The 38 Best Rap Songs of 2021

Pay attention: Remble, “Gordon R Freestyle”

Rio Da Yung OG: “Final Day Out”

Vulnerability isn’t normally Rio Da Yung OG’s forte. The unpredictable and hilarious Flint, Michigan rapper is commonly too busy delivering punchlines about robbing the plug whereas his son watches, or punishing his girlfriend’s child for interrupting whereas they had been getting busy, to get into his emotions. “Final Day Out” is totally different. It’s a short lived goodbye as he prepares for a jail sentence. All through the monitor, he self-reflects, takes a visit down reminiscence lane, and leaves his quick household and fellow Flint rappers with parting phrases. He tries to shrug it off, however you’ll be able to inform he’s crushed. –Alphonse Pierre

Pay attention: Rio Da Yung OG, “Last Day Out”

Rxk Nephew: “American tterroristt”

On this almost 10-minute barrage, the rambling and unpredictable RXKNephew reels off sufficient nonsensical conspiracy theories to make Joe Rogan assume: This man is basically onto one thing! The wildest ones—in regards to the COVID vaccine inflicting mutations and dinosaurs discovering electrical energy earlier than Benjamin Franklin—would possibly stand out at first, however maintain listening. I imply, factors are made right here: The Bible does have numerous plot holes! Algebra is a few bullshit! And let’s face it, they knew Kelly Clarkson would win American Idol all alongside! You won’t need to elect Nephew to any faculty boards, however hear him out. –Alphonse Pierre

Pay attention: Rxk Nephew, “American tterroristt”

Saweetie: “Finest Good friend” [ft. Doja Cat]

Only a few years in the past, mainstream collabs between ladies in rap had been as uncommon as a real Notes app apology. Now, there’s an embarrassment of riches, and “Finest Good friend” is a type of coups: two of rap’s most dominant merging to hype one another up, nearly as good confidants do. (Who hasn’t noticed their Day One on the road and screamed, “Beep beep, is that my bestie in a Tessie”?) Over a beat that bounces like a pogo stick, Saweetie lobs bad-bitchisms at Doja Cat, whose masterful shapeshifting manifests as a bubbly, three-flow verse. As public shows of affection go, that is the type that’s completely admissible. –Clover Hope

Pay attention: Saweetie, “Best Friend” [ft. Doja Cat]

Shygirl: “BDE” [ft. Slowthai]

The time period Huge Dick Power is normally used to explain an understated sense of charisma, however London’s Shygirl means it very actually on “BDE,” her lustful tune with Slowthai. Singing virtually as if in a trance over a thudding beat and looming synths, Shygirl articulates precisely what she desires: “a giant dick boy” to “beat the pussy proper.” The lyrics are frank and repetitive, however the tune’s rigidity comes from the best way she modulates her vocals—typically slinky and unbothered, different instances pitched down and gravely, or accelerated right into a frenzy. There’s a lot secondhand enjoyment of listening to Shygirl’s cool dominance, the best way she asserts her need with out hesitation. –Vrinda Jagota

Pay attention: Shygirl, “BDE” [ft. Slowthai]

Tyler, the Creator: “Lumberjack”

We’ve at all times identified that Tyler was probably the greatest rappers working. And but, for the final decade, he’s appeared to thrill in withholding this capacity whereas pursuing different alternatives: orchestral pop, cherry-colored funk, songs about the Grinch. With “Lumberjack,” he returns to hard-nosed rap, although it hardly looks like a capitulation—if something, it seems like he’s nonetheless thumbing his nostril at naysayers. The beat pulls its trembling keys from a Gravediggaz tune (in all probability a nod to critics that attempted to pigeonhole Odd Future as “horrorcore”) and the tune’s refrain (“Rolls Royce pull up/Black boy hop out”) is delivered like a center finger. “That’s my nuance, was once a weirdo,” he deadpans at one level, reminding us that hip-hop’s final insider was once an outsider. –Mehan Jayasuriya

Pay attention: Tyler, the Creator, “Lumberjack”

Wiki: “Can’t Do This Alone” [ft. Navy Blue]

Wiki and Navy Blue come from two totally different generations of New York’s rap underground, however their uncompromising values—and buoyant chemistry—closes the hole. The heartening pleasure of friendship will be present in each nook of “Can’t Do This Alone,” a round-the-way winner from Wiki’s Navy-produced LP, Half God. Wiki isn’t passing the torch off to Navy Blue right here, although Sage’s prolific 12 months on the mic and behind the boards is definitely worthy of reward. They’re elevating a flag collectively in celebration of their vibrant scene. –Brandon Callender

Pay attention: Wiki, “Can’t Do This Alone” [ft. Navy Blue]

Yeat: “Gët Busy”

“This tune already was turnt however right here’s a bell,” Yeat raps about midway by way of this monitor, earlier than firing off a large gonging sound that’s turn into the Portland artist’s trademark. Zoom out from that second, although, and there’s much more to get pleasure from right here: mini vocal freakouts filled with garbled drug concoctions; Dr. Seuss references; twizzies, tizzies, and Lizzies. Reducing his enamel within the influential on-line rap collective Slayworld over the previous couple of years, Yeat was at all times slightly stranger than his friends, and consequently solid as a minor determine. However in 2021, his surrealist bent grew to become his superpower. –Mano Sundaresan

Pay attention: Yeat, “Gët Busy”