So it seems like a lot of rappers were holding onto their music when the pandemic started in 2020, because since the world’s started to come out of COVID-19, there’s been a flood of dope music these past couple of years.
Just take a look at the rappers who dropped in 2021 and this year so far to get an idea. You’ve got Kanye, Drake (who dropped two releases), Kendrick and J. Cole, as well as Pusha T, Denzel Curry, Lil Durk, Future coming out. It seemed like a dope release is dropping every other week.
So for this list, we’ve decided to put together a list of the top rap songs of 2022 (so far). Now, this isn’t a list of the best rap songs of the year – that’s a different one – this is a list of the biggest and most commercially successful tracks of 2022.
From Kendrick’s hyped “N95” and Future’s first number-one single “Wait for U” to Drake’s “Sticky” and Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin,” here are the top rap songs of 2022.
Kendrick Lamar ft. Tanna Leone – “Mr. Morale”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Pharrell Williams
Billboard Hot 100 position: 40
Russ ft. Ktlyn – “Handsomer”
Album: N/A
Producer: Russ
Billboard Hot 100 position: 40
King Von ft. 21 Savage – “Don’t Play That”
Album: What It Means to Be King
Producer: Kid Hazel
Billboard Hot 100 position: 40
Future ft. Kodak Black – “Voodoo”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Southside
Billboard Hot 100 position: 39
Polo G – “Distraction”
Album: N/A
Producer: Southside
Billboard Hot 100 position: 39
Rod Wave – “Cold December”
Album: Beautiful Mind
Producer: TnTXD, Lukecmon, JB, ThatBossEvan
Billboard Hot 100 position: 38
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “Umm Hmm”
Album: The Last Slimeto
Producer: Khris James, HitmanAudio
Billboard Hot 100 position: 37
Coi Leray ft. Nicki Minaj – “Blick Blick”
Album: Trendsetter
Producer: Dr. Luke, Rocco Did It Again!, Ogren, Crook
Billboard Hot 100 position: 37
Kevin Gates ft. Juicy J – “Thinking with My Dick”
Album: Stranger than Fiction
Producer: Arthur McArthur
Billboard Hot 100 position: 37
Rod Wave ft. Jack Harlow – “Yungen”
Album: Beautiful Mind
Producer: BabeTruth, Eelmatic
Billboard Hot 100 position: 35
Lil Durk – “Golden Child”
Album: 7220
Producer: Cubeat, Hitmaka, YC, Real Red, Heavy L Beatz
Billboard Hot 100 position: 34
Future – “Worst Day”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Wheezy, Taurus Currie Jr., Jasper Harris, Russell Chell
Billboard Hot 100 position: 34
Kendrick Lamar ft. Kodak Black – “Rich (Interlude)”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Timothy
Billboard Hot 100 position: 33
Lil Tjay – “In My Head”
Album: N/A
Producer: Yoshi, Yvng Finxssa
Billboard Hot 100 position: 33
Lil Durk – “No Interviews”
Album: 7220
Producer: Touch of Trent, Hoops
Billboard Hot 100 position: 30
Future – “Gold Stacks”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: DMC Global
Billboard Hot 100 position: 29
Megan Thee Stallion – “Plan B”
Album: Traumazine
Producer: Rob Holladay, Omar Grand
Billboard Hot 100 position: 29
Gunna ft. Lil Baby – “25k Jacket”
Album: DS4Ever
Producer: Wheezy, Nik Dean
Billboard Hot 100 position: 28
Pharrell Williams ft. 21 Savage & Tyler, the Creator – “Cash In Cash Out”
Album: N/A
Producer: Pharrell Williams
Billboard Hot 100 position: 26
Lil Durk ft. Future – “Petty Too”
Album: 7220
Producer: DJ Young Pharaoh, Irocconthebeat Zypitano
Billboard Hot 100 position: 26
Future ft. EST Gee – “Chickens”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Wheezy, Dez Wright
Billboard Hot 100 position: 26
Doja Cat – “Vegas”
Album: Elvis
Producer: Chahayed, Yeti Beats
Billboard Hot 100 position: 25
Future ft. Gunna & Young Thug – “For a Nut”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: ATL Jacob, Yoajm
Billboard Hot 100 position: 24
Gunna ft. Drake – “P Power”
Album: DS4Ever
Producer: Metro Boomin
Billboard Hot 100 position: 24
Gunna ft. 21 Savage – “Thought I Was Playing”
Album: DS4Ever
Producer: Mike Will Made It, Shawn Ferrarii, Weirdo
Billboard Hot 100 position: 23
Jack Harlow ft. Drake – “Churchill Downs”
Album: Come Home the Kids Miss You
Producer: Boi-1da, Audi, BEDRM, Ace G
Billboard Hot 100 position: 23
Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg – “Still D.R.E.”
Album: 2001
Producer: Dr. Dre, Mel-Man
Billboard Hot 100 position: 23
Kendrick Lamar ft. Baby Keem & Sam Dew – “Savior”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Cardo, J. Lbs, Sounwave, Oklama, Mario Luciano, Rascal
Billboard Hot 100 position: 23
Kendrick Lamar ft. Summer Walker & Ghostface Killah – “Purple Hearts”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Sounwave, DJ Khalil, J. Lbs, Beach Noise
Billboard Hot 100 position: 22
Kanye West & XXXTentacion – “True Love”
Album: Donda 2 and Look at Me: The Album
Producer: Kanye West, John Cunningham, Ojivolta, Mike Dean
Billboard Hot 100: 22
Lil Durk ft. Gunna – “What Happened to Virgil”
Album: 7220
Producer: Chopsquad DJ
Billboard Hot 100 position: 22
Rod Wave – “Alone”
Album: Beautiful Mind
Producer: Will-A-Fool, Bsquared
Billboard Hot 100 position: 21
Jack Harlow – “Dua Lipa”
Album: Come Home the Kids Miss You
Producer: J. Harlow, Chahayed, FnZ, Vindver, BabeTruth, 2forWoyne, Harris, Nemo Achida
Billboard Hot 100 position: 21
Future – “Massaging Me”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: ATL Jacob
Billboard Hot 100 position: 20
Nicki Minaj & Lil Baby – “Bussin”
Album: N/A
Producer: Swaggyono, DJ Tizz
Billboard Hot 100 position: 20
Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Oklama, ,Sounwave DJ Dahi, J. Lbs, Maxey
Billboard Hot 100 position: 20
Kendrick Lamar – “Worldwide Steppers”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Sounwave, Tae Beast, J. Lbs
Billboard Hot 100 position: 19
Lil Durk – “Ahhh Ha”
Album: 7220
Producer: Southside, TM88, NFE Paris, Too Dope, Nuki
Billboard Hot 100 position: 18
Jack Harlow – “Nail Tech”
Album: Come Home the Kids Miss You
Producer: Boi-1da, Chahayed, Sweet, Coleman, BabeTruth, Fierce
Billboard Hot 100 position: 18
Gunna ft. Future – “Too Easy”
Album: DS4Ever
Producer: Wheezy, Momberger
Billboard Hot 100 position: 16
Kendrick Lamar ft. Taylour Paige – “We Cry Together”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: The Alchemist, J. Lbs, Bekon
Billboard Hot 100 position: 16
Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Beach Noise
Billboard Hot 100 position: 15
Future ft. Kanye West – “Keep It Burnin”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: ATL Jacob, DB!
Billboard Hot 100 position: 15
Lil Durk ft. Morgan Wallen – “Broadway Girls”
Album: 7220
Producer: Charlie Handsome, Joe Reeves
Billboard Hot 100 position: 14
Lil Baby – “In a Minute”
Album: N/A
Producer: Kaigoinkrazy
Billboard Hot 100 position: 14
Lil Baby – “Right On”
Album: N/A
Producer: ATL Jacob
Billboard Hot 100 position: 13
Cardi B ft. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
Album: N/A
Producer: Tay Keith, BanBwoi
Billboard Hot 100 position: 13
Kendrick Lamar – “Rich Spirit”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Frano
Billboard Hot 100 position: 13
Post Malone ft. Roddy Ricch – “Cooped Up”
Album: Twelve Carat Toothache
Producer: Post Malone, Bell
Billboard Hot 100 position: 12
Future – “Love You Better”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: ATL Jacob, FnZ
Billboard Hot 100 position: 12
Kendrick Lamar ft. Sampha – “Father Time”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Beach Noise, Bekon, Timothy, Grandmaster Vic
Billboard Hot 100 position: 11
Future ft. Drake – “I’m on One”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Torey Montana
Billboard Hot 100 position: 11
Future – “I’m Dat Nigga”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Southside, DY, Nicky Slowburnz
Billboard Hot 100 position: 10
Future – “712PM”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Wheezy, TM88, DJ Moon, MoXart Beatz, Stefanccino
Billboard Hot 100 position: 8
Kendrick Lamar – “United in Grief”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Oklama, Sounwave, J. Lbs, Duval Timothy, Beach Noise, Tim Maxey
Billboard Hot 100 position: 8
Kendrick Lamar ft. Kodak Black – “Silent Hill”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Boi-1da, Sounwave, Sweet, Beach Noise
Billboard Hot 100 position: 7
Gunna ft. Future & Young Thug – “Pushin P”
Album: DS4Ever
Producer: Wheezy, Juke Wong
Billboard Hot 100 position: 7
Drake – “Sticky”
Album: Honestly, Nevermind
Producer: Gordo
Billboard Hot 100 position: 6
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “Staying Alive”
Album: God Did
Producer: 5
Billboard Hot 100 position: Nyan Lieberthal, Tim Suby
Kendrick Lamar ft. Blxst & Am&a Reifer – “Die Hard”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Baby Keem, J. Lbs, FnZ
Billboard Hot 100 position: 5
Future – “Puffin on Zootiez”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: Nils, TM88, Too Dope
Billboard Hot 100 position: 4
Kendrick Lamar – “N95”
Album: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Producer: Boi-1da, Sounwave, Sweet, Baby Keem
Billboard Hot 100 position: 3
Latto – “Big Energy”
Album: 777
Producer: Dr. Luke, Vaughn Oliver
Billboard Hot 100 position: 3
Kodak Black – “Super Gremlin”
Album: Back for Everything
Producer: ATL Jacob, Jambo
Billboard Hot 100 position: 3
Nicki Minaj & Lil Baby – “Do We Have a Problem?”
Album: N/A
Producer: Papi Yerr
Billboard Hot 100 position: 2
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
Album: N/A
Producer: Dr. Luke
Billboard Hot 100 position: 1
Drake ft. 21 Savage – “Jimmy Cooks”
Album: Honestly, Nevermind
Producer: Tay Keith, Vinylz, Cubeatz
Billboard Hot 100 position: 1
At this point in time, it’s just too easy for Drake. Less than a year after dropping Certified Lover Boy, the Toronto singer-rapper was back with a new surprise release. Taking a stylistic departure from his previous work, Honestly, Nevermind was influenced by house and Baltimore club, with no rap features except for 21 Savage on “Jimmy Cooks.” The song was a hit as soon as the album dropped, giving Drake 12th Billboard number-one and 21 Savage’s second.
Future ft. Drake & Tems – “Wait for U”
Album: I Never Liked You
Producer: FnZ, ATL Jacob
Billboard Hot 100 position: 1
It had been close to two years since Future’s last release – the underrated High Off Life released in 2020 – so when the Atlanta legend announced his new album dropping trap fans were hyped. I Never Liked You was filled top to bottom with bangers courtesy of producers like ATL Jacob, FnZ, Wheezy, TM88, Southside and others.
But on “Wait for U” it’s a completely different energy with Future enlisting long-time collaborator Drake and a dreamy sample of Tems’ “Higher” to form the core of the song. The song’s success on the charts gave Future his first number one as a lead artist, and second overall after 2021’s “Way 2 Sexy.”
Jack Harlow – “First Class”
Album: Come Home the Kids Miss You
Producer: Charlie Handsome
Billboard Hot 100 position: 1
On his highly anticipated second album, Come Home the Kids Miss You, Jack Harlow struck gold. Looping up a sample of the Fergie’s 2007 smash hit “Glamorous”, the rapper tapped into the global energy to earn his own number one hit. Topping the Billboard Hot 100 on its debut, “First Class” became the first rap song to hit number one on the pop charts in 2022.
