It's list time! First of all, this year was an amazing year for music! Especially when it came to albums, this was easily the hardest year I had when it came to picking these lists. No matter what the genre was, I felt like there was something cool for everybody! For the song list, I limited the list to one song per artist. Otherwise, the list would be full of songs from my favorite albums. There will be a playlist at the end of part two with all 50 songs in them for anybody to check out. Just a reminder, this is my personal favorite songs of the year, not what I think is objectively the best. Now, let's get into the list!
50. Yung Lean - "Waterfall"
Review
Yung Lean is someone I’ve heard about for years. He’s been around for almost a decade at this and is considered a legend in the cloud rap scene, but I only just checked out him for the first time this year. While I didn’t end up loving most of what I heard, this song really stuck out to me! It consists of almost nothing but arpeggiating synthesizers that swell to gargantuan levels. The laying on Yung Lean’s voice during the chorus is also perfect. He can’t really sing, but with the instrumental and emotion behind his performance, it doesn’t matter all that much. I’m not sure why I love this song so much because it's so repetitive, but I do.
Favorite Moment: The way he says “Waterfall” during the chorus
Selling Point: Atmospheric sad-boy DIY indie music at its best
49. Deb Never - "Crutches"
Review
Deb Never had my favorite song of last year, and even though this is the only song she released as the main artist this year, it still found its way on my list. It definitely sounds like it could have fit on her EP last year, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The instrumental progression is still great, the vocals still fit this production really well, and it is still incredibly relatable lyrically. I wonder where she’ll end up going from here for her next album, but I’m sure it’ll be something entertaining. For now, I'll be more than content with what she's released.
Favorite Moment: The drum-explosion towards the end of the song
Selling Point: An upbeat indie-pop song about wishing for better days
48. Quadeca - "Tell Me A Joke"
Review
I never would have thought a song that starts off with purposely cringe stand up comedy would be one of my favorites this year, but here we are. In this song, Quadeca views himself as a joke that everyone is laughing at, “It’s a setup, the punchline was me.” He views his life as a joke and literally laughs himself to the grave, as this whole album is from the point of view of someone who committed suicide. The song itself is also just a heart wrenching ballad that exists in this genreless landscape many younger artists are currently exploring. The vocals sound like a folk song, but the aggressive drums on the back end sound closer to a hip-hop banger, and it all sounds like a ballad when it comes together. Even without all the context and deeper thoughts about this track, it just drips with emotion. Quadeca could really make something special in the future.
Favorite Moment: The final explosion of drums with the chorus
Selling Point: An emotional and beautiful genreless song by someone who still has plenty of potential
47. Freddie Gibbs - "Feel No Pain" (Feat. Anderson .Paak & Raekwon)
Review
This song feels like an Anderson .Paak song, but it doesn’t matter when the song is this incredible! Anderson’s voice on the chorus is maybe the best I’ve ever heard it. It sounds like he’s barely trying, but that's what makes it sounds so good. The subtle groove on the track definitely feels like it was written by Anderson as well. Of course, having rap verses from people as great as Freddie and Raekwon only helps elevate the track to another level that it might not have gotten to if Anderson had it on his own. It may not be the deepest or most hardhitting song on the tracklist, but “Feel No Pain” is a beautiful and groovy hip hop song.
Favorite Moment: Anderson .Paak’s chorus
Selling Point: Three great artists coming together thanks to Anderson .Paak
46. Ab-Soul - "Do Better" (Feat. Zacari)
Review
Ab-Soul’s album came out so late in the year that none of the other songs really had a shot, but it doesn’t matter because this song is still really great! It’s a heartfelt track where Soul is spilling his heart about overcoming his mental health and physical struggles. The entire thing is over a Nick Hakim sample from his fantastic 2017 track, “Green Twins”. He even references Mac Miller with the line, “Doin’ drugs was just a war with boredom, it’s sure to get me.” Mac had said this line in 2014 on his Faces mixtape, and he overdosed in 2018. Thankfully, Ab-Soul has seemed to be as sober as he's been in a while during this release cycle. But, the video for this song shows Ab-Soul referencing his suicide attempt in 2021 while he was under the influence of plenty of drugs. This is only one of the many heartfelt lines without this beautiful song, and I’m very glad that Ab-Soul is still with us today to share his struggles with us.
Favorite Moment: Ab-Soul’s lyrics in the second verse
Selling Point: A look into someone’s soul, but vague enough for you to put your own struggles into it
45. SZA - "Blind"
Review
SZA is back with another great R&B album, but “Blind” is easily one of her best songs ever! Her vocals on this song are absolutely gorgeous, and the minimal layering of strings on top of the acoustic guitar sounds beautiful. SZA’s lyrics here are the most SZA-esque lyrics I’ve ever heard on a song from her. The meaning of the whole song is about not being able to see the love and positive things in your life that you currently have. She can’t see it in herself, and is instead seeking validation from other people. But wrapped into this extremely personal thing is plenty of sex references, one being, “You still talking ‘bout babies and I’m still taking a plan B”. It’s an absolutely beautiful song that might just be SZA’s best ballad ever!
Favorite Moment: The melody she sings during the chorus
Selling Point: Incredibly gorgeous R&B ballad about self-love
44. Midwxst - "riddle"
Review
Midwxst is someone who only grew on me after seeing him live at Lollapalooza this year, which is where I first heard this song. The hook on this song is definitely one of the catchiest in the wide genre that is hyperpop this year, even though Midwxst can sometimes lean more into trap and hip hop than hyperpop. This song definitely has its ties to people like Juice Wrld and the days where Soundcloud rap was the coolest thing to listen to. The subject matter of being heartbroken as an eighteen and nineteen year old always tends to come across as slightly corny. This song just has a kick-ass chorus and does the little things that make a song special, like using sound design to make it feel even bigger than it is. Midwxst is clearly one of the better people in this style of emo-rap/hyperpop, and hopefully he can continue to improve from here.
Favorite Moment: The insanely catchy chorus
Selling Point: Midwxst could be a bridge into hyperpop from Juice Wrld and Soundcloud rap
43. PinkPantheress - "Picture in my Mind" (Feat. Sam Gellaitry)
Review
PinkPantheress had already established herself as someone to pay attention to after her plethora of bite-sized hits last year, but “Picture in my Mind” might be her most complete song yet! The bouncy beat and harmonies from UK producer Sam Gellaitry help as well. The sunny keys that are what drive this track are amazing, and PinkPantheress’s voice floats perfectly over top of it. It also sounds dumb if you don't know her music, but this song shows that PinkPantheress can write a full song instead of one miniature verse and chorus combination. I hope that she’ll release her debut album next year, because I feel like she has the potential to take over the mainstream with her next release.
Favorite Moment: The very beginning when those keyboard chords first come in
Selling Point: One of the most fun and summery pop songs of the year
42. Kenny Mason - "333/Atom"
Review
Kenny’s songs that have previously made it on my list combine the rock and Atlanta trap influences into something completely unique, and this is yet another example of that. This song is split up into two separate parts, with the first one being more grungy and sing-songy, and the second half being more traditional trap. The fact that he connects the choruses of the two songs and makes the transition smooth is yet another example of Kenny doing the little things that make a song great. Hopefully being signed to a major label doesn't take his uniqueness away.
Favorite Moment: The subtle acoustic guitar in the first half
Selling Point: Easily enjoyable combination of rock and hip-hop that is stylistically unique
41. Big Thief - "Red Moon"
Review
I really wish I could put “Change” from the new Big Thief album on here, but since it technically came out as a single in 2021, I’m disqualifying it from this list. So instead, I decided on what might be the most fun track on the record. I mean, Adrianne loudly says, “That’s my Grandma!” before there’s a fiddle solo, what more could someone want from a song. How about the fact that this song is so fun and upbeat that over the four-minute runtime, there’s actually no chorus, it’s just three verses. Big Thief fully encapsulated the sitting around a campfire while hanging out with your friends feeling best with this song.
Favorite Moment: “That’s my Grandma!”
Selling Point: Upbeat folk banger
40. billy woods - "Remorseless"
Review
It took months to fully appreciate this song, but once it clicked, this is easily one of the best written songs of the year! Both his one-liners and the overarching story of the track are memorable. Him saying a line like, “It’s a freedom in admitting it’s not gonna get better,” can be taken both in context to what he's talking about, but also can be in whatever context you are currently going through. The whole idea of this track combats most of the rest of this album, which is looking at his experiences with capitalism and what it has done to Africa, but this track instead looks at socialism and people who get their teachings about it from social media. The beat on here is also nothing short of incredible as well!
Favorite Moment: “My accountant is a head full of bad memories and sad endings”
Selling Point: Arguably the deepest hip-hop writer currently out making his emotional masterpiece of the year
39. FKA twigs - "Jealousy" (Feat. Rema)
Review
FKA twigs’s mixtape Caprisongs is full of catchy melodies and moments, but this song best exemplifies all of the ideas on the project. It took a while to grow on me though. “Jealousy” is the most “normal” song on the album, but after almost a full year of living with this project, the chorus stands out the most. It takes a while to grow on you, but this song is perfect to listen to in the summer without a care in the world. I have no idea who Rema is, but he sounds really good on this track, especially with the tone of his voice. It contrasts twigs’s voice really well! This song isn’t amazing, or is close to the best FKA twigs song, but it’s a great track that is easily enjoyable.
Favorite Moment: The tone of her voice in the chorus
Selling Point: Easily enjoyable, reggaeton-inspired banger from an insane pop artist
38. DJ Premier - "Remy Rap" (Feat. Remy Ma & Rapsody)
Review
DJ Premier dropped the first EP of what was supposed to be a 10-EP run to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop, but nothing else has materialized the second half of the year. Either way, Premier’s project was full of classic east coast bangers, but “Remy Rap” is definitely my favorite one on the project. DJ Premier’s beat on here is simple, but is so filthy with the synth melody. Both Remy and Rapsody destroy their verses, and even though they both make very different music, it works for this song perfectly. This song is proof enough that rap is still alive and well.
Favorite Moment: DJ Premier’s beat
Selling Point: An old-school East Coast hip hop track that’ll bring people back to the 90s
37. Pusha T - "Dreamin' of the Past" (Feat. Kanye West)
Review
I had to have one of the songs from Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry on here! It was tough to decide, but I just couldn’t pass up this beat! Pharrell’s production is more consistent on the album, but this sample chop from Kanye of a Donny Hathaway cover of a John Lennon classic is incredible! The entire beat is just this simple piano loop under Hathaway’s vocals repeating the same few lines, including the title of this song. Pusha T takes the song title and Hathaway’s cue and talks about his past life of drug dealing. Pusha never misses when it comes to his rhymes, so it was really a matter of picking which beat I enjoyed the most.
Favorite Moment: The sample chop
Selling Point: A legendary rapper over one of the greatest hip hop producers
36. Djo - "On and On"
Review
Djo’s album is so much fun to listen to, but this song is actually one of the ballads from the album. It’s a look into social media and internet culture as a whole, as he talks about scrolling on and on to feed the algorithm in the chorus of this tune. It’s not exactly a unique topic, and he doesn’t approach it in a new way, but it’s nice to hear nonetheless. The bridge is easily the standout part of the track, especially since it takes up almost half the track. There are layers upon layers of strings, vocal effects, drums, piano, and electronic distortion that lead to an incredible build! I think the theme of this track is him trying to break free of his social media habit/addiction we all seem to be in as a person in society under the age of 30. Especially because the song then drops back into the monotonous and repetitive chorus, I believe that was his intention.
Favorite Moment: The bridge and climax
Selling Point: Quality synth-pop with a message
35. Beach House - "Masquerade"
Review
I really should have listened to the Beach House singles more in 2021. While I do love the entire album, most of my favorite songs came out in late 2021 when they were rolling out this project. Don’t let that fool you though, “Masquerade” is still a really great track. Those driving electronic drums and choral background vocals give the song a beautiful soundscape for Victoria to sing over. It makes the bridge of the track, when the drums go away, sound just that much more beautiful and surprising. No one sounds exactly like Beach House, and “Masquerade” shows them near the top of their game, even at more than a decade in.
Favorite Moment: “Here tonight, then gone forever”
Selling Point: Beautiful song that will make you feel like you’re floating
34. Metronomy - "Things Will Be Fine"
Review
This song is so simple, but it makes me smile more than almost any other song of the year. The guy’s voice is so calming, and the lush guitar chords in the background help give the song a sense of levity. The song is about exactly what it seems like, everything being fine. I believe he’s talking about getting over a breakup, but the lyrics are so vague that you can apply them to whatever you are going through in life. There’s not much else to say, it’s just a simple, uplifting tune by some band I came across randomly.
Favorite Moment: The way he says, “Things will be fine,” in the chorus
Selling Point: A song that’s guaranteed to make you feel more calm
33. Michelle - "Pose"
Review
This might be the most danceable song I heard all year that wasn’t made by a big artist. Michelle makes fun music in general, but the beat here is full on current day disco. These electronic drums drive the track while there are subtle keyboard chords and an arpeggiated bell-melody that just adds to the cuteness of the track. The lead singer on this song has a lighter voice than the other members of the group, but it works perfectly because it allows it to all just flow together instead of having the vocals stand above everything else. I’m sure seeing them perform this song on campus this year also helps it be on this list, but it’s fun enough I think it would be on here anyway.
Favorite Moment: When they go back and forth with their vocals at the end of the song
Selling Point: The ultimate dance alone in your room song
32. The Weather Station - "To Talk About"
Review
I first heard this song at The Weather Station’s concert back in February of this year. I went to this show somewhat impulsively, mainly for the fact that it was pretty cheap and in town. She premiered this song at the show a week before her new album came out, and the simplicity of the song just grabbed me. It’s a self-aware love song that she dueted with her keyboardist, and even listening to it now, I can still picture the snow-filled sky while I was walking back from the show and trying my best to remember this song. Most of the songs on this list are complex and have rather deep meanings, but sometimes, simplicity and memories can be just as great.
Favorite Moment: The dueting vocals
Selling Point: A beautiful and simple love song
31. 100 gecs - hey big man
Review
Well, I guess we finally have a release date to 10,000 gecs, even though it was supposed to come out early in 2022. For now, they released a three-song EP a few weeks ago, and “hey big man” is one that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time! They would open all their live shows over the past year with this song, including their electric Lollapalooza performance I was lucky enough to see! The blaring guitars and glitchy production give it this insane energy, while Dylan and Laura’s lyrics are hilarious. This would be a perfect first song for their upcoming album, but now that it was released in this EP format, I’m not sure if it will be. Either way, I’m just glad that we got an official version of this song.
Favorite Moment: The blasting guitars at the end when they repeat over and over again
Selling Point: Hyperpop that makes you want to run through a wall
30. Dev Lemons - "One Whole Me"
Review
Dev Lemons has become a prominent content creator with her channel Song Psych and her hosting a Spotify podcast called Lorem Life that interviews other artists, but she actually makes pretty good music as well! This one in particular is an accessible version of a hyperpop that also has some normal electro-pop and rock elements spliced into it. The hook is extremely catchy, and it has this endearing amateurish feel to it that many songs don’t have. It feels like having fun with your talented friends and recording a song in your house rather than going to a huge studio and meticulously trying to make everything sound perfect. I hope whatever her next project is ends up being somewhat related to this type of music.
Favorite Moment: The drop after the first chorus
Selling Point: Accessible and fun hyperpop from a cool person
29. Benny the Butcher - "Johnny P’s Caddy" (Feat. J. Cole)
Review
If I’m being honest, Benny the Butcher has grown off of me a little bit with time, but there is no arguing that “Johnny P’s Caddy” is easily one of his best songs! It helps that he also has J. Cole on the track, who gives maybe his all-time best feature! It’s clear that he has a lot of respect for Benny and Griselda as a whole because he hasn’t rapped like this before. It also helps that this song is produced by The Alchemist, and this is a fairly accessible and soulful beat for him. Benny isn’t a slacker on the mic though, even though J. Cole does end up stealing the show. “Johnny P’s Caddy” is Griselda’s biggest breakthrough into the mainstream, and it shows that they have the respect of everyone in the industry.
Favorite Moment: J. Cole’s verse
Selling Point: Combining two great rappers from different parts in the industry on an amazing hip hop track
28. Little Simz - "Broken"
Review
I guess this year didn’t already have enough great material, because Little Simz had to surprise us with an album in the final weeks of 2022. “Broken” is the most powerful track on the album. Over the 7-and-a-half minute runtime, she tackles depression and mental health in general in the Black community. It both feels like she’s coming from a personal place, but also has some lines that are clearly from another perspective. No matter which one it is, anyone can still relate to it. Even little lines like, “‘Man, this week’s been tough’ been saying that for a year” really connect, while her final verse paints such a vivid picture of what I think is her father’s journey to the UK. It’s a given, but Inflo’s production here with the choir background vocals and the lush drums and strings he provides are absolutely incredible. Hopefully they continue to make music together considering they’re both independent now.
Favorite Moment: The entirety of the fourth verse
Selling Point: A thoughtful song from a special artist
27. Nas - "Beef"
Review
It’s honestly unfair that Nas could even do something like this. On this song, he raps from the perspective of beef. Not the food beef, but the abstract construct of having beef with another person. Instead of portraying beef as a vengeful being, he looks at it as something that is also fed up with being the scapegoat for so much unnecessary violence. It can sometimes read as one of those old riddles you would see on the dawn of social media, but this is definitely better than that. Hit-Boy’s production is also fantastic, unsurprisingly. It’s hard hitting, but also simple enough to make us focus on what Nas is saying. I don’t know how Nas can still come up with these unique concepts after making music for three decades, but he’s clearly one of the best rappers of all time.
Favorite Moment: The first verse is incredibly well-written
Selling Point: The whole idea of rapping from an abstract concept like beef
26. Pharrell - "Cash In Cash Out" (Feat. 21 Savage & Tyler, the Creator)
Review
I was hoping Pharrell’s album would come out before the end of the year, but I guess not. Either way, “Cash In Cash Out” is a classic, weird Pharrell banger that one would expect in 2022. 21 Savage’s hook can be seen as a bit annoying, but everything else about the song is almost undeniably great! 21 Savage and Tyler both absolutely destroy their verses, with especially Tyler sounding right at home over this beat. The video for this song is also probably the best video I’ve seen all year, especially when looking into the effort it must have taken to create a stop motion video that detailed. Hopefully Pharrell's upcoming album has more songs like this one.
Favorite Moment: Tyler, the Creator’s verse
Selling Point: Pharrell’s new weirdo banger
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