heart of the impossibly catchy production. Either way, it’s all working. Just roll with it.
Plus 50 More That Were Too Good To Leave Out:
4 Thangs – Freddie Gibbs (Ft. Big Sean & Hit-Boy) / 1985 – Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist / Agenda – Grafh (Ft. Royce Da 5’9”) / Afrikan Children – Salaam Remi (Ft. Chronixx & Black Thought) / All In – Lil Baby / A Song For Fathers – Skyzoo / Back Roads – Nappy Roots / Best Interest – Tyler The Creator / Black Savage – Royce da 5’9 (Ft. Sy Ari Da Kid, White gold, Cyhi The Prynce & T.I.) / C12H16N2 – Action Bronson / Dangerookipawaa Freestyle – Ab-Soul / Deep Reverence – Big Sean (Ft. Nipsey Hussle) / Demons & Goblins – Fivio Foreign (Ft. Meek Mill) / Don’t Go – Busta Rhymes (Ft. Q-Tip) / Fear Of God – Conway The Machine (Ft. Dej Loaf) / Father Figure – Tobe Nwigwe (Ft. Royyce da 5’9 & Black Thought) / Feel A Way – 2 Chainz (Ft. Kanye West & Brent Faiyaz) / Flex - Polo G (Ft. Juice Wrld) / Gifted – Cordae (Ft. Roddy Ricch) / Godzilla – Eminem (Ft. Juice Wrld) / GTA – Meek Mill (Ft. 42 Dugg) / Hit My Line – Logic / Huntin Season – Jadakiss (Ft. Pusha T) / King Of My City – A Boogie With The Hoodie / Kickback – 2% Reese (Ft. Cbreezy) / Kites - Distmos & Jason Jump (Ft. Ras Kass) / K Lo K – Tory Lanex (Ft. Fivio Foreign) / L.L.L.L. (Love Life Live Large) – Dizzee Rascal & Chip / Might Not Make It – Reason / Off My Mind – Statik Selektah (Ft. Rome Streetz, Fly Anakin Halie Supreme) / One Way Flight – Benny The Butcher (Ft. Freddie Gibbs) / Ooh la la - Run the Jewels (Ft. Greg Nice & DJ Premier) / Out On Bail – YG / Paint A Picture – J-Live / Perfect – Logic / Pig Feet - Denzel Curry + Terrace Martin (Ft.. Daylyt, Kamasi Washington, & G Perico) / Quiet Trip – Black Thought (Ft. Portugal The Man & The Last Artful, Dogr) / Simply Done – Armani Caesar (Ft. Benny The Butcher) / Sleepless Nights – Dinner Party (Ft. Buddy, Reuben Vincent & Phoelix) / Sweatpants Spiderman – Open Mike Eagle / The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady - Kid Cudi & Eminem / The Code – King Von (Ft. Polo G) / The Scotts – Travis Scott & Kid. Cudi / The Woo – Pop Smoke (Ft. 50 Cent & Roddy Ricch) / Tyler Herro – Jack Harlow / Ultrablack – Nas (Ft. Hit-Boy) / Universal Soldier - Jay Electronica (Ft. Jay-Z) / Will – Joyner Lucas / Wrong Wit Me – Pardison Fontaine / Thugged Out Zombies – eLZhi
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