10 Best Songs of 2019

The title is pretty self explanatory.

10. Travis Scott "WHAT TO DO" feat. Don Toliver

With just a few days left in 2019, Travis Scott dropped his label pack "JACKBOYS', and this song is the clear highlight. Don Toliver kills his verse, talking about going out for the night, while Travis' narcotized hook transfixes you. It feels like I'm in a dream. And the outro is truly heavenly.

9. Gunna "Derek Fisher" feat. Lil Baby

Gunna and Lil Baby are already a formidable duo, but "Derek Fisher" is much more melodic than their usual hard-hitting rap. Talking about going to great lengths to get the woman he wants, Gunna floats on the beat, alluding to Derek Fisher stealing Matt Barnes' girl. The song is so calming and catchy.

8. Young Thug "The London" feat. J. Cole & Travis Scott

Three of the biggest names in hip hop absolutely crushed this lead single for Thug's album, "So Much Fun". Travis handles hook duties excellently, reminiscing of attempting to get a woman to meet him at the London hotel in LA, but when he sends "two texts no reply, that's when I knew. I knew, I knewwww" that she wasn't coming, he seems at peace with it. J. Cole then spits straight bars, saying his guest verses cost $2,000 every word. That's...a lot of money, but Cole is worth every penny. Thug, as awesome as he is, does not deliver his best verse in this song. His high pitch does not fit well, but it's only a minor hiccup in the superstar that is Thug.

7. Nipsey Hussle "Racks in the Middle" feat. Roddy Riich

This song is a blast. Two of Los Angeles' best rappers trade sing-song bars on a song that is destined to be played in sunny LA during summer driving on PCH. Roddy Riich, in his breakthrough before "Ballin", infuses so much energy in the hook, while Nipsey calmly guides the rest of the song. It's one of Nipsey's last song's before his tragic death. RIP Nipsey.

6. Juice WRLD "Feeling"

This song is plain FUN. Many of Juice WRLD's songs are beautiful yet deeply depressing cries for help. They're awesome, but it's a wonderful change of pace to hear JUICE have some fun once in a while. You can tell he's happy, singing he's got a great feeling after having percocets. While the reason for his happiness is a dangerous drug, the fact that he's happy at all is a welcome sign. Also, he gives us some wonderful lines, such as "B**** I'm Goku and you Krillin", which, if you know Dragon Ball Z, is possibly the biggest diss I've ever heard.

5. J. Cole "Middle Child"

Released at the very beginning of the year, J. Cole started off 2019 with a BANG. He spoke on pretty much everything, but the theme of the song is J. Cole coming to terms with the fact that he's caught in the middle of two generations, and trying to find the right balance, just like the middle child in any family. He looks up to MC's like Jay Z, but realizes so many young rappers look up to him, and he's trying to give them the right guidance. He raps about trying to create generational health for his friends, pondering, "What good is first class if my homies can't sit". Ultimately, it's a wonderful song that touches upon everything. 

4. J. Cole "Sacrifices" feat. EARTHGANG, Smino & Saba

While this is definitely not the most popular song of J. Cole's label album Dreamville's Revenge of the Dreamers, it's the most real, introspective and melodic. All rappers involved outline the sacrifices they've had to make to get to where they are today. J. Cole speaks about how his now wife gave him a place to stay when he had nowhere to go, and now they have a son together with another on the way. It's beautiful.

3. Future "Call the Coroner"

A pure trap banger. "I wanna live like a drug lord, but I wanna be glorious
Sometimes I feel like a kingpin, I'm so victorious," Future croons in the hook, telling the audience they better call the coroner, which is usually for unspecified deaths. Ok, then. Still a phenomenal song that you have to blast on your speaker to truly appreciate.

2. Big K.R.I.T. "Prove It" feat. J. Cole

People talk about J. Cole's classic features run of 2018-19, but this may be his best and it's hardly mentioned. After K.R.I.T spends the majority of the song pleading a woman to prove their belief in him, J. Cole comes in at the end, and he's as introspective as ever. He argues with himself, saying he prioritizes quality over quantity in his music, so he doesn't dilute his brand. But then he ponders all the people out there who rely on his music to a heavy extent, and now he questions if he should release more music to keep those people from doing horrible things to themselves. It's a truly interesting question, and I can't wait to see how he tackles it in 2020. Lastly, he shouts out a longtime fan who recently posted some horrible news, and he sings that he hopes to see her back on the road. That's real.

1. Mustard "Ballin" feat. Roddy Riich

Not the most lyrical or introspective song of the year, but by far the most catchy, enjoyable and romping. Roddy is singing his heart out on the hook. This isn't really song to understand or analyze. Just listen, and FEEL it. It's a straight banger.

Honorable Mentions:

2 Chainz "NCAA"
Anderson Paak "Make It Better" feat. Smokey Robinson
Denzel Curry "SPEEDBOAT" 
Don Toliver "Best You Had"
Drake "Money in the Grave"
Ed Sheeran "Antisocial" feat. Travis Scott
Frank Ocean "In My Room"
Future "Government Official"
J. Cole "Under the Sun" feat. Lute, DaBaby & Kendrick Lamar
Juice WRLD "Maze"
SiR "Hair Down" feat. Kendrick Lamar
Lil Uzi Vert "Sanguine Paradise"
Mustard "Baguettes in the Face" feat. NAV, Playboi Carti & A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Pi'erre Bourne "Ballad"
Post Malone "Enemies" feat. DaBaby
Post Malone "Staring at the Sun" feat. SZA
SAINt JHN "Trap" feat. Lil Baby
SiR "Mood" feat. Zacari
Gang Starr "Family and Loyalty" feat. J. Cole
XXXTENTACION "bad vibes forever" feat. PNB Rock & Trippie Redd
Young Thug "HOT" [Remix] Feat. Gunna & Travis Scott
Yung Bans "Too Many Times"