2021 was a great year in hip-hop as newcomers solidified their place in the industry and veteran rappers reigned supreme with new offerings. See if your favorite hip-hop song of 2021 made the cut:
1. 'pride.is.the.devil' - J. Cole ft. Lil Baby
“pride.is.the.devil” is from J.Cole’s album The Off-Season is nominated for “Best Rap Album” and “Best Melodic Rap” for this song for the 2022 Grammys.
2. 'WusYaName' - Tyler, the Creator
“WusYaName” is from Tyler The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost which is nominated for “Best Rap Album” at the 2022 Grammys.
3. 'family ties' - baby keem ft. Kendrick Lamar
New artist Baby Keem is nominated for “Best Rap Performance” for “family ties.”
4. 'Way 2 Sexy' - Drake ft. Future and Young Thug
“Way 2 Sexy” by Drake features Future and Young Thug off of his Certified Lover Boy album.
5. 'Jail' - Kanye West ft. Jay-Z
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQx6T16rF8
“Jail” reunites Kanye West and Jay-Z for Ye’s two-time Grammy-nominated album, Donda.
6. 'INDUSTRY BABY' - Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow
“INDUSTRY BABY” is nominated for “Best Melodic Rap” for the 2022 Grammy Awards.
7. 'Thot S---' - Megan Thee Stallion
“Thot S—” by Megan Thee Stallion is nominated for “Best Rap Performance” at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
8. 'Kiss Me More' - Doja Cat ft. SZA
“Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat and SZA is nominated for “Record of the Year” at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
9. 'RAPSTAR' - Polo G
“RAPSTAR” by Polo G is off of his third album Hall of Fame.
10. 'Up' - Cardi B
“UP” by Cardi B is a single by the Grammy-winning artist; it debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
11. 'Wockesha' - Moneybagg Yo
“Wockesha” is off of Moneybagg Yo’s album A Gangsta’s Pain.
12. 'Best Friend' - Saweetie ft. Doja Cat
“Best Friend” by Saweetie and Doja Cat are up for “Best Rap Song” at the 2022 Grammys.
13. 'range brothers' - Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar
“range brothers” by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar is from Baby Keem’s sophmore album The Melodic Blue.
14. 'Bath Salts' - DMX ft. Jay-Z and Nas
“Bath Salts” by DMX featuring Jay-Z and Nas is from DMX’s posthumous album Exodus.
15. 'Straightenin' - Migos
“Straightenin'” is off of the Migos fourth album the Culture III.
16. 'Montero (Call Me by Your Name)' - Lil Nas X
“Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” is up for “Song of the Year,” “Record of the Year” and the album of the same name is nominated for “Album of the Year” for the 2022 Grammys.
17. 'ESCAPE PLAN' - Travis Scott
“ESCAPE PLAN” is off of Scott’s EP ESCAPE PLAN/MAFIA that was released earlier this year.
18. 'Off The Grid' - Kanye West ft. Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign
“Off The Grid” is off of Ye’s Donda album which is up for two Grammys for 2022 (Album of the Year and Best Rap Album).
19. 'Get Into It (Yuh)' - Doja Cat
“Get Into It (Yuh)” is from Doja Cat’s Planet Her album which is up for “Album of the Year.”
20. 'Fair Trade' - Drake ft. Travis Scott
“Fair Trade” is off of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album.
21. 'My Life' - J. Cole ft. 21 Savage & Morray
“My Life” by J.Cole featuring 21 Savage and Murray is up for “Best Rap Performance” and “Best Rap Song” at the 2022 Grammys.
22. 'Knife Talk' - Drake ft. Project Pat and 21 Savage
“Knife Talk” is off of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album.
23. 'Need To Know' - Doja Cat
“Need To Know” is off of Doja’s Planet Her album that is nominated for “Album of the Year” and “Need To Know” is nominated for “Best Melodic Rap” for the 2022 Grammy Awards.
24. 'Late at Night' - Roddy Ricch
“Late at Night” is the lead single off of Roddy’s sophomore album Live Life Fast.
25. 'Time Today' - Moneybagg Yo
“Time Today” is off of Moneybagg Yo’s A Gangsta’s Pain.
26. 'What's Next' - Drake
“What’s Next” is off of Drake’s EP Scary Hours 2.
27. 'Every Chance I Get' - DJ Khaled ft. Lil Baby and Lil Durk
“Every Chance I Get” is from DJ Khaled’s Khaled Khaled album.
28. 'Tombstone' - Rod Wave
Rod Wave’s hit “Tombstone” is from his third album Soulfly.
29. 'Girls Want Girls' - Drake ft. Lil Baby
“Girls Want Girls” by Drake featuring Lil Baby can be found on the Toronto rapper’s Certified Lover Boy.
30. 'Calling My Phone'- Lil Tjay ft. 6lack
“Calling My Phone” by Lil Tjay featuring R&B singer 6lack is on the Bronx rapper’s Destined 2 Win.
31. 'Wants and Needs' - Drake ft. Lil Baby
“Wants and Needs” by Drake featuring Lil Baby is on Drake’s EP Scary Hours 2.
32. 'No More Parties' Remix - Coi Leray ft. Lil Durk
“No More Parties” remix by Coi Leray featuring Lil Durk is on Coi’s EP Better Things.
33. 'Tired of You' - Yung Bleu ft. H.E.R.
“Tired of You” by Yung Bleu featuring Grammy-winning singer H.E.R. is from the Alabama rapper’s debut album Moon Boy.
34. 'Twerkulator' - City Girls
“Twerkular” is from the City Girls, comprised of Yung Miami and JT, that was set to be featured on their album City On Lock but didn’t get cleared in time for the final track list, per Genius.
35. 'Ski' - Young Thug and Gunna
“Ski” by Young Thug and Gunna is from their compilation album Slime Language 2.
36. 'Go Crazy' Remix - Chris Brown and Young Thug ft. Future, Lil Durk and Latto
“Go Crazy” was originally released in 2020 but in 2021 Chris Brown and Young Thug remixed the hit with the help of Future, Lil Durk and Latto.
37. 'I Like Dat' - T-Pain, Kehlani, and BIA
“I Like Dat” remixes T-Pain’s 2007 hit “Buy You A Drank” with the help of Kehlani and BIA.
38. 'What You Need' - Don Toliver
“What You Need” by Don Toliver is from his second studio album Life of a Don.
39. 'Brunch on Sundays' Nas ft. Blxst
“Brunch on Sundays” is by Nas featuring Blxst on Nas’ King Disease II.
40. 'Outlawz' – Rick Ross ft. 21 Savage & Jazmine Sullivan
“Outlawz” by Rick Ross featuring 21 Savage and Jazmine Sullivan can be found on The Boss’ album Richer Than I Ever Been.
41. 'Who Want Smoke (Remix)' – Nardo Wick ft 21 Savage, Lil Durk & G Herbo
“Who Want Smoke” remix by Nardo Wick featuring 21 Savage, Lil Durk, and G Herbo made waves on TikTok sparking a new dance challenge and success for the up and coming rapper.
42. 'Down South' – Wale ft. Maxo Kream & Yella Beezy
“Down South” by Wale featuring Maxo Kreem and Yella Beezy can be found on Wale’s Folarin II.
43. 'WHOLE LOTTA MONEY' Remix – BIA ft. Nicki Minaj
In the “WHOLE LOTTA MONEY” remix, BIA taps in Grammy-nominated rapper, Nicki Minaj. The song can be found on BIA’s second EP For Certain.
44. 'Seeing Green' remix – Nicki Minaj ft. Drake & Lil Wayne
Nicki Minaj taps in former label mates Drake and Lil Wayne for the remix of her 2009 hit “Seeing Green” from her Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape.
45. 'Lemon Pepper Freestyle' Drake ft. Rick Ross
“Lemon Pepper Freestyle” by Drake featuring Rick Ross is from the Toronto rapper’s EP Scary Hours 2.
46. 'Love All' - Drake ft. Jay-Z
Drake taps in the Goat (Jay-Z) for “Love All” found on his Certified Lover Boy album.
47. 'Hurricane' - Kanye West ft. The Weeknd and Lil Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWvLPlZSH74
“Hurricane” by Ye featuring The Weeknd and Lil Baby is up for “Best Melodic Rap Performance” at the 2022 Grammys.
48. 'Voice of the Heroes' - Lil Baby and Lil Durk
“Voice of the Heroes” by Lil Baby and Lil Durk is from their compilation album of the same name.
49. 'The Biggest' - Latto
“The Biggest” by Latto is a single from the “Queen of da Souf” who has performed the hit at several awards shows this year.
50. 'What It Feels Like' – Nipsey Hussle & JAY-Z
“What It Feels Like” is a posthumous single by Nipsey Hussle featuring Jay-Z on the soundtrack of Judas and the Black Messiah.
