The Best Hip-Hop and Rap Songs of 2024

Despite being among the youngest music genres, hip-hop has shapeshifted more often than not and continues to change, for better or for worse. Fortunately, 2024 gave way to an eclectic collection of albums and tracks, whether it be from established rappers or upcoming emcees pushing hip-hop forward. Of course, it’s hard to discuss hip-hop this year without mentioning the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake (more on that later), but 2024 also saw releases from Tyler, The Creator, ScHoolboy Q, Future, Doechii, and many more. Continuing our list of the best songs of the year, here’s our picks for the best from hip-hop and rap. This feature was written by David Sosa and Sandra B. Olinger. Songs like the bass-heavy “Tu sae” featuring Talib Kweli and Plug 1 will take you back to the battleground where pop-locking and windmills were the weapons of choice. Arguably, it is the most fierce track on Ana Tijoux’s new album, Vida. We’re reminded of Tijoux’s versatility as a fire-breathing rapper who can flip the switch quicker than you can flip a pancake and transition her rhymes to buttery vocals. And what better features than Talib Kweli and De La Soul’s Plug 1, who are...