1. Wifisfuneral - Run That Shit Da Fuck Up
haven’t looked at a carti song the same way since
2. Young Jeezy - “Goldmine” (Big Korey, DJ Montay & Doda)
it’s kind of inexplicable that this tape hit #1 billboard 200, but also it’s pretty explicable if you listen to this song
3. Quavo - “Trapstar” (Murda Beatz)
still unclear if quavo can maintain my attention for longer than 2 minutes by himself in anything other than the musical equivalent of a one-scene-skit, but even restrained to that restrictive sort of framework, he’s really fucking something else
4. The Weeknd - “Reminder” (Cirkut, DJ Mano, Doc McKinney & Sir Dylan)
this is the one
5. Lil Aaron - “4 More Drinks/Pink Fenty Slides” (Brenton Duvall, Dylan Brady, Judge Beats & Y2K)
i love this particular autotune-and-sliding-bass rabbithole of hip-hop so much
6. Nessly - “Relocate” (Captain Crunch)
the zaytoven “ah” in the background is beyond perfect because it’s a constant reminder of how this song is at the same time just a simple extension of travis scott, but also so much more. it lilts
7. 55 Bagz - “Lie 2 You” (Y.I.B)
there is indeed beauty in simplicity
8. G Herbo - “Crazy” (Chase Davis)
i know this sample from somewhere else but it’s tough for me to care – it’s herbo’s now
9. NBA YoungBoy - “Life”
embodies the “uncomfortably celebratory” tone
10. Lil Uzi Vert & Gucci Mane - “Changed My Phone” (Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E.)
yeah i don’t really know if this song is really that good but it makes me want to go become a professional athlete and win a trophy and sit on top of a parade float waving my championship cap while playing this really loud
11. Tate Kobang - “Chirp” (Casa Di & TGO Soze)
0:57-0:59
12. Rich the Kid - “New Wave” feat. Famous Dex (Retro Sushi)
been really into songs about incredibly simple concepts that sound incredibly good, this is one of them
13. Future - “Used to This” feat. Drake (Zaytoven)
you probably know what this song sounds like even if you haven’t heard it before. rest assured, it’s as good as it appears
14. Xavier Wulf & BONES - “Did You Hear? Roads are Closed” (White Shinobi)
ice, stone, cold
15. Saba - “Stoney” feat. Phoelix & BJRKNC (Phoelix & Saba)
the first minute of this song is as perfect as any piece of music this year. i’ve tried to write a sentence that captures how much i care about this minute over and over for this and i’ve just given up. he gets a life free pass
16. KingJet - “Necklace” (CZ & KingJet)
0:15-0:22
17. Felix Snow - “Love” feat. Lil Uzi Vert (Felix Snow)
this is the best lil uzi vert song ever and it isn’t particularly close
18. Kevin Abstract - “I Do (End Credits)” (BLACK MONDAY, Joba, Kevin Abstract, Michael Uzowuru & Romil)
this is one of the best songs of the year from one of the best artists of the year off of one of the best albums of the year. wins off its concept alone but that’s a wildly, unfairly reductive box to put a song that’s beyond ridiculous.