2016 was politically and socially gut-wrenching, but the soundtrack to this turbulent year was superb. Whether you’re a crate-digging backpacker or a mumble-rap aficionado, there was plenty of ear candy from 2016’s Pez dispensary.
This year, HipHopDX is distinguishing between the best rap songs (a.k.a. the most lyrically and sonically potent) and the ones that had the most impact culturally. That’s why we’ve made two lists: the 50 Best Hip Hop & Rap Songs Of 2016 and the Top 50 Most Lit Songs of 2016. The goal here is not to widen the divide between purist and partier but to give excellence its due. Peep game.
2016 proved lyricism is alive and well in Hip Hop, despite cries for the return of the ’90s. Rappers like Royce Da 5’9, Skyzoo and eLZhi gave us supreme bars backed by equally stalwart production. But mainstream rappers such as Chance the Rapper and YG carried their lyrical weight, too, as evidenced in this list. Check out the year’s finest rap tunes below.
50. Big Sean – “Bounce Back”
Producer: Metro Boomin, Smash David, Hitmaka & Amaire Johnson
49. Flatbush Zombies – ”New Phone, Who Dis?”
Producer: The Architect
48. Mac Miller f. Anderson .Paak – “Dang!”
Producer: Pomo
47. Azizi Gibson – “DJ Khaled”
Producer: Millz Douglas
46. Travis Scott – “goosebumps”
Producer: Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Cubeatz, Mike Dean
45. Skyzoo & Apollo Brown – “Care Packages”
Producer: Apollo Brown
44. Pusha T f. Jay Z – “Drug Dealers Anonymous”
Producer: DJ Dahi
43. Isaiah Rashad – “Free Lunch”
Producer: Cam O’bi
42. Denzel Curry – “ULT”
Producer: Ronny J, Nick Leon & FNZ
41. Travis Scott f. Quavo & Young Thug – “pick up the phone”
Producer: Vinylz, Frank Dukes, Mike Dean, Allen Ritter
40. T.I. – “Black Man”
Producer: Lil’ C, MP808, Mars & Rossi
39. YG – “Still Brazy”
Producer: Ty Dolla Sign & Swish
38. Bas – “Methylone”
Producer: Ron Gilmore
37. Vince Staples f. A$AP Rocky – “Prima Donna”
Producer: DJ Dahi
36. The Game f. Lorine Chia – “The Juice”
Producer: DJ Quik
35. The Game – “92 Bars”
Producer: The Chemists Create, Drumz & Rosez
34. Nick Grant f. Watch The Duck – “Get Up”
Producer: Watch The Duck & Karriem Riggins
33. J. Cole – “Everybody Dies”
Producer: J. Cole
32. T.I. – “War Zone”
Producer: Mike & Keys & Mars
31. Danny Brown f. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & Earl Sweatshirt – “Really Doe”
Producer: Black Milk
30. Buddy – “Shine”
Producer: DJ Khalil, Mike & Keys
29. J. Cole – “Neighbors”
Producer: J. Cole
28. A$AP Mob f. Juicy J – “Yamborghini High”
Producer: Hector Delgado
27. YG f. Nipsey Hussle – “FDT”
Producer: Swish
26. A Tribe Called Quest f. Busta Rhymes & Consequence – “Mobius”
Producer: Q-Tip & Blair Wells
25. Joey Bada$$ – “Devastated”
Producer: Powers Pleasant, Kirk Knight & Adam Pallin
24. Skyzoo – “Friend or Foe 3”
Producer: DJ Premier
23. A Tribe Called Quest – “We The People”
Producer: Q-Tip & Blair Wells
22. Dee-1 – “Sallie Mae Back”
Producer: Justen Williams
21. J. Cole – “4 Your Eyez Only”
Producer: J. Cole, BLVK, Childish Major, Chargaux, Theo Croker, Nate Jones
20. DJ Khaled f. Nas – “Nas Album Done”
Producer: DJ Khaled, 808-Ray, Cool & Dre
19. Royce Da 5’9 – “Tabernacle”
Producer: S1 & J. Rhodes
18. Dave East – “Type Of Time”
Producer: Cardo
17. Chance The Rapper – “All We Got”
Producer: Kanye West & The Social Experiment
16. DJ Shadow f. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak”
Producer: DJ Shadow
15. Gucci Mane – “1st Day Out Tha Feds”
Producer: Mike WiLL Made-It
14. ScHoolboy Q f. E-40 – “Dope Dealer”
Producer: Metro Boomin & Southside
13. Kanye West f. Kendrick Lamar – “No More Parties In L.A.”
Producer: Kanye West & Madlib
12. A Tribe Called Quest f. Consequence – “Black Spasmodic”
Producer: Q-Tip & Blair Wells
11. Kanye West f. Ty Dolla $ign – “Real Friends”
Producer: Kanye West, Boi-1da, Frank Dukes, Havoc, Mike Dean, Darren King, Noah Goldstein, Sevn Thomas
10. Kendrick Lamar – “Untitled 07 | 2014 – 2016”
Producer: Cardo, Yung Exclusive. Frank Dukes & Egypt Dean
When LeBron James got Top on the phone, we never expected K. Dot to “Levitate” to Beyonce levels and hit us with an unannounced “album” out of the blue. But it happened.
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09. ScHoolboy Q f. Kanye West – “THat Part”
Producer: Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Sounwave, Cubeatz
Groovy Q spits lively braggadocio over an infectiously eerie beat, and Kanye’s quotable-filled verse is the cherry on top.
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08. Fat Joe & Remy Ma f. French Montana & Infared “All The Way Up”
Producer: Edsclusive and Cool & Dre
Arguably the National Turn-Up Anthem of 2016, Terror Squad’s glorious return was worth the wait.
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07. Kanye West f. Andre 3000 – “30 Hours”
Producer: Kanye West, Karriem Riggins & Mike Dean
Yeezy has had a rough year and “30 Hours” is like an eerie premonition of what was to come. “The voices won’t stop talking to me/just leave me alone,” he raps with precision, reminding us why he’s in the upper echelon of contemporary MCs. Name one genius that ain’t crazy.
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06. Chance the Rapper f. Ty Dolla $ign, Raury, BJ The Chicago Kid, Anderson. Paak, Nico Segal, Lolah Brown, HaHa Davis – “Blessings”
Producer: The Social Experiment & Cam O’bi
Chance displayed just why he’s Kanye’s favorite prodigy, closing out his album with a beautiful melody coupled with a sobering outlook on his life.
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05. Royce Da 5’9 – “Hard”
Producer: AntMan Wonder
Nickel Nine marks his success, soundtracking a slow victory lap with triumphant horns and humorous reflection.
04. Travis Scott f. Kid Cudi – “through the late night”
Producer: Cardo & Cubeatz
A foreboding Auto-Tune anthem for nocturnal ragers everywhere, La Flame and Cudder teamed up to bring us one of 2016’s most repeat-worthy tracks.
03. Kanye West f. Kid Cudi & Kelly Price – “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”
Producer: Kanye West, Mike Dean, Rick Rubin, Metro Boomin, Allen Ritter & Noah Goldstein
Bleached assholes aside, Kanye proved that saying the most nonsensical things could equate to arguably the most memorable verse of the year. Just drop this joint in the club and try to disagree.
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02. Chance The Rapper f. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne – “No Problems”
Producer: Brasstracks
What do you need? Gospel, anthems, bangers? No problem. There isn’t a lane that Chance, Tunechi and Tity Boi didn’t swerve into on this monster record.
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01. Kanye West f. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, The-Dream & Kelly Price – “Ultralight Beam”
Producer: Kanye West, Mike Dean, Chance the Rapper, Swizz Beatz Rick Rubin, Plain Pat, DJ Dodger Stadium, Noah Goldstein, Derek Watkins
The Life of Pablo was a monumental album and West recruited a laundry list of talented artists to contribute to the project. Co-produced by Swizz Beatz and Rick Rubin, the song swells with an angelic choir, Price’s impeccable voice and Chance’s baptismal lyricism, adding more musical depth to an already intricate opus.
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Check out more of DX’s year-end content below.
The 2016 HipHopDX Year-End Awards
The 20 Best Rap Albums Of 2016
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The Most Slept-On Rap Albums Of 2016
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