The Top 10 Best Rap Songs of 2023 (that still have their flaws)

[@RapCritic]

If the patreon hits $1K, I’ll do an RC review of my old song that just became a meme www.patreon.com/rapcritic (I'll do a Best/Worst of Masta Artisan stream if it at least hits $750)

[@jon_e96]

There’s no possible way you listened to any of your songs and thought they were good. All you do is trash southern hip hop , and for what “ OH MY GOD I CANT BELIEVE THIS” never enter a recording booth again please. and you have the gall to say master p is a bad rapper? HAVE YOU HEARD YOUR OWN SONGS?!?!?!

[@kimorayn1733]

Aww, Rap Critic and Todd dropped their Year-End lists 5 seconds apart, that's adorable...

[@shmusht1530]

I was just watching the Todd video when this popped up

[@ironickomedakin]

they're kissing in the subscription box ❤️

[@Mr.Marbles]

He just turned the lights on, took the hoodie off and now tries to get money for the same video twice. Im onto you mr. Rap critic in the shadows 🤨🔎

[@formerlyknownaseasrob]

@@ironickomedakinI cannot-…nah I’m not finishing that

[@ozithemon]

Surprised ”Oh My God” by the underrated poet Masta Artisan did not make this particular list. His music is truly timeless and should not be subject to the shackles of the year it was published

[@m.w3s]

I can NOT believe this

[@agogobell28]

Well, technically it’s from a decade ago so it wouldn’t qualify anyway…. more’s the same.

[@smileysuburban8146]

I can NOT BELIEVE THIS!

[@SmoochKassidy]

Ayyy, RC. You’ve been literally entertaining me for a decade. You deserve your flowers homie. From the podcast to the videos, you’ve given me a lot over the years and you legit mean a lot to me. Thank you bro.

[@MrFlyingLamma]

I'm pretty sure Glorb doesn't use AI to write the actual lyrics. It's saying something you think that an AI could write rhymes in a trap style and actually flow like a Glorb track, plus I'm pretty sure he voices them himself then uses the AI to get it closer to the original voice. It's not TTS.

[@onlyneptuneintheworld]

in defense of glorb, im pretty sure they wrote the stuff themselves and then put them in ai, so the ai isn't writing it based on spongebob. i do think that it's kind of an overused gimmick now, especially spongebob like damn find another cartoon 😭 but glad oddwin continues to get his flowers, dude is mad talented.

[@jeremiahbredeson1302]

Had to feed the panther

[@jeremiahbredeson1302]

That’s your top 10 nah as if they weren’t hits with subtle weaknesses

[@smokeyyvevo]

Also apparently Glorb records over the beats and just puts his voice thru an AI filter.

[@link77779]

Fun fact, the original Luddites actually weren't blindly anti-technology, but just wanted the workers suddenly being replaced by the new machines to be treated better.

[@ronnierockit4468]

Was about to say something along these lines.

[@tsartomato]

den tuk errrrr jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewbs!

[@NanixsQuickieFoods]

“Jersey game is so Paterson” My Jersey ass: eyyyyyyyy

[@deejayma5763]

It is really just refreshing to hear Aesop on any list. I feel like he is criminally underrated.

[@homeskoolmc1852]

As someone deeply involved in the battle rap scene, it warms my heart to see Marvwon get some flowers for his music. He's a legendary battle rapper (he's in a deleted scene from 8 Mile) and he's still a competitive battler over 2 decades later, while making great music. I've met him a few times, and he seems like a super genuine dude.

[@TimRosales750]

Thanks for recognizing Krusty Krew!! That song was the underrated bop of the year for me.

[@intelligencecycle3523]

1. Marlon Craft Pension 2. Oddisee Try Again 3. McKinley Dixon dedicated to tar feather 4. Drake J Cole First Person Shooter 5. Larry June Summer reign 6. Paris Texas Kenny Mason DND 7. Mick Jenkins SmokeBreak Dance ft JID 8. Wakai Frustrated 9. Killer Mike NRICH Eryn Allen kane 10. IDK MR Police Those are my top favorite Rap songs. wasn't so much ive listen to last year. Just off the top of the head.

[@rudycwilly317]

Sorry but the Glorb SpongeBob tracks are actually insane

[@thel-iteralone4592]

What a nice coincidence that you and Todd put out your best songs lists on the same day!

[@jojoadac9400]

Especially cool since Todd nearly never even touches on rap music.

[@BigFishZo]

That Paris Texas pick made me very happy. Huge fan of them. I also saw Kenny Mason live at the Scaring The Hoes Tour with Peggy & Danny, so I've seen 3 of the artists on this list live lol.

[@dont_take_it_personal]

You are absolutely right about Aes. When he zeroes in and focuses on one topic, that man spins a beautiful web of storytelling. That's why I've enjoyed his most recent album I.T.S

[@DaVideoGameBeastr]

I don't think you could have picked a worse example for the lazy SpongeBob AI raps than Glorb.

[@dublymike]

Wasn't his point that it WASN'T one of the lazy ones?

[@Drknsl0]

@@dublymike the lead-in line to the Glorb clip was "we've seen all those MEDIOCRE SpongeBob voice AIs, right?" clearly implying that's one the artists he's talking about

[@YoungBirdyRingo]

Tysm for putting my suggestion at #3, that made my day. The album that song is from is full of underground gems as well as meaningful and somber songs. It's an hour long but not a minute wasted, top 5 of the year imo.

[@shmusht1530]

Ngl I’m a fan of the glorb ai songs for the most part. It’s dumb and funny and the beats go pretty hard

[@ndlmous]

Marlon Craft a beast, a 50+ year old friend of mine showed me him a while back and the man is undeniably talented

[@Caernath]

You know, Marlon Craft does kinda look like Jack Harlow. Perhaps there's some kinda 'Into the Rap-Verse' shenanigans going on and Craft and Harlow are multiversal reflections of each other.

[@fkinel-wu7ev]

Agree,they look like lost brothers for real.Also the only difference is that they have different eyes that's literally it and I can even say that Jack is the corny version of Marlon Craft and Marlon Craft is the serious version of Jack goddamn

[@taylorbrewing]

justice for Glorb

[@darksunset3448]

Yeah I really disagree with everything he said about glorb 😔

[@Blippys]

Real

[@StuartJuggernaut]

kash krabs better

[@nintendo101ish]

You know it was a terrible year for rap if a Spongebob Squarepants Themed joint cracked the top ten of the year. Unreal

[@deecee1853]

Why is that a bad thing?

[@lesmortimers4791]

I love less snobbery in the scene

[@MurderCapital666]

Well hip-hop has been dead for years now.

[@rcdotson4433]

​@@MurderCapital666 stop trying to kill something you never contributed to

[@dbclass2969]

@@MurderCapital6662022 was the best year for hip hop in a while

[@sephirothii13]

The DnD song, that guitar hit me because it remind me of grunge or 90's alt song and man that hits my soul...

[@KeiFresh]

Marv Won is a battlerap legend

[@braindeadserenity2962]

I’m actually disappointed that Rap Critic doesn’t like Glorb. I feel songs like Eugene and The Bottom 2 are really good parody songs that utilize both human touch and AI in a creative way - but ig he didn’t feel the same. All the power man, to each their own🤝

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I'm surprised that Czarface's "Together" (or any song by Czarface) didn't get a mention. Not only it sounds awesome but the metaphors (let alone , the lyrics video) are entertaining. But this is a dope list, RC.

[@faeriegraver]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@faeriegraver]

Can I ask your opinions on the JPEGMAFIA x DANNY BROWN, Killah Priest, and Danny Brown albums?

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I loved "Scaring the H0es" album but haven't checked out others that you recommended. ​@@faeriegraver

[@kenterminateddq5311]

​@@faeriegraver "Screaming the H0$S" is one of the best albums of 2023.

[@optipri2135]

When I clicked on this video I did NOT expect to see a track from Oddwin on here, much less the KASH KRABS song. What in the actual fuck happened this year

[@jeremiahbredeson1302]

What a list! It was ass, but served to mark off another off year.

[@solidbison687]

Im glad Paris Texas is getting tbe recognition they deserve

[@MostMorose]

Heavy metal is a banger

[@Almeidukas]

Number 3 is so underground that RC mixed up the rapper with a song name (Paradime - Wolf Greys) 12:32

[@takatotakasui8307]

I've always loved these year end lists, thanks RC

[@dannybuchanan3661]

Mindful solutionism setting up that the first ever piece of technology is a weapon is subtle but interesting.

[@usagiwerd6664]

Glorb is the 2023 king meme rap.

[@joshraid1550]

I like a lot of his music but honestly some of it is so clearly using the novelty as a crutch. Like "vengeance" has some of the worst "disses" i've ever heard, even for a joke song. "I let my husband fuck you as a joke" is not a line anyone should say in a rap song about being back with a vengeance. "How the fuck a fully grown man doing kung-fu" is such a stupid ass line like since when is kung fu a thing for children?

[@kriskenard]

great list, RC OH MY GOD!

[@xoppamorie4276]

so happy to see DnD 0n here

[@ericg_2025]

YO i thought i was the only one on kash krabs bro i have been bumping that track for half of 2023 unironically yoooooooo

[@ringer1324]

Thank you for giving Kash Krabs his flowers. Glorb has unfortunately taken over any SpongeBob rap discussion so thanks for giving praise to the OG.

[@mdusibisi]

A bit sad that RC doesn't know Detroit battlerap legend, Marv Won. He made a cameo on 8 Mile. I guess RC just isn't into battlerap.

[@mehdi-les-termes]

Hard to take that list seriously when Billy Woods was amongst the worst lyrics list, Maps was a great album. Also Burning Desire by MIKE is an incredible album that I can't recommend enough, MIKE has been the best rapper of 2023 imo.

[@nicholaswoollhead6830]

Thanks for getting me into Craft mate

[@MartiniBlankontherest]

Fun fact. Marv Won who features on nr. 3 here was also featured as a battle rapper in 8 mile. He's a certified vet in the battle rap scene and a Detroit rap legend with too many fire lines to quantify. Look him up.

[@kid_fi3nd98]

Idk I fw the Glorb tracks though. I watched the hell out of spongebob and I think the references were actually pretty good. Obviously its supposed to be silly

[@TwizzlerC]

I should've suggested "Introducing" by Genia. If you check that song out and like it, I suggest listening to the project it came from called "4 PM In The Ville".

[@starcherry6814]

1:56 she sounds like Foxy Brown

[@pr0cr4st1na7or]

If you liked Kash Krabs, I'd definitely recommend checking out the nerdcore rap community in general. Oddwin's done a bunch of production for them and there's some really clever rap and good music there. Just as a start, check out the KZbin Geek Rap Cypher from a couple years ago to see some of the big names in the scene.

[@lunamorada335]

My favorite part of these lists is always that one song I never heard before but I'm def gonna be hearing it again cause of how good it is (in this case the number 2 spot)

[@ArtemyMusha]

The album it was on was simply ok, but New Gold is genuinely one of the best Gorillaz songs in ages.

[@kylemumford]

The Luddites were pretty interesting and their criticism of technology was reasonable. There is a new book called 'Blood in the Machine' by Brian Merchant that is a good history of them.

[@Decenium]

love ya man, good stuff

[@OnePete12]

Oh shit, I didn't expect MarvWon to pop up on the list, that's what's up! Shoutout to the battle rap legend and mad props to the person who suggested the track! You love to see it! I'd be dope to see you dabble into battle rap, RC!

[@blakerobertus7533]

"I don't think I've ever heard anyone use the word 'ideate' in real life." I envy you. You obviously don't work with business majors who think they're clever.

[@OmegaSMG]

Surprised Grouptherapy didn't end up on this list, because that perfectly describes their album this year. One of my most listened to albums from last year, but the parts of the album that are misses are annoyingly catchy.

[@cagekind]

ain't no way you put the mr krab song in this top bruh

[@MostMorose]

LMAO

[@igorbertoldo6237]

My man, ILY, but please, put them chapters in your BEST/WORST videos, or at least some timestamps on the description...

[@redsworkshop]

Bro looks like Jordan Howlett, sounds like MasterTainment, and talks about the rap game? I'm here for what this man is cooking. Watched the Not Like Us review too.

[@diabeticmonkey]

Everything I’ve heard on the new Aesop album is fire. I absolutely love it.

[@CheapVacationYT]

the dnd pick is amazing definitely in my top songs of the year

[@MBF78]

"Why aren't people listening more to this guy?" Might be because you keep referring to him as "this guy" instead of by his name? I'm just saying, if more people knew his name, maybe I would feel more inclined to look him up.

[@DaliyTv]

Sad that Kaytramine(kaytranada and Amine) didn't make the list, their song "K&A" it's amazing.

[@Yutu-cx1hd]

My god this list was terrible. What happened to you choosing rap song that actually were top teir for BEST OF THE YEAR! There were good songs on here but some, like the SpongeBob one, aren’t THAT. Cardi B? No song or feature from her is good enough to be on this list, she doesn’t have the punchlines of a A tier lyricist. So many of these songs are the same trap shit we’ve heard from Future, Youngboy Never Broke Again, and Young Thug. Conway The Machine, Locksmith, Jon Connor, and many other artist actually made high level skilled tracks that HAD music videos. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER MAN. Also there’s no excuse for these videos to take a month to make, you say it’s to be sure about your opinion but when most of the videos (outside of this one obviously) don’t reach the ten minute mark then it didn’t take a month to make it. You fell off but I think you can get back up if you just went back to your roots.

[@Quantumwashere]

RC Redeemed himself with that aes pick. I always wondered if the part of the song where he spells out “technology” was a as a tongue in cheek reference to Ai rap generators. (If you’ve ever used an AI rap generator you know what I mean, they love spelling things out 😂)

[@SyManor]

Can't believe Oddwin made the list.

[@SIKICIBIRKANAL]

Just realised how rhyme schemes in hip-hop are falling apart. I try to write raps in my freetime and when i don't rhyme at least 2 syllables while not saying random bullshit, i feel like i suck. But atleast some of them very creative with the beat selection and mixing while actually staying in topic. So i think it is what it is.

[@Skullbrothers3]

would recomend pete and bas "plugged" featuring fumes the engineer. 2 80 year olds doing impressive gangsta rap

[@DuelaDent52]

He’s back? He’s back! HE’S BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

[@zacharyporter5621]

Marv won being on the list is dope

[@realDonald-trump]

I really need to make a playlist of all your best rap songs but i'm too lazy. Still great picks though, if they ever showed up in my recommended i'd listen in a heartbeat. (Also, you're not lazy, you're just working in a field many refuse to validate, keep up the good work)

[@joehoe9113]

AYO ODDWIN🗣️🔥

[@isaactendongho8360]

Was not expecting kash Krabs praise but here we are 💀

[@sammcottone5927]

Damn someone post the list of songs mentioned in here? Pretty pelase

[@ndlmous]

If they ever do make a live-action ThunderCats movie I will only watch it if Aesop Rock is on the soundtrack 💯

[@tylerferguson3193]

Hope you're having a good day

[@tsartomato]

6:00 does brit pop even count as rap?

[@2ndincommand350]

Bro does not know how AI works if he thinks Glorb is written by AI

[@j.dagger6407]

The fact that "Johnny Dang" by That Mexican OT isnt on here makes this list invalid

[@EverTheAnnihilator]

This was an AMAZING list, I feel like I got put on to a lot of dope artists!

[@VestaBlackclaw]

I feel like character rap has a lot of potential, but this trend using AI voices is really concerning. Especially since the generative databaes are built on stolen work of musicians and voice actors. Beyond being a violation of privacy, it's contract breaking, the VA doesn't get anything from it nor has ever, wnd due to the contract break if they find something raunchy from a cartoon voice, that could get *the voice actor* in trouble instead of just the person who did it. This stuff is dangerous and needs to be abandoned, full stop. Especially with these kinds of songs. Like I'm glad that no6 actually USED their voices, but the others present a much deeper problem.

[@twistedgambit9084]

Honestly I think he shouldve used the AI rappers for wrestlers themes.

[@KxngKUDA]

Oddwin making it to Rap critic was not on my bingo board

[@tsartomato]

i don't listen to these guys because there's no playlist with this list or even text list so i could put them into search

[@ybnednaed]

The line about the guy who overuses the word "ideate" is actually a really clever jab. It's pronounced id-ee-ate, with the id as in id and ego. He's saying here's a guy who overuses the word ideate and doesn't even know how to pronounce it. All while making the improper pronunciation of the word match the rhyme of his verse. Yeah...I see what you mean about this guy!

[@laurencehunter1544]

No Mick Jenkins up here is crazy

[@sinaiforbes6851]

Rc. Check out some d savage really has his own sounds. Not a lyricist but makes atmospheric music!!

[@FireVixen164]

Another great list!

[@sxndy2348]

That boy marv won made the list 😭

[@matshbocks]

In today's episode of shit we ain't seen before, battle rappers with good songs.

[@blakerobertus7533]

And he didn't seem to know who he was 😭

[@belladonnaoaisling]

YESSSSSSSSSSS

[@rcdotson4433]

RC ... I've been riding with you since 2014...but I know you didn't just speak on Glorb not being show accurate to SpongeBob....you are literally listening to like the 4th song in a chronological battle between bikini bottom vs plankton...... Do your research RC..smh

[@ahmadking5229]

Sheesh Cardi actually killed that

[@ronnierockit4468]

Why am I thirty with zero hustle tho

[@twistedgambit9084]

Your #2 and 3 and #10 was it. Everything else was trash. See you in 2025.

[@lesliewubbel9157]

Aesop rock technology slapped

[@adankpancake]

listen to airospace, his stuff from 2023 is really good

[@Ringowasprettygood]

Fuuuuck yea that cardi and fendy track was soooo under appreciated this year

[@BLUVIBESPRODUCTION]

Watsky-going under

[@KxngKUDA]

Ok RC, i gotta get on you. Do you not watch rap battles? Smack/URL? You just casually calling Marv Won "the other MC" hurt my heart.

[@dorus2903]

I feel like oddwin

[@BobLee-df4zh]

Did this man really just put some SpongeBob meme garbage on the top year list? Jesus christ.

[@JoshBurcham104]

Colorful packaging pack em in fly like gold on Africans cover my tracks with backronyms when it's my time no need to pass the hash just throw me in when the fire good and crackling

[@landlocked_lifts332]

Marvelous Wonderful is one of the greatest rappers ever - go watch him and Quest McCody vs. Steams and Chess if you want proof

[@TheAnimalKing]

This was kinda disappointing, I like 8, 7, 6, 3, and 2 but the krabs song wasn’t that good and the other songs aren’t that impressive to put on a best of list.