2020s Hip Hop Playlist: Best New Rap You Need to Hear

I hate hearing the words, hip hop isn’t what it used to be in the 90s. I feel like the people who usually say this just aren’t spending the time to find and listen to new rap. I get it though… Time gets squeezed the older we get and it’s not as easy to keep up with what’s new. I used to love hitting the record store and seeing the sign up showing you who was coming out with new albums and when. It gave me a reason to go to the record store and support. But nowadays in the digital era, it’s just overwhelming with how much stuff comes out. So do most of you just give up on finding and listening to new drops and just stick to the 90s, 00s, and 10’s hip-hop you grew up with? If so, this Spotify playlist is for you.

This playlist is the one I’ve been spending the most time with just so I can stay up on what is new in 2025. But it also covers tracks that have dropped here in the 2020s. This is a playlist that I keep updating with new tracks and moving songs around and deleting songs that I no longer feel are a good fit. It’s a chore to keep these playlists fresh but this is the one I’m actively working on. This is the Spotify playlist to share whenever anybody says there is no good hip hop lately. This is the playlist I would share with somebody who says, what do you listen to? Now… let’s give some of the rappers and songs some shine. And fam… if I missed songs on this playlist, drop them in the comments. DM me on socials. I don’t want to miss any fire nahmean!

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Denzel Curry “Walkin”

I always heard the name Denzel Curry but it wasn’t until his album, Melt My Eyez See Your Future album dropped in 2022 when I first took notice. This album is my favorite album that has dropped the past few years. It just speaks to me and I can list a good 4-5 tracks that I go back to constantly. But “Walkin” is the track that will forever be timeless. The drums picking up speed on the 2nd verse is perfection. The flow top notch… Delivery on point. Catchy and dope.

J. Cole “cLOUDs”

The track “cLOUDs” from J. Cole has had me hitting rewind over and over again. While we all await a new Cole album, these little sprinkles he often gives us of tracks and features is always so good. The simplistic beat on this along with Cole’s lyrics are great. When it all goes down, I truly think Cole will be one of the best to do it. When J. Cole drops, everybody stops what they’re doing to listen. Not many artists have this luxury and Cole worked hard to get here. It was hard to not go with Benny the Butcher and Cole with “Johnny P’s Caddy” but I am giving “cLOUDs” the love here.

Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist “Life is Beautiful”

I swear this whole playlist could be filled with ALC beats. It’s crazy how much good music he puts out and if you’re looking for one artist to dive deep into right now, just go to The Alchemist and start listening to every album he has dropped. In the 2020s he has dropped collaborative albums with Boldy James, Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs, Earl Sweatshirt, Roc Marciano, and then his latest one with Larry June and 2 Chainz… what??? Too many fire tracks to mention and you’ll find so many on this playlist. Off the new album with Larry June and 2 Chainz, tracks like “Munyon Canyon” and “I Been” are just too damn smooth. But this track “Life is Beautiful” is so really good. The whole Life is Beautiful album is a vibe.

Westside Gunn “Michael Irvin”

Westside Gunn drops so much music it’s sometimes hard to keep up. But man… This “Michael Irvin” track with Conductor Williams on the beat? Wow… Even Tyler, the Creator knew what was up when he jumped on the beat himself on “SIR BAUDELAIRE”… Conductor Williams seems to be behind a lot of the tracks I stay listening to. His production isn’t far behind what ALC is doing in my humble opinion. Peep “Michael Irvin” if you haven’t already…

Freddie Gibbs “Zipper Bags”

Freddie Gibbs is another one who always drops heat. His track “Nobody” that he dropped this year was really nice. And his whole Alfredo album with The Alchemist could be listed here but one track I think is just way too dope… “Zipper Bags” is prime Gangsta Gibbs cutting up the track. I wish he had another verse on this… I just don’t want it to end.

Jack Harlow “Keep it Light”

You say the name Jack Harlow and most people probably have an opinion. I’ll be honest and tell you I only know a few tracks from him but “Keep it Light” with Harry Fraud on the beat is a song I’ve listened to a ton. Jack has this confident flow and the lyrics are good… Should this track be on the list for best hip hop tracks for the 2020s? Maybe not yours but mine? Yes.

Kendrick Lamar “Count Me Out”

There’s literally no way I could write this article and not include Kendrick Lamar. He’ll go down as the best rapper of all time. Yup… Too many tracks to list here but “Count Me Out” was the one that I’ve felt the most.

Boldy James & The Alchemist “Great Adventures”

Boldy James another one I just can’t hit publish on the article without including. Nobody drops as many albums as Boldy… His work with ALC are all can’t miss projects. But “Great Adventures” is yacht rock rap to me. Love this track.

All I’m saying is this… Hip Hop ain’t dead. You just gotta look a little harder or just tap in to stay up on rappers you might not know like Mach Hommy, Murs, Marlon Craft, Fashawn, and Stove God Cooks. I got you though… Just follow the playlist and hopefully you find something you haven’t heard or take you back to a song you should have listened to more. I’ll leave you with some Deante’ Hitchcock… you up on him???