The Best Hip-Hop and R&B Songs of 2023 (So Far)

• "Princess Diana" Remix - Ice Spice ft. Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj hopped on Ice Spice’s “Princess Diana” back in April. This was the first time the two collaborated on a song together. The original “Princess Diana” is from the Bronx rapper’s EP Like..? which was released in January.

• "Put It On Da Floor Again" - Latto ft. Cardi B

  Latto and Cardi B have a “Song of the Summer” contender with “Put It On Da Floor Again.” Latto released the original version of the song in April. The duo followed up with the remix in June. This was the first time the pair collaborated together on a song.

• "Boy's a liar Pt. 2" - Ice Spice and PinkPantheress

  Ice Spice and PinkPantheress set TikTok on fire with “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2.” Three weeks after the release “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was first No. 1 hit for both artists.

• "Creepin' Remix" - Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy, & 21 Savage

  Metro Boomin recruited The Weeknd, Diddy and 21 Savage for “Creepin’ Remix.” The song samples the 2004 hit “I Don’t Wanna Know” by Mario Winans, Diddy, and Enya. The song is found on Metro Boomin’s album Heroes & Villains.

• "America Has A Problem" Remix - Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar

  Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar surprised fans when they dropped the remix to “America Has A Problem.” The original is found on Beyoncé’s seventh studio album Renaissance. This was the duo’s third collaboration.

• "Who Told You" - J Hus ft. Drake

  Drake hopped on J Hus’ “Who Told You” which dropped in June. This was Drake’s third song of the year following “Search & Rescue” and his feature on Popcaan’s “We Caa Done.” This is the first time the two rappers collaborated.

• "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" - Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj released “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” in May. This is the rapper’s only solo song of 2023 thus far. She’s previously been on songs with Ice Spice, Uzi, Sexyy Young Thug, and the Juice WRLD.

• "Area Codes" - Kali

  Kali dropped “Area Codes” in March where she received her first top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The rapper also scored her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 when the song debuted at No. 54. The song interpolates the 2001 song of the same name by Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg.

• "Bread & Butter" - Gunna

  Gunna returned to music with “Bread & Butter.” In the song, he addresses the “snitch” allegations since his December release from jail. The song was the lead single to A Gift & A Curse.

• "Attention" - Doja Cat

  Doja Cat made her 2023 solo debut with “Attention.” The song serves as her lead single to her forthcoming album First of All. Her other offering of 2023 thus far was her feature of SZA’s “Kill Bill” remix.

• "To Summer From Cole (audio hug)" - Summer Walker ft. J. Cole

  J. Cole joined Summer Walker on “To Summer From Cole (audio hug),” the first track on her EP Clear 2: Soft Life. On the song, Cole teased that he is working on his album The Fall Off. This is the pair’s first collaboration.

• "Favorite Song Remix" - Toosie ft. Khalid

  Toosie brought Khalid in for the remix of “Favorite Song.” The record is found on his album NAUJOUR which was released back in June. Future also joined Toosie with another remake of the song titled “Favorite Song (Toxic Version).” Toosie earned his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart with “Favorite Song.”

• "Lipstick Lover" - Janelle Monáe

  Janelle Monáe became a trending topic when they dropped “Lipstick Lover.” The video was repeatedly shared online due to its NSFW content but helped market their fourth studio album The Age of Pleasure. “Lipstick Lover” followed Monáe’s “Float” which was released in February.

• "Cuff It (Wetter Remix)" - Beyoncé

  Beyoncé released a remix of her popular track “Cuff It.” The “Cuff It (Wetter Remix)” is a slow-downed more sexualized version of the poppy track off of Renaissance. The “Cuff It (Wetter Remix)” was the first official remix off of Renaissance.

• "The Hillbillies" - Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem

  Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem linked up for “The Hillbillies.” The cousins have collaborated together multiple times, including their Grammy-winning “Family Ties.”

• "Pelle Coat" - Lil Durk

  “Pelle Coat” debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Pelle Coat” is found on Lil Durk’s Almost Healed. Almost Healed debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart making it the Chicago rapper’s fourth leader.

• "What It Is (Block Boy)" - Doechii feat. Kodak Black

  Doechii might be a rising artist but she has proved that she is here for the long haul with her song “What It Is (Block Boy).” The song features Florida rapper Kodak Black. “What It Is (Block Boy)” samples TLC’s 1999 hit “No Scrubs.”

• "Kill Bill Remix" - SZA ft. Doja Cat

  Doja Cat made her first appearance of 2023 with her feature on SZA’s SOS hit “Kill Bill Remix.” The original “Kill Bill” from SZA’s SOS made history by staying on top the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 16 weeks. Mary J. Blige’s “Be WIthout You” was the longest-running No. 1 single by a solo female artist prior to SZA’s “Kill Bill.” The song title references Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film, starring Uma Thurman of the same name.

• "All My Life" Lil Durk ft. J. Cole

  “All My Life” was the lead single to Durk’s Almost Healed. The record topped the Rhythmic Airplay Chart making it Durk’s first No. 1 as the lead artist. This is the first time Durk and J. Cole appear on a song together.

• "Without You" - Quavo

  “Without You” was Quavo’s first song of 2023. The song is about the passing of his former Migos groupmate and nephew Takeoff. Takeoff was shot and killed in Houston in 2022.

• "Pull Up" - Summer Walker

  “Pull Up” is from Summer Walker’s EP Clear 2: Soft Life. The music video features her boyfriend Lil Meech who stars in 50 Cent’s BMF. EP Clear 2: Soft Life follows Clear which the singer released in 2019.

• "Dogtooth" - Tyler, The Creator

  “Dogtooth” is from Tyler, The Creator’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale. The deluxe edition of the album arrived on March 27, 2023. The songs added to the project never got a chance “see the light of day” Tyler noted on Twitter on the day of the release.

• "Moonlight" - Kali Uchis

  Kali Uchis’ Red Moon in Venus arrived on March 3 which included “Moonlight.” The track is the R&B singer’s second single from the album. Red Moon in Venus has songs in both Spanish and English.

• "Act Bad" - Diddy ft. City Girls and Fabulous

  Diddy grabbed The City Girls (consisting of JT and Yung Miami) and Fabulous for their summer of the song contender. The song is about having someone your dating fund your activities like vacations, shopping, expensive meals, etc. This the first time all four artists have been together on a song.

• "Gangsta Boo" - Ice Spice ft. Lil Tjay

  “Gangsta Boo” is from Ice Spice’s debut EP Like..?. Lil Tjay was the sole feature on the six-track EP. The project arrived in January.

• "Pray It Away" - Chlöe

  Chlöe released her debut solo In Pieces which “Pray It Away” is found on. Her project had guest appearances from Chris Brown, Future, and Missy Elliott. She previously has three studio albums with the latter being Grammy-nominated with her younger sister Halle Bailey.

• "Summer Too Hot" - Chris Brown

  “Summer Too Hot” is Chris Brown’s 2023 “Song of the Summer” contender. This is Brown’s first solo song of 2023. The song was released in June.

• "Two Tens" - Cordae ft. Anderson .Paak

  Cordae recruited Anderson .Paak for “Two Tens.” The song is about trying to get with two friends who are both “tens.” This is the first time the two have collabed together.

• "Barbie World" - Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice

  Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice joined forces once again for “Barbie World.” The record appeared on the Barbie film soundtrack which was released in July 21. This is the second time they have collabed together following the remix to Ice Spice’s “Princess Diana.”

• "f*kumean" - Gunna

  “f*kumean” became a fan favorite from Gunna’s A Gift & a Curse. The song earned the Atlanta rapper No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. His album A Gift & a Curse was released in June.

• "Sittin On Top of the World" - Burna Boy ft. 21 Savage

  Burna Boy enlisted 21 Savage for “Sitting On Top of the World” which was released in June. In the music video, the two are enjoying life’s pleasures as they go out and partying on a rooftop, taking cute pics in a photo booth, and literally performing “on top of the world” with some futuristic effects. This is the first time the two have collaborated on a project together.

• "On My Mama" - Victoria Monét

  Victoria Monét is back. The singer who is also known for her epic pen and worked with Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Nas, and more proves her star power in her newest single “On My Mama.” The single follows her lead single “Party Girls.”

• "Meltdown" Travis Scott ft. Drake

  Travis Scott enlisted Drake for “Meltdown.” On Drake’s verse, he called out Pharrell Williams and reignited his beef with Pusha T. “Meltdown” is found on Scott’s fourth studio album Utopia.

• "Jealousy" Offset ft. Cardi B

  Offset and Cardi B linked up for “Jealousy.” This is the sixth time the couple has worked together on a song following “Um Yea,” “Lick (Remix),” “MotorSport,” “Drip” and “Clout.” The song will be found on Offset’s upcoming album.

• "Point Me 2" - FendiDa Rappa with Cardi B

  Cardi B slid on another upcoming rapper’s song for the “Point Me 2” remix. This is the first time FendiDa Rappa and Cardi have linked on a song. FendiDa Rappa’s original song “Point Me To The S—-” dropped last year.

• "Deli" - Ice Spice

  Ice Spice has another banger on her hands with “Deli.” In the music video, the rapper is seen twerking and have a good time in her native Bronx deli. “Deli” is found on Ice Spice’s deluxe EP Like..?

• "Too Fast (Pull Over)" - Jay Rock ft. Anderson .Paak and Latto

  Jay Rock recruited Anderson .Paak and Latto for his “Too Fast (Pull Over).” In the music video, the artists are enjoying themselves at a lavish pool party. This is the first time all three artists have been on a song together.

• "Passport Bros" - Bas ft. J. Cole

  J. Cole and Bas linked up for “Passport Bros.” This is the fourth time the rappers have worked together. The two previously collabed on 2013’s “New York Times,” 2018’s “Tribe,” and 2021’s “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d.”

• "Oh U Went" - Young Thug ft. Drake

  Young Thug recruited Drake for “Oh U Went.” The song is found on Thugger’s latest LP Business Is Business. The album dropped in June.

• "Skee Yee" - Sexxy Red

  Sexxy Red is another rapper to watch. She had her breakout hit with “Skee Yee” back in June. In September when Billboard revealed its first TikTok Top 50 chart, “Skee Yee” was their first No. 1 placement.

• "K-POP" - Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd

  Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, and The Weeknd linked together for “K-POP.” The music video features all three artists switching from scenes at a soccer field, a club, and then a house party with breathtaking views. There are also cameos by Pharrell and SZA. This is the first time all three artists have worked on a song together.

• "Endless Fashion" Lil Uzi Vert ft. Nicki Minaj

  Lil Uzi Vert recruited Nicki Minaj for “Endless Fashion.” The song is found on Uzi’s Pink Tape. They released the album in July.

• "Paint The Town Red" - Doja Cat

  “Paint The Town Red” is Doja Cat’s second single leading into her album Scarlet. The song debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but the singer got her first No. 1 in the U.K. with the track. “Paint The Town Red” follows Doja’s lead single “Attention” which was released in June.

• "Thanks" - Burna Boy ft. J. Cole

  Burna Boy and J. Cole linked up for “Thanks” off of the Afrobeat star’s album I Told Them… This is the first time the two artists have worked together on a song. This is not the only rapper the Nigerian artist has worked with on his latest album. Burna Boy also linked up with 21 Savage on “Sittin’ On Top of the World.”

• "Turn Yo Clic Up" - Quavo ft. Future

  Quavo enlisted Future for “Turn Yo Clic Up” off of his album Rocket Power. The album was released in July and pays tribute to his late nephew and Migos member Takeoff. Takeoff was shot and killed on Nov. 1, 2022 in Houston. This is the fourth time Quavo and Future have worked together. They have previously collabed on DJ Khaled’s “Iced Out My Arms” in 2017, Pop Smoke’s “Snitching” (2020), and Migos’ “Picasso” (2021).

• "Good Good "- Usher ft. 21 Savage and Summer Walker

  Usher teamed up with 21 Savage and Summer Walker for “Good Good.” The track is about leaving a relationship but still wanting for the other person to be okay at the end of the day. “I hate that we didn’t make it to forever/Probably ain’t gettin’ back together/But that don’t mean that I can’t wish you better/We ain’t good good, but we still good,” Usher sings in the chorus. This collaboration is the first time all three artists have worked together on a record.

• "Supposed To Be Loved" - DJ Khaled

  DJ Khaled joined forces with Lil Baby, Future, and Lil Uzi Vert for his new single “Supposed To Be Loved.” DJ Khaled has worked with both Lil Baby and Future in the past but this is the first time he has worked with Lil Uzi Vert.

  With the announcement of the new record, he also told fans that he would be dropping his 14th studio album Til Next Time in the near future. “This ain’t goodbye…it’s TIL NEXT TIME. Next chapter. Next blessing. Next level. Onward. This is my biggest album. I feel it,” he said in the trailer.

• "RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n)" - A$AP Rocky

  A$AP Rocky dropped “RIOT” in July as he leads up to his upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb. The track was produced by Rocky himself alongside Pharrell Williams and Tyler, The Creator. The rapper has not released an official date for Don’t Be Dumb at the time of this writing.

• "There I Go" - Gucci Mane ft. J. Cole & Mike WiLL Made-It

  J. Cole has been racking up his features this year as he joined Gucci Mane and superstar producer Mike WiLL Made-It on “There I Go.” In the song, both rappers talk about the luxuries they enjoy in life and how their careers have provided them this success. This is the first time the two have worked together. The song is expected to land on Gucci’s Breath of Fresh Air, which is set to arrive Oct. 13.

• "Angel" - Halle Bailey

  Halle Bailey made her solo debut in August with “Angel.” The song is an uplifting ode to Black womanhood and Halle hits it right on the mark with this single. “Black girl here, black girl with the black girl hair/
  Took a little sunkiss just to look like this/ God sent, you’re an angel (angel),” she sings on the song. This is the singer’s first song without her sister Chlöe Bailey who started her solo career last year.

• "Demons" - Doja Cat

  “Demons” is the third single from Doja Cat’s Scarlet. In the music video, Doja is dressed as a demon and is terrorizing Christina Ricci. Ricci is best known for portraying Wednesday Adams in the 1991 cult classic The Addams Family. She performed the song for the first time at the VMAs along with “Attention,” and “Paint The Town Red.”

• "Last Time I Saw You" - Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj dropped her second solo song of the year, “Last Time I Saw You.” Unlike most of her songs, Nicki raps over an R&B beat and becomes more vulnerable with her lyrics.

  “Handwritten letter, you pеnned it/Them nights we wish never ended/Those rules that we wish we bended/Heartbreak that we never mended/Those messages we unsended,” she raps in the first verse.

  She performed “Last Time I Saw You” at the 2023 VMAs where she was the host for the second year in a row.

• "Bongos" - Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion

  Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are at it again with “Bongos.” The colorful music video came just right at the end of summer, where the two rappers are seen twerking on the beach while they take turn spitting playful bars. They performed together at the 2023 VMAs.  It’s Megan’s first song since the the 2022 sentencing of Tory Lanez for the 2020 shooting.

• "Slime You Out" - Drake ft. SZA

  Drake and SZA linked up for “Slime You Out.” This is the first time the two have been on a song together. It serves as the lead single to Drake’s For All The Dogs. “Slime You Out” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• "You" - Lola Brooke ft. Bryson Tiller

  Lola Brooke enlisted Bryson Tiller for “You.” Lola Brooke, who hails from Brooklyn, sampled another Brooklyn emcee Foxy Brown. Lola used “Get Me Home” by Brown and R&B group Blackstreet. The track appeared on Brown’s 1996 debut album Ill Na Na. This also marks the first time Lola has worked with Bryson.

• "Snooze Remix" - SZA ft. Justin Bieber

  Weeks after Justin Bieber appeared in SZA’s official music video for “Snooze,” they dropped an acoustic version. It is the first time the two have worked on a song together. “Snooze” is off of SZA’s sophomore album SOS, which dropped in December 2022.

• "Agora Hills" - Doja Cat

  Doja Cat’s singles leading up to Scarlet already had us in a chokehold. And she’s done it again with “Agora Hills.” The artist uses her ability to both sing and rap over a soft dreamy beat which is represented in her cinematic music video for the record. It takes place in a teenage bedroom, which makes sense since the title of the song is a misspelling of a Los Angeles suburb Agoura Hills, where she grew up.

• "The Secret Recipe" - Lil Yachty ft. J. Cole

  At midnight on Friday (Sept. 29) Lil Yachty and J. Colę surprised fans with their first-ever collaboration. Both of the emcees express in their verses that they want respect for their contributions to hip-hop. The music video features both Yachty and Cole sitting in an empty auditorium.

• "Luxury Life" - Busta Rhymes ft. Coi Leray

  Busta Rhymes and Coi Leray just want the best in life, and they’re gonna get it by any means necessary. In the “Luxury Life” music video the two go back and forth rapping as they simultaneously rob a restaurant. The two match each other’s playful energy as at the end, the hip-hop legend tries to teach Coi some martial arts moves.

• "Fan" - Offset

  Offset taps in his inner Michael Jackson for his “Fan” video. The Atlanta rapper took inspiration from MJ’s iconic videos such as “Thriller” and “You Rock My World.” The song is a part of his rollout for his upcoming album Set It Off. He recently released “5 4 3 2 1,” “Code,” featuring Moneybagg Yo and “Jealousy,” featuring his wife Cardi B.

• "Issa Party" - Latto ft. BabyDrill

  Latto recruited fellow ATL native BabyDrill for her latest “Issa Party.” The song interlopes Waka Flocka Flame’s 2010 hit “Grove St. Party” (Waka Flocka is also from the ATL). Flocka responded to a tweet that suggested that he should sue Latto for the use of his song. “Flattery at [its] highest,” the rapper wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter. “Never understood why rob these youngsters for showing us respect plus Lotto from Clayton County.”

• "Pretty Girl" - Ice Spice and Rema

  Ice Spice and Rema joined forces for their first collaboration “Pretty Girl.” Rema also surprised fans by performing with Ice Spice during Saturday Night Live. It was both artists’ first time performing on the sketch comedy show.

• "For All The Barbz" - Nicki Minaj

  While it’s not an official release, Nicki Minaj did give her fans something new in October to listen to. Nicki did a freestyle called “For All The Barbz” which used the beat from Drake’s “All The Parties” with Chief Keef. Drake released the song on his album For All The Dogs in October.

• First Person Shooter - Drake ft. J. Cole

  Fans have been waiting years for Drake and J. Cole to collab again. The dream came to fruition when the two linked up for “First Person Shooter” on Drake’s For All The Dogs. The song earned J. Cole his first chart-topper and Drake’s 13th. The Toronto rapper is now tied with Michael Jackson with the fourth most No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits from a male solo artist.

• Rich Baby Daddy - Drake ft. Sexxy Red and SZA

  One of the fan favorites from Drake’s For All The Dogs was “Rich Baby Daddy” which features SZA and Sexxy Red. Sexxy Red earned her first top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart by assisting Drake. SZA also appears on “Slime You Out,” the lead single to the LP.

• Water - Tyla

  Tyla dropped “Water” in July but she finally released the music video to accompany the viral song in October. The dance that goes along to “Water” caught the attention of TikTok, and from there, the song gained more popularity. The South African artist is gearing up for her debut album for sometime in November.

• "Presha" - 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne

  2 Chainz and Lil Wayne gave us a taste of what will come with their new song “Presha.” The song will be on their upcoming collab album Welcome To Collegrove. They performed the song for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The album is set to drop on Nov. 17.

• "Sensational" - Chris Brown ft. Davido

  Chris Brown is in his Afrobeats era with “Sensational.” Brown enlisted Nigerian artist Davido for this infectious song. The record is a part of Brown’s 11th studio album 11:11 , which dropped in November.

• "Evil Ways" - Drake ft. J. Cole

  First, it was “First Person Shooter,” and now the duo is coming back with a second collaboration on “Evil Ways.” “Evil Ways” is found on Drake’s For All The Dogs: Scary Hours Edition, a deluxe version of For All The Dogs, which dropped in October. Earlier this month, the pair also announced that they will be hitting the road together in 2024 on the It’s All A Blur Tour: Big As The What?

• "Lovin On Me" - Jack Harlow

  Besides his surprise album Jackman, Harlow has kept a low profile this year. “Lovin On Me” scored the Kentucky native his third No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He previously had top charters with his Lil Nas X collab “Industry Baby” (2021) and his solo hit “First Class” (2022).

• "Cobra "- Megan Thee Stallion

  For her first solo song of the year, Megan Thee Stallion was not coming to play. The Houston Hottie released “Cobra” after taking a small step back from music and answered all of the questions fans wanted to know. One was that it was clear that she and ex-boyfriend Pardison Fontaine were no longer together after unfollowing one another, but in “Cobra,” she gave fans the alleged reason why they parted ways, which was due to an infidelity on his part. He denied the allegation and claimed that Megan also got her body done in “Thee Person.” All in all, Megan got a lot off her chest on “Cobra” and we can’t wait to hear more.

• "Long Story Short" - Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz

  “Long Story Short” is from Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz’s joint album Welcome 2 Cosgrove. The music video arrived shortly after the release of the album on Nov. 17 . The song is just one of many from the album that show the veteran rapper’s musical chemistry.

• "Go To Hell" - Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Cool & Dre, BEAM

  “Go To Hell” has a match-up that we never knew we needed. Rick Ross and Meek Mill dropped their joint project “To Good To Be True” earlier this month. They enlisted Cool & Dre for the production and BEAM for additional vocals—the song samples “Shout” by Tears For Fears.

• "Big Everything" - Busta Rhymes ft. DaBaby and T-Pain

  Who knew we needed a record with Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, and DaBaby. At first, the collaboration might have you a little confused, but once you press play, you won’t regret it. “Big Everything” is from Busta Rhymes’ LP Blockbusta.

• "You Broke My Heart" - Drake

  Even if you listened to this album on shuffle, you can tell that “You Broke My Heart” is a classic Drake outro. The song is from his For All The Dogs: Scary Hours Edition. “You Broke My Heart” ends the second volume of the project and encompasses the hurt he feels after a relationship has ended.