Everyone has that one song that reminds them of the good (and not-so-good) times. Whether you needed something to get you through the workday or another breakup, rap and its biggest players have got you covered. However, there were songs in the past decade that blatantly stood above the rest. We are breaking down what songs stood out each year from the past decade—and the craziness that happened the same year as well.
2015: “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
This song was played at every graduation across the country. Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth dropped the emotional banger of the year. In 2015, “See You Again” broke the record for most Spotify streams in a single day with 4.2 million. In 2017, they followed that up and broke the YouTube record for the most viewed video ever (at that time).
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — Drake and Meek Mill decided they were going to go “Back to Back” in their public rap beef (only this time, Drizzy actually won the battle)
- — Ye’s announced his run for the U.S. presidency and started one of the wildest presidential campaigns in history
- — The world spent hours arguing whether “The Dress” was more black or gold.
2016: “goosebumps” by Travis Scott ft. Kendrick Lamar
The hit record from Scott’s 2016 album Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight was officially certified diamond in August 2024 and has surpassed over one billion views on YouTube. For many future ragers, the track became a gateway to discovering Houston’s new rap star.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — Harambe became a cultural icon (and a presidential write-in candidate)
- — The Pokémon Go app led to the world trying to “catch them ‘em all”
- — Ye debuted Life of Pablo during NYFW and delivered this iconic “Father Stretch My Hands” video
2017: “Rockstar” by Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
Nothing gave off true “Rockstar” energy this year like the track featuring the White Iverson turned country star and Atlanta’s finest. The song went diamond in November 2020 and was officially certified gold in Canada after its first week on streaming. To this day, you can still find “Rockstar” on the playlist of frat houses nationwide.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — The Migos almost all jumped Joe Budden at the BET Awards over his trash attitude
- — Jordan Peele’s Get Out took horror to a terrifying new level
- — Beyoncé announced her pregnancy with twins, and the world sent their congrats
2018: “Lucid Dreams” by Juice WRLD
2018 may have left you with “Lucid Dreams” like Juice WRLD. The late artist’s impact is still felt today, with the track going number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in October 2018 and then earning a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 days after he died in 2019. Juice WRLD gave the world a song to vibe (and most likely cry) throughout the year and beyond.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — The untimely passing of Mac Miller
- — Yelling “Wakanda Forever!” at each other once Black Panther dropped
- — Pusha T demolished Drizzy with “The Story of Adidon” (and revealed his secret child)
2019: “The Box” by Roddy Ricch
Roddy Ricch popped off and showed people what he was really about when he dropped “The Box.” The track ended up being Ricch’s first number-one song on the Billboard 200 chart and officially went diamond in December 2021. He delivered a song that gave us TikToks and memes that will live on forever.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — Avengers: Endgame marked the end of Iron Man’s time in the Marvel universe
- — Game of Thrones might have (arguably) delivered the worst ending of a show ever
- — Kylie Jenner singing “Rise and Shine” went viral and haunted us at night
2020: “ROCKSTAR” by DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
If 2020 brain fog led to you forgetting what dropped that year, DaBaby and Roddy Ricch released the song of the summer as we could do nothing to enjoy it. It earned DaBaby his first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Ricch his second in June 2020. At least there was this banger to keep the entertainment flowing amid COVID restrictions.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — We all binge-watched Tiger King
- — Timbaland and Swizz Beatz had us in a chokehold of Verzuz battles
- — Clubhouse had 15 minutes of fame connecting strangers in chatrooms
2021: “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow
In pure Internet troll fashion, Lil Nas X let it all hang out in his music video for “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow, causing some people to look away while others got a little too close to the screen. This unlikely duo went number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2021, and the song eventually went seven times platinum in April 2024. The song helped Lil Nas X, and Harlow beat the industry plant allegations once and for all.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — Ye and Drake had their infamous feud
- — The Weeknd performed at the Super Bowl with no special guests
- — Squid Games became a Netflix sensation
2022: “Jimmy Cooks” by Drake ft. 21 Savage
Drake and 21 Savage hand-delivered new heat to the rap world’s doorstep. The track earned a number one spot at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2022 and passed over one billion Spotify streams in July 2024. With their new track, Drake and 21 Savage cemented their names as big dogs that year.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in the face at the Oscars
- — Elon Musk officially took over Twitter
- — Migos’ Takeoff was tragically murdered in Houston, shocking the rap community
2023: “Paint The Town Red” by Doja Cat
Doja Cat removed her cow ears and decided to “Paint The Town Red.” The song had a giant impact on the charts, serving as the first number one rap song on the Billboard Hot 100 in over a year. Like André 3000 busting out his flute, the song was a smooth ride away from all of the year’s chaos.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year:
- — The rap community celebrated hip-hop’s 50th anniversary
- — “Barbieheimer” took over memes, social media, and movie theaters worldwide
- — People put on their silver or friendship bracelets for the Renaissance or Eras Tours
2024: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
The year isn’t over quite yet, but it shouldn’t be a surprise as to who the top dawg is right now when it comes to streams. K. Dot placed his size seven foot on Drizzy’s neck and didn’t let up, dropping hit after hit. “Not Like Us,” though, was a whole other beast. As of October 2, it has officially tied with Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” as the longest-running number-one track on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart.
In case you forgot the other cultural moments that shaped the year (so far):
- — Diddy was arrested after over a year of civil lawsuits and misconduct allegations
- — Metro Boomin and Future showed us they’re “Like That”
- — TikTok might be getting “banned” in the United States
Who knows what the next decade has in store for us? One thing is for sure, though—it will have plenty of entertainment and culture-changing tracks for hip-hop lovers to enjoy.
