Disclaimer : The songs were ranked top 40 best rap songs 2019 on production quality, lyrical appeal, and overall impact. I Hope. Backed by Hi-Tek's ominously slamming beat and Dion's inspiring chorus, Young Buck and Outlawz invent a new genre: hardcorerapsoulnica. Rich Boy's clever indictment of societal imbalance will make even the grimiest gangbanger put down his gun and pick up Top 50 Best Rap Songs 2020 Now Best Rap Workout Songs 2019 Live a book. The song climbed into the top 3 on charts from rock songs to adult pop. Is there one that I trust? As ofshows from the s and s are airing continually, without commercials, on the iHeartRadio station " Classic American Top 40 ".

It felt both like the culmination of the decade that was, and also a glimpse of the first two or three years of the next one -- as popular music continues moving towards an increasingly genre-less space, where hit singles can come from just about anyone and anywhere and maybe any time , and can last until their creators run out of new ways to keep them in the headlines.

Here are our staff's favorite songs of -- songs that either were released or peaked on the Billboard charts this year -- a mix of cultural events, personal favorites and everything else that tattooed itself inside our brains in the last 12 months.

Read the list below, with a Spotify playlist of all at the bottom. An unlikely combination of three very different alt-leaning acts, "I've Been Waiting" is far more seamless than it has any right to be, finding common ground in the artists' shared pop sensibilities. As it toggles between vocals from all three, it's impossible to tell where the verses stop and the chorus starts -- it's all hooks, really, a song where every part feels like That Part.

In a more just world , this would've been the song to get the late Lil Peep his first Hot top 40 hit. Now please, get off his lawn. There are a lot of "what ifs" when a relationship ends, but the title of Lady Antebellum's latest heart-wrenching hit has to be one of the scariest. The song -- which recalls the same yearning tone as the country trio's breakout single "Need You Now" -- perfectly captures that fear of the unknown, thanks to Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley's hopeless harmonies.

We all know the desperate feeling of struggling to move on, and we all should know there's a light at the end of the tunnel eventually Koffee, "Rapture". Born Mikayla Simpson, Koffee entered as a buzzing question mark, and is exiting as the most exciting reggae crossover artist in years. Born two months inside the new millennium, the year old Jamaican-born singer-songwriter-rapper delivers a quiet confidence that avoids intimidation and instead feels like an invitation.

Adam Lambert, "Superpower". Not like it really required much of a stretch for a guy currently serving as the frontman for Queen to embrace a 21st-century version of stomping, arena-sized glam rock, but it's still heartening just to hear how much Lambert seems to have found his musical sweet spot. Coldplay, "Orphans". The lead single off Coldplay's eighth studio album contains so many of the elements of a classic Coldplay song. It's got an upbeat and hopeful melody, Chris Martin's soaring voice on full display, and a shout-along chorus that features a full choir -- with lyrics that, on first listen, sound fairly celebratory.

So it's ironic that the song's upbeat nature masks the seriousness of the song's lyrics: The song tells the story of a father and daughter; Syrian refugees who survived the Damascus bombing of James Blake feat. Andre , "Where's the Catch". English producer and longtime master of atmosphere James Blake creates a dually ominous and alluring mood with "Where's the Catch," from fourth LP Assume Form.

Blake weaves his eerie falsetto over a production oscillating between shimmeringly complex beats and a spare kick drum, while flexing his hip-hop bonafides not only through the stoney, sexy groove, but through a hypnotic verse from rap legend Andre Both highly danceable and genuinely cool, "Where's the Catch" walks the line between electronic music and hip-hop with the calm swagger of the truly lifted, a vibe extended to any listener.

Pronoun, "Stay". If you're going to use one of the most well-traveled song titles in pop history for your new album's lead single, you better find something new to add to it.

Alyse Vellturo, also known as alt-rocker Pronoun, certainly does that on her blistering, emotionally loaded I'll Show You Stronger single -- unlike most of her "Stay" predecessors, the title isn't used as a plea but as a proclamation: "If you're gonna go, I think I'm gonna stay.

The Swedish star seemingly hails from a bygone era of pop: She cut her teeth as a songwriter alongside mega-producers Max Martin and Xenomania, then debuted with the kind of lustrous electro-bangers her home country is famous for. But those club anthems don't quite rule the way they used to, so she switched it up with this pep talk to a brokenhearted BFF.

The skittering beat could be a SoundCloud rapper's plaything and the freaky vocal samples feel like a hat-tip to Billie Eilish, but it's still percent Tove Lo thanks to the raunchy candor "Did you go down on his birthday? Young Thug, J. Kehlani feat. Mura Masa feat.

Indie-pop darling Clairo has a penchant for tender, hyper-specific lyrics, and British producer Mura Masa is known for his futuristic, grungy beats. The two make a mismatched but perfect pair on this clever snapshot of an on-again, off-again relationship, where intentional sonic discord echoes emotional turmoil.

But just as you begin to agree, the sweet melody warps into a pummeling, dark electro-pop jam, like a wave of bad memories flooding back. Maxo Kream, "Meet Again". Saweetie, "My Type". Justin Bieber, "10, Hours". On its face, "10, Hours" seems like a typical "I love my wife" ballad.

Bieber has spent the past few years making guest appearances across genres, and although "10, Hours" didn't achieve the Hot topping level of success that "Despacito" and "I'm the One" did, the song proves he'd be right at home in Nashville, too. Burna Boy, "Anybody". Oh no, there she goes, making another catchy, Cuban-inspired bop. Cabello picks up where she left off with her breakthrough solo smash "Havana" on Romance lead single "Liar," realizing she's lying to her likely lover and to herself about her true feelings, all set to the strains of a punchy Latin horn section.

It's a little bit flamenco, a little bit reggae, and a lot addictive, especially that final second instrumental section that puts you right inside a Miami lounge. Ambjaay, "Uno". Ambjaay has impressive time management skills, though, fitting in a Rihanna shoutout and four different reprises of the chorus, which includes a rhyming of "zapatos" and "nachos," along the way.

Mabel, "Don't Call Me Up". Charlie Puth, "Mother". Charlie Puth originally claimed that this narrative about being a wolf-in-boy-next-door clothing was based on a teenage fantasy , then teased a mysterious truth to its inspiration, which he later sort of revealed to be a toxic relationship of his youth. Whatever the real story about the song's origins, though, it's not nearly as compelling as the song's driving groove, which splits the difference between "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," or its falsetto'd chorus, which summarizes the entire song in one sly, scummy lyric: "If your mother knew, she'd keep me so far from you.

Aldous Harding, "The Barrel". Yet the New Zealand singer-songwriter creates an atmosphere both gentle and exploratory, her honeyed voice weaving through piano flourishes and not-quite-harmonies, so that the thematic ambiguity serves as the center of a hypnotic overall listen.

Charli XCX feat. Christine and the Queens, "Gone". Songs about feeling like an outsider -- at a party, in a relationship, in the music business -- have been as constant as any throughout the history of the rock era. Future, "Crushed Up". It was hardly a reinvention from what made Future an undisputed A-lister over the second half of the s, but in this case, no reinvention was necessary.

The suggestion: What Jenny wants, Jenny gets. Tierra Whack, "Only Child". Maren Morris made the modern country empowerment anthem her calling card the second "My Church," her breakout solo hit, started winning over fans in The title track off GIRL , her sophomore album, is the stuff of arena-packing dreams in this tradition. Tame Impala, "Patience". The result? Clocking in at just over two minutes, the song will have your head spinning by the time it's over. Despite being about the emotional roller coaster of late-night phone calls that was teen love in the s, the lead single showcased the audible joy the sisters had reworking songs they wrote in high school.

The year was one of transformation for pop star Sam Smith, who officially came out as non-binary and changed their pronouns, letting everyone know that they were done defining themselves by the terms that others set for them. Gone were the heartbroken lyrics that defined so much of Smith's early career, now replaced by a confidence and a presence becoming of a person ready to be reintroduced to the world. Blake Shelton, "God's Country". His powerful vocal delivery only adds to the memorable ode to the South alongside hand-clapped rhythms and dusty guitars.

Snow, "Con Calma" Remix. Part of the success of the original "Con Calma" -- in which Daddy Yankee invites '90s reggae fusion artist Snow to reprise a version of his once pop-conquering "Informer" hook -- was that addictive video.

Featuring the now-famous Daddy Yankee meme , the clip showcased choreography performed by diverse groups of dancers representing every shape and stripe. But the Katy Perry version, which helped propel the song to No. Big Thief, "Not". Burning through that three-minute solo, Lenker draws strength from the experience of nearness, both to others and to the earth.

Who knew a braces-wearing teenager was capable of piledriving the rap game before his 18th birthday? Miley Cyrus, "Slide Away". It has all the makings of a headline-inspired hit; commentary on a very! In a time where everything is public, Cyrus controlled the narrative in the best way she knew how. Sharon Van Etten, "Seventeen". It's fitting, as she's more or less singing to the version of herself that cut her teeth in a scene of New York clubs and bars that are no longer around.

When she sang the song for NPR Music's Tiny Desk in October, she roared her love letter to her younger self, and her disappearing city, through tears: it's one of her rawest performances caught on film, and a perfect snapshot of the song's power in action.

Frank Ocean, "In My Room". Shaed, "Trampoline". Shaed's been having dreams, and in , many of them came true. Topping the Alternative Songs chart and peaking at No.

It'd be hard enough to stomach its brutal narrative of a new relationship haunted almost literally by a past love if we didn't know her IRL story well enough to make an educated guess at putting names to its pronouns. But with that real-life verisimilitude, the gorgeous-but-queasy ballad becomes practically overwhelming, an emotional swell as head-swimming as its woozy synths and weeping strings.

You won't find many songs on albums by indie singer-songwriters this decade that feel this raw, this confessional, this private -- let alone on one of the year's biggest pop blockbusters.

Doja Cat feat. Tyga, "Juicy". But such is the allure: even on the Tyga remix, Doja is in full control. Clairo, "Bags". Ed Sheeran feat. Justin Bieber, "I Don't Care". Lizzo, "Juice". Is she an outsider making mainstream inroads, or an underground talent tweaking their sound to fit in on Top 40?

Is the juice she speaks of orange, or apple?! Ultimately, when the result is as irresistibly immediate and durably relistenable as this, who cares about any of that?

The singer-songwriter born Melina Duterte flexes her production chops in heady waves of guitar and percussion, beautifully entangled, like constellations streaming by. A perfect dream of the open road. Harry Styles, "Watermelon Sugar". Fans are desperate to dissect the meaning behind this sticky-sweet song -- Styles has neither confirmed nor denied that it's, well, carnally charged -- but why read too far into what is just a simple pleasure to listen to?

The song lyrically and sonically paints a picture of a perfect summer evening, and it makes total sense that Styles decided to debut it on Saturday Night Live Best Rap Workout Songs 2019 Kit , as the live horns drive home its easy charm. No one can compete with Carly Rae Jepsen when it comes to making upbeat music about stuff that makes you feel good.

For the skeptic reader, we present "Now That I Found You": a perfect pop song about the early honeymoon period of a relationship, and the intense optimism you feel when it's just starting out.

Like the title suggests, Jepsen croons about all the thoughts swirling around her mind as she begins a steady fling: "I think I'm coming alive with you. Few artists in pop history have gone through as wild a first-decade career arc as Lana Del Rey, from blog buzz to backlash to pop stardom to cult fandom to, at the very end of it all, critical acclaim.

Dua Lipa, "Don't Start Now". Dua wisely reunited with the team behind her breakout single "New Rules" to introduce her new Future Nostalgia era, and they made another danceable kiss-off -- but this time, instead of teaching listeners how to leave their booty calls behind, she's directly addressing the ex who can't seem to leave her behind.

There are a lot of snappy lines in here to match the crisp nu-disco beat, and one of the best and most straightforward has to be "Walk away, you know how. Meanwhile, the Jonas Brothers will probably continue to perform it at every awards show until the end of time -- not that we mind one bit. Dance, dance, dance, dance! Summer Walker feat. Drake, "Girls Need Love" Remix. His added dose of passion helped the track peak at No.

In addition to stunning harmonies, the infectious dance-pop beat mesmerizes. BTS feat. Halsey, "Boy With Luv". This sleek, shimmering boy-band gem is one of BTS' purest pop confections yet, though two hip-hop interludes also give the song a harder, more contemporary edge.

Detroit's brightest rookie begins the fight to keep his city on the hip-hop map. Even Dilla would approve. Pimp C tells critics of "country-fried rap tunes" to stop whining and start grinding. You know you're in for a great year when one of the best songs is from a crew that started out 20 years ago. This is P. Rocking the world, one furniture store at a time.

Backed by sunny piano loops, Guru and Common exchange views on soul-searching and moving past the little things that keep us from fulfilling our mission in life. Buck Marley dispels any notion of his crew's demise with this exuberant Polow da Don concoction from Buck the World. Blitz rewinds his favorite hip-hop moments, blending snippets of timeless tunes like Biggie's "Unbelievable" and Nas' "New York State of Mind.

Midwest hip-hop at its braggiest, grimiest, and nastiest. After 20 years and 16 albums, you'd think that KRS-One would be out of hip-hop terminologies by now. Royce imagines what could have become of three flourishing rappers that died before they ever had a chance to live out their dreams. AZ's breakneck flow meets Styles P's sucker-free swagger. Aided by Hi-Tek's boardsmanship and Dion's inspiring chorus, Young Buck and Outlawz invent a new genre: hardcorerapsoulnica.

Master storyteller Slick Rick assists in this witty narrative about the "hip-hop police," a fictional law enforcement unit that arrests artists solely on account of obscene lyrics. It's a bright spot on the otherwise mediocre Curtis. And Skyzoo lives up to expectation here.

Other hip-hoppers brag about their wallets and their guns. Hi-Tek brags about his piano, and still sounds amazing. Hey, care for some gangsta with that plate of conscious? Pure proof that we can all get along.

Kweli has a massive grip on the ingredients necessary for the ultimate girl song: stark honesty, beautiful lyrics, and will. Red Gone Wild wasn't exactly a classic, but it still had some sweepingly awesome tracks, including this one.

Backed by Exile's jazzy piano riffs, Blu gives his tongue a lyrical workout while his brain works overtime. Clef delivers a stunning comeback hit in the form of a save-a-stripper campaign. Self-uplifting rhymes from the dude that looks like your neighborhood pest control agent. Philadelphia Freeway spews angst at anyone that cares to listen. Hyper-minimal disco backs up Snoop's auto-tuned vocals. If you listen close you'll probably hear Bootsy Collins wailing in the background.

Hip-hop and pop fusion only works half the time. Thankfully, this was one of those times. Evidence embraces what many considered a liability — a cool, calm, and careful delivery. It's pure proof that rap doesn't have to be drop-dead fast to be enjoyable. The beat is intoxicating. The chorus is infectious. But the lyrics are so heavy that you're not sure if dancing should be the appropriate response here.

The chipmunk-voiced DJ assembles a lineup of hit-makers for one of the year's best posse cuts. A critique of modern society delivered through the eyes of a frozen caveman who gets thawed back to life by melting icecaps.

A pernicious piece of genius from one of alt-rap's best. A friend once asked me for help with her resignation letter. I pointed her to the fleet of polished and professional resignation letter templates on our Job Search site. Next time, I'll just make her listen to "Jerry McGuire," a funny step program on how to quit your job and probably get fired at your next job.

This is a vicious stomp from Talib Kweli's west coast outfit. All guts and glory. Skillz and Freeway rap as if their lives depend on this chest-pumping heat rock. Few rap songs are simultaneously inspirational and anthemic. Now you can add "Won't Let You Down" to that list.

If you're feeling lucky, check out the minute Texas All-Star remix. Ghost brings the ruckus. Beans brings the burner. It's a match made in trigger-happy paradise. This is Brother Ali's status quo. On one hand, it rebukes hip-hop haters for ignoring society's larger issues "Like most Black folks living below the poverty line".

Them ain't videos, that's psychological warfare'". Over a tiptoeing Madlib beat, Kweli comes to the realization that he can't be everything to everyone at the same time. A grandiose record that's both accessible and thought-provoking. See, life for Devin isn't all weed, wine and women — actually, it is. Beanie Sigel's stand out song from Philly's Most Wanted.

Armed with Kanye's staccato drum blasts, Quence assures his family that he won't forget 'em once he makes it big time. Sean Price is already famous for being the most broke rapper you know. P's knack for alliteration "Pound for pound perfection, and punch potholes in pretenders" adds yet another feather to his NY fitted hat. There was so much hoopla about the process behind "The Heart Gently Weeps" that many forgot just how brilliant the song is.

Backed by a warm acoustic guitar, "The Heart Gently Weeps" is meditative storytelling at its finest. This was billed as a bonus track on American Gangster because Jay-Z wasn't sure if it belonged on that album. He's right: The musical charm that is "Blue Magic" is in a world of its own. Avant-garde storytelling from one of 's most promising newcomers. There's a certain magic to this song that I don't want to ruin by trying to dissect the ingredients. Thankfully, it's just one of many gems to come from this hip-hop supergroup that consists of Kanye, Pharrell, and Lupe Fiasco.

With the emergence of so many new artists, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. But NYOil has no intentions of taking the easy way out. The Jazzmeister cooks up a soulful concoction, while the Smoothsmith lays his rhymes in the cut.

Let's get this straight: No other newcomer delivered an endless supply of gritty rap anthems like Brooklyn's own Joel Ortiz. Of all the 5, songs titled "Hip-Hop," this one's a breath of fresh air.

Your inner cynic may frown at Prodigy for sticking to familiar territory on "Mac 10 Handle. Exactly what an MC's dream session sounds like. After two decades in the game, Masta Ace still doesn't know how to waste a verse.

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