The 20 Best Hip-Hop Songs Of 2023

“You Wish” – Flyana Boss

Flyana Boss had a breakout year with the help of “You Wish.” Bobbi Lanea and Folayan Kunerede trade colorful breakneck verses over production from indie producers Marky Style & Puda Beats.  

The eccentric e-girls’ “You Wish” has some of the year’s most memorable quotes. In fact, the bars “Hello, Christ/I’m ’bout to sin again/I said, ‘I love you’ to that man, but I’m not feelin’ him/I’m made of sugar, spice, Kanekalon and cinnamon” were used in over 170,000 videos across TikTok. The latter half of those bars sparked a fascinating online debate about race  and  appropriation.  

After the track dropped in June, the song went viral on social media, amassing 1.3 million on-demand streams in the US. According to Billboard, “You Wish” racked up another 2.1 million streams the following week. And if that wasn’t enough, the track landed them praise from Missy Elliott, who hopped on the hit’s remix with a Hall of Fame performance. — Marc Antonio “Spidey” Griffin

“Anxiety” – Sleepy Hallow ft. Doechii

2023 was a year of tumult for Sleepy Hallow, as the Brooklyn rapper was arrested and indicted on conspiracy charges. After his release on bail and before his day in court, the 23-year-old unleashed “Anxiety,” a record on which Sleepy conveys the fragility of his mental state in light of his legal ordeal. Produced by Great John, the instrumental is powered by a sample of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and twangy guitar riffs, giving Sleepy a stripped-down composition to muse over.

“Look, sh*t got me trippin’/ Fightin’ with my demons and my demons is winning,” the Flatbush rep raps on the opening verse, which finds him shunning romance and solidarity out of fear of betrayal. Admittedly enslaved by his feelings, Sleepy laments his struggle to express himself on “Anxiety,” all the while remaining stoic in the eye of the storm. Released as a single from his Boy Meets World album, “Anxiety” marks a departure from the typical Brooklyn drill record and the realization of its author’s potential. — Preezy Brown

“Deli” – Ice Spice

Ice Spice’s “Deli” pushes forward her signature slow-flow sound and punchline-driven bars into a higher-energy, twerk-ready anthem. She has never been afraid to shake what her mother gave her andt shows that she can also spit at a different, faster BPM. There’s no issue in her reminding listeners that she is a “baddie” when she also shows that she’s capable of switching up cadences and flows: “They all like, ‘Damn, Ice, your flow is the hardest’/ I’m not a regular artist, grrah, grrah/ Go ‘Ku and I’m just gettin’ started/ Baddies on baddies, they know how to move/ ‘Ooters on ‘ooters, they know how to ‘oot,” she spits. Simply put, Ice Spice has fun making her music, and the listeners seem to enjoy it too as it became her highest-charting solo record on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 41. — Armon Sadler

“Wish Me Well” – Little Brother

North Carolina rap duo Little Brother released new music for the first time in four years and demanded their respect on the groovy “Wish Me Well.” Trading bars with references to The Lox lyrics, Marvin Gaye, and Denzel Washington, the lyricists proved on the Deonis “Pumah” Cook-produced track why they’re regarded as two of the best to pick up a microphone. An undeniable chemistry radiates between the pair as they go back and forth without missing a beat. Confident lyrics boast the group’s status as creative visionaries. “Wish Me Well” was released along with “Glory Glory” for a two-track project. 

“We wanted to bless our fans with new music to show them we’re not leaning on nostalgia. After 20 years in the game, we’re still hungry and actively working to improve our craft,” said Phonte. 

“We hear and see the requests for new music. We felt it was time,” added Big Pooh. “Time to show our minds are still sharp and we’re only getting sharper.” — DeMicia Inman

“Ron Artest” – Babyface Ray & 42 Dugg

Detroit has emerged as one of the more self-contained locales in Hip-Hop and the city’s current generation of rap stars find more satisfaction in unity than rivalry. This has led to a number of explosive collaborations between the most popular artists in The Motor City, with one of them being “Ron Artest,” Babyface Ray‘s hit single featuring 42 Dugg. Produced by gerreaux and named after former NBA player Metta World Peace, the song is led by Ray, who has “mud” in his cup and money on his mind.

“Turn to a Warrior, put a dub on your head/ You don’t wanna work, put some drugs in his hand,” he raps, before later revealing the emotional scars sustained in the streets. Professing his affinity for luxury and disdain for cooperatives, Ray then hands off the mic to a then-incarcerated 42 Dugg, who declares his allegiance to his Collective Music Group and 4PF families in a brief stanza near the song’s end. — P.B.

“Rich Baby Daddy” – Drake ft. SZA and Sexyy Red

Some of Drake’s best songs end up being records he has never made before and may not ever make again. “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA fits that bill. It brings together a celestial sample of Jessica Domingo’s scintillating “Sounds Of JDOM Vol. 1,” a simple yet catchy Sexyy Red hook where she encourages women to “let that coochie breathe” while twerking, and strong verses from all three stars. Buried underneath the bouncy production and their musings over their lovers is Drizzy seemingly ready to leave the party life behind and settle down with one person. That is later confirmed on the outro of the record, where he interpolates Florence And The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” to sing about how he and the object of his affection should get a dog together. Lines like “I see the future and I can see you in it” or “I knew it was love when it started as a friendship” show that it’s more than infatuation and lust that is born on the dance floor. — A.S.

“Monte Carlo” – Hit-Boy And Big Hit ft. Dom Kennedy 

This year, Hit-Boy and his father Big Hit proved to be the ultimate collaborators with Dom Kennedy in the mix. On “Monte Carlo,” they transport listeners to the West Coast on a sunny afternoon, surrounded by palm trees, beautiful people, and colorful rides. 

Produced by Hit-Boy and Jansport J, the upbeat track perfectly samples Mary Jane Girls’ 1983 record “All Night Long.” Dom Kennedy kicks off “Monte Carlo” with a slick introduction followed by Hit-Boy proving to be more than a producer as he welcomes Big Hit into a new world in the remaining verses.

The track comes from Surf Or Drown 2, a collaborative effort from Hit-Boy and Big Hit issued in June, over a month after Big Hit’s release from prison. With 20 tracks, half being instrumentals, the project includes features from Big Sean and Garre. 

“[I’m excited] to be recognized as a real artist that gets his respect from spitting, and not just riding on my son’s coattail,” Big Hit detailed to Complex. “Because he can make anybody sound like that ni**a, but I’m really cut like that. [Adding Hit-Boy] is just like icing on the cake, but don’t get it fu**ed up, it’s still a bomb cake without the icing.” — D.I.

“Rodeo Dr” – Gunna

“Rodeo Dr” serves as the Robin to “Fukumean,” the Batman of Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse album. However, it should not be viewed as an understudy by any means. What the record may lack in anthemic quality, it makes up for in shifty rapping. The Atlanta rapper silences rumors that he is leaving YSL for Atlantic Records and dismisses those who think he will rethink his Alford plea due to internet jokes on “street loyalty” and the idea that he’s snitched. This is arguably the most inspired rapping he does on the album, from the cadences to the wordplay, to the vocal delivery. “F**k this sh*t, I’m still doin’ it for Jeff and Lil Keed and you know it’s RIP to the Pope,” he spits in the first verse. The record makes you want to take a trip to Rodeo Drive and try to experience the splendor that Gunna does, especially in the music video.  — A.S.

“All My Life” – Lil Durk ft. J. Cole

Chicago native Lil Durk took a break from drilling to drop the introspective hit “All My Life” this year, gaining assistance from J. Cole, who “smoked” him on the record, according to the Chicago rapper. Durk should not feel a way about that, however, as he holds his own on the song highlighting his evolution from a reckless street-runner to young gentleman looking to change his ways.  

“I done sat with the mayor and politicians, I’m tryna change the image/You can’t blame my past no more, I come from the trenches/ Some said I’d never be a superstar, but I know I’m different /I’m The Voice, but the system ain’t give me a choice,” he rapped of his environment influencing his past poor decisions.  

The masses were fans of his seeming evolution, as the Dr. Luke-produced track debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, becoming Durk’s 3^rd record to top the chart and Cole’s 2^nd.  

The track also garnered the two rappers a Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance. The nomination helped boost sales even more, resulting in it going double-Platinum six months after its release.  – Jessica “Compton” Bennett

“Sprinter” – Central Cee & Dave

UK rappers Central Cee and Dave dropped a heater with “Sprinter.” Jonny Leslie, Jo Caleb, Santan, Jim Legacy, TR, and Kyle Evans joined forces to produce the Latin-trap-inspired drill song. Both emcees deliver chilled flows backed by plush acoustic guitar strings and a chopped up angelic choir sample.  

“Sprinter” finds both men trading bars about the ills of fame, desirable women, and their lifestyle. Witty wordplay takes “Sprinter’s” driver’s seat. Cee and Dave pump the brakes on women abuse, trauma, and more. Also, the song is just catchy as hell. “Take a look at these diamonds wrong, it’s a life of squintin’, can’t just stare/With bae through thick and thin/She already thick, so I’m halfway there,” Dave cleverly rhymes. “Sprinter” found success on the global charts. The track debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles and No. 2 on Billboard‘s US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles charts.  — M.A.G.

“Princess Diana (Remix)” – Ice Spice ft. Nicki Minaj

Looking to continue the momentum from inescapable hits like “Munch” and “In Ha Mood,” Ice Spice had something to prove in 2023. Her insatiable “Spice Cabinet” fanbase wasn’t ready to watch her rapid rise slow down anytime soon, and luckily, the 23-year-old talent had an extra special treat on her debut EP that would wind up taking her career to the next level.

“Princess Diana” instantly became an undeniable standout track from her January 2023 Like…? project. The song played on an endearing insider between her and her fans, as they jokingly compared her to the late British royal family member due to their comparable “people’s champ” auras. “In the hood, I’m like Princess Diana,” she raps on the RIOT-produced banger. 

Then, Nicki Minaj swiftly swooped in and knighted Ice Spice by blessing her with a verse — almost every New York City rap girl’s ultimate dream. Hand in hand, the duo delivered one of the most fun generation-bridging Hip-Hop moments of the year, and did so dressed in hot pink from head to toe.  — Regina Cho

“The Secret Recipe” – Lil Yachty ft. J. Cole

Lil Yachty has been on a run this year. He began 2023 with his psychedelic rock album Let’s Start Here and helped catapult his Concrete Boys rap crew. However, his track “The Secret Recipe,” featuring J. Cole, is undoubtedly one of his most significant Hip-Hop contributions this year. Produced by Rawbone, 98K, and Lil Yachty himself, the track is a laidback composition featuring the two rappers talking their sh*t.

Lil Boat’s verse shows off a lyrical improvement and employs an unorthodox flow to flex his wealth. Yachty also asserts that he’s “the secret recipe” to other rapper artists’ success. Cole steals the show with yet another possible verse-of-the-year contender. The North Carolina vet vents his frustrations with Hip-Hop’s current landscape. Jermaine also clears up rumors of beef and aims at internet activists using Black plight for monetary gain. With no hook, “The Secret Recipe” peaked at No. 92 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and No. 31 on their Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.  — M.A.G.

“Worth It” – Offset ft. Don Toliver

Offset’s “Worth It” arguably has the best sample of Busta Rhymes’ “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.” Paired with Don Toliver’s vocals, the former Migos member effortlessly floats on the smooth ChaseTheMoney and Heavy Mellow-produced beat. Unlike his first two singles, “FAN,” and “Jealousy” with his wife Cardi B, Offset owns his wrongdoings and willingly “lays in the bed he made.” Toliver smoothly sings, “You got me, got me workin’/ I hope it’s worth it/ You told me you’re with him on purpose/ You’re doin’ whatever to hurt me.”

The track is relatable and speaks to imperfect relationships that have still thrived through the ups and downs. In real life, the 31-year-old has dealt with scandalous, cheating rumors, and “Worth It” seems to be a way for Set to express that he’s imperfect. “Worth It” hails from his second solo album, Set It Off, which peaked at No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. — Amber Corrine

“Turn Yo Clic Up” – Quavo ft. Future

“Turn Yo Clic Up” is the first release from Rocket Power that showed fans that Quavo wouldn’t stay down for long. The track is reminiscent of the nostalgic, high-energy speaker-knocking tracks that fans are used to from the Migos. The song is not only a hit because of its permeating beat made by Atake, Basobeats, Sluzyyy, and Macshooter49, but also because of its braggadocious, yet liberating lyrics.

Although Future delivers a toxic verse where he, yet again, name-drops his exes and Ciara’s husband, Quavo touches on his riches and desire to win with those around him. He raps, “If my dawg get low on his pockets, I’m pickin’ ’em up/ We came from the bottom together, my ni**a, we get it, we splittin’ it up.” “Turn Yo Clic Up” peaked at No. 83 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and No. 24 on their Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. — A.C.

“8am in Charlotte” – Drake

Drake added another chapter to his fan-favorite timestamp series with “8am in Charlotte,” his first official addition since 2021’s “7am On Bridle Path.” This record came one day before he released For All The Dogs and led many to get excited at the idea that he would release a full rap album, understandably. The underground sound mediator in producer Conductor Williams’ beat is loaded with the 6 God essentials: a soulful vocal sample, steady drums, scintillating, and ample space for him to get hard bars off. The Toronto superstar spits about the loyalty to his crew and rap partner 21 Savage, making clever flips of the words “Yugoslavian” and “Czechoslovakian.” Later, he mentions how he hands hits over to other artists without wanting anything in return and his plan to hold grudges against his opponents until he’s much older. It is the quintessential big flex, paranoia-laced, anti-hero bars that has made Drizzy beloved throughout the last few years and a reminder of what he can do when he simply raps.  — A.S.

“Red Ruby Da Sleeze” – Nicki Minaj

“Red Ruby Da Sleeze” served as an introduction to Nicki Minaj’s latest persona who lyrically annihilates anyone in her way. The single, which dropped in March, samples Lumidee’s “Never Leave You (Uh Oh),” giving the 2003 single a new resurgence. 

The opening line of the track sets the tone for the entire song as Minaj gets into her braggadocio bag, reminding others why she’s the best-selling woman rapper and one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Declaring she’s still the reigning queen of rap (months after having a public blowout with Latto), Minaj addressed how she felt about those who had been trying her all year. She raps, “Only on them C’s if it’s breeze/ Red Ruby Da Sleeze/ Chinese on my sleeve/ These wannabe Chun-Li’s, anyway, Ni-Hao/ Who the f**k told bi**hes they was me now?” 

Similar to the energy of  “Chun Li,” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” saw Minaj address her opps like she’s done in the past on 2017’s diss, “No Frauds” with Drake and Lil Wayne, and 2022’s “We Go Up” feat. Fivio Foreign. The Go Grizzly and Cheeze Beatz-produced single peaked at No. 13 on the BIllboard Hot 100 chart and No. 4 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. — A.C.

“Peaches and Eggplants” – Young Nudy feat. 21 Savage

A standout track from Young Nudy’s Gumbo album, “Peaches and Eggplants” featuring his cousin, 21 Savage, was made for the strip club. The song title itself refers to the emoji often used in hot and heavy text message conversations in place of intimate body parts. The looming Coupe-produced beat is brightened when he begins to speak as the track starts. 

“That how it sound when I hit your h*e, it be like this,” he raps before ringing off the signature “Boaw, Boaw” onomatopoeia that repeats throughout the hook and verses. He continues to describe his habit of slutting out freaks. 21 Savage begins his verse with an interpolation of K-Rab and BHI’s 2006 track “Bubblegum” sharing appreciation for girls from East Atlanta. 

“Honestly, that was his choice! He [21 Savage] wanted to hop on the motherfu**er. He heard it and was like, ‘What’s that lil boaw boaw song that you got? Let me hop on that sh*t,’ and we just made it happen,” Young Nudy told Billboard. 

The two artists tag teamed on “Peaches And Eggplants” with explicit one-liners and cheeky sexual innuendo. After the song’s initial release in February, Young Nudy updated it with a remix featuring Sexyy Red and Latto. Although the raunchy reimagining was unneeded, it ushered the track to new territory. After the remix, “Peaches And Eggplants” became Young Nudy’s highest-charting song and his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist; it climbed to the No. 33 spot. The track also landed at No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. — D.I.

“Fukumean” – Gunna

Gunna’s “Fukumean” quickly developed into a song that yields a Pavlovian response. From the opening notes to the “fukumean,” which sounds like it was yelled from the bottom of a valley and the “eyuh” ad-lib, the record has made listeners stop what they are doing and sing along.

It doesn’t stray too far from Gunna’s proven formula of triumphant song-making, but hits differently given his perception based on the belief that he “snitched” on his labelmates in the YSL RICO case. As a result, it makes the song’s peak even more anthemic: “I’m in this bi**h with P Litty/ QP, QPskiiii.” The organic fan reception that grew over time and Gunna regaining fan support carried this record to its peak position of No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 almost two months after it came out. 

At his first show since being released from jail, Gunna played Barclays Center in September and led the crowd in a rousing karaoke session of the entire record. It is one of the most natural hits to come out over the last few years. Much like his album as a whole, the success of this song signified how people will overlook almost anything when the music is good. Just when it seemed like Gunna would be written off for good, he hit the world with an emphatic “Fukumean?” — A.S.

“Put It On Da Floor Again” – Latto ft. Cardi B

It’s always an extra special feat when a loosie winds up taking on a life of its own and becoming the highlight of an artist’s year, as it exemplifies the organic infatuation with a record. With no agenda other than to remind folks that she’s really the one, Latto dropped off “Put It On Da Floor” this June and lit up the entire summer.  

Laced with a menacing beat co-produced by Go Grizzly, Squat, and Pooh Beatz, the track checks off every box: a memorable opening, raw bars, and cultural impact. Its enticing introduction, “Rip me out the plastic, I been actin’ brand new,” single-handedly spawned a hilarious trend that had thousands of TikTok users reaching under their sink and grabbing their plastic bags to participate. 

Just when fans thought the heater was already at its maximum setting, enter Cardi B. The Bronx native took the offering to another level with her signature flair, proving that the higher she rises, the more she extends her hand back to prop up the rap girls who are following her lead. Thanks to the “Bodak Yellow” rhymer’s charismatic verse, the remix debuted at No. 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The impact of “Put It On Da Floor” was memorialized at this year’s BET Awards, where Latto delivered a standout performance of the record — equipped with a charming supermarket theme to play on the song’s opening bar and the trend it created. She ended the night by taking home the win for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, putting a cherry on top of her triumphant chapter. — R.C.

“SkeeYee” – Sexyy Red

All anthems aren’t created equal. Some are evident from the time they’re presented for mass consumption, while others subconsciously arrest your attention over time. The latter was the case for “SkeeYee” by Sexyy Red. It evolved from a fan-favorite into an inescapable jam that defined the past calendar year in terms of ubiquity and cultural fanfare. The fourth single from her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess, “SkeeYee” was preceded by thumpers like “Born By the River” and the Nicki Minaj-assisted remix to her breakout smash “Pound Town.”

Yet, the biggest record of the batch proved to be hiding in plain sight. After gaining momentum on social media and seeing rising interest in Hood Hottest Princess, “SkeeYee” was officially released as a single in summer 2023, just in time to solidify its standing as the song of the season. The first record to peak atop the TikTok Billboard Top 50, “SkeeYee” rose all the way to No. 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Produced by Tay Keith, DJ Meech, and BanBwoi, “SkeeYee” is a celebratory rallying cry for the “baddest bi**hes” in the club who are the envy of onlookers of both genders. Requisite cultural references (“Ni**as tryna shoot they shot, Stephen Curry) were dropped amid brazen sexual innuendo and menacing allusions to gunplay. From its quaking beat to its infectious one-liners, “SkeeYee” covers all of the parameters that constitute a tune that’s simply undeniable and built to stand the test of time. — P.B.