Top hip hop songs of 2018

The year of 2018 blessed us with a wide range of quality music, especially from the hip hop genre. With many of our favorite artists in the game releasing new songs this year, or with some showing their evolution as artists with new sound, 2018 proved to be a great year of music.  The year is swiftly coming to a conclusion so here are some of the top hip hop songs of 2018.

Lil Baby and Gunna- “Drip Too Hard”

The dynamic duo from Atlanta cooked up a stand-out hit with “Drip Too Hard.” Drip gods Lil Baby and Gunna, aided by production from Turbo the Great, flow effortlessly about their success as young rappers over an instrumental defined by its booming bass and cutting guitar. This single set the hype for their collaborative album Drip Harder and took the duo to new heights of fame in 2018.

A$AP Rocky feat. Frank Ocean- “Purity”

When Testing dropped and it was discovered that we would be getting a song with A$AP Rocky and Frank Ocean himself, we knew that “Purity” would be astounding. On this beautiful collaboration between two of music’s best artists, Frank Ocean finally emerged from wherever he hides to aid Rocky in making a truly soul-soothing track. Whether it’s Frank singing about finding peace, the calming strum of the guitar on the instrumental or Rocky rapping about facing his demons, this song has a quantity of reason as to why it is one of the best of the year.

Drake- “Nice For What”

Finding inspiration from the New Orleans bounce music scene, Drake put out yet another hit with “Nice For What.” With a flow reminiscent of old Drake and a Lauryn Hill sample on the instrumental, this song is an example of Drizzy at his best. Paying more homage to the great city, New Orleans legend Big Freedia is even on the song, setting the transition into the bounce part of the song that everyone can wild out.

Travis Scott feat. Don Toliver- “CAN’T SAY”

While “SICKO MODE” may be the most popular song from Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD, “CAN’T SAY” continues to be the best track off the album and one of the best tracks of the year. From the winding, spacy instrumental that takes you off the Earth to Travis and Don Toliver rapping about the squad, girls and getting the guap to the chopped and screwed sample of DJ DMD’s “25 Lighters,” “CAN’T SAY” proves to be the standout from a fantastic album.

Playboi Carti- “FlatBed Freestyle”

“FlatBed Freestyle” is a prime example of why people love Playboi Carti. The Atlanta rapper deployed his signature mumble-rap style over an upbeat instrumental mixed with a wide array of fun ad-libs, from the “BUH! BUH! BUH” in the intro to Carti making “pew” sounds. Carti’s style of rap might not be for everyone, but take one listen to this song and you’ll understand why it is one of the best tracks of the year.

Young Thug feat. 6lack- “Climax”

Young Thug has continued to transform his sound over the years and has proven to excel at whatever musical avenue he decides to go down. “Climax” featuring fellow Atlanta musician 6lack, who put out a great album this year, is a tantalizing mix of country and hip hop, with soft guitar marrying slapping bass. A fire verse from 6lack, along with Thug singing on the hook before dropping a fire verse of his own, makes this song one of the best of 2018.

6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj- “FEFE”

While people have split opinions on Tekashi 6ix9ine due to all of the crazy stuff he’s done, one fact is that he knows how to make fire music. “FEFE,” featuring Nicki Minaj, is a party banger that gets any function lit in a second. 6ix9ine’s choppy flow leading into slappin’ beat drops and Nicki flowing on the track without saying anything TOO outlandish make “FEFE” one of the best tracks of the year.

The year of 2018 was very kind to fans of hip hop and has set up what should potentially be another great year of music next year. If 2018 taught us anything, it is that hip hop is slowly evolving as a genre, as many of rap’s stars evolve and continue to tinker with their sound. Thanks for a great year of music, 2018; here’s to an even better 2019.