Although 2021 seriously left something to be desired, the music that was released this year did not. Our favorite musicians put us in their backpacks and create worlds for us to live in while disease, hate, and ignorance plagued ours. From some of the most celebrated artists of our generation dropping new albums (Tyler, the Creator, Kanye West, Drake) to exciting newcomers making a serious claim for the throne (Baby Keem, Don Toliver, Yeat), 2021 was jam-packed with exciting releases and excellent music. Today our team is celebrating some of our favorite songs that kept us going through a difficult year. If you’d like to listen to these tracks, go grab our playlist on Spotify or Apple Music at the link below:

Without further ado, StereoVision’s favorite songs of 2021:

“Family Ties” by Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar

What more can you expect from a Baby Keem record than what is already present on “family ties?” Two exceptional Keem verses, two beat switches, a vicious Kendrick Lamar feature, and the two rappers trading bars to end off the song. Keem displays his full skillset as a rapper on this track, as his word play, flow and rhyme-schemes were intricate enough to draw praise from both Tyler, The Creator and Vince Staples on Twitter. All-in-all, "family ties'' is a brilliant union of exceptional rappers destined to cross paths many more times in the future. -Luke Modugno

“Sweet / I thought you wanted to dance” by Tyler, the creator

Each Tyler, The Creator album seems to have a clear centerpiece, an encapsulation of the artistic headspace and emotional space the eccentric rapper is in at the time of the album’s creation. With his latest masterpiece record CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, that track happens to be "SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE”. Much like the rest of this record, Tyler borrows from previous points in his artistic journey, as this track fuses elements of the sonic palette of IGOR and Flower Boy. Tyler recruits the help of the angel-voiced Brent Faiyaz for “SWEET,” who completely steals the limelight with a verse and vocals that simply melt in your ears. The track only gets better when it transitions to “I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE.” The song emits the same energy as the title, with reggae and samba production that makes for one of the best songs released this year. Fana Hues turns in a stunning feature on this track as well, fitting the sonic vision of the track entirely. "SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE" is just one of the endless things to praise about CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. -Luke Modugno

“Hurricane” by Kanye West, The Weeknd, & Lil Baby

Kanye West, The Weeknd, and Lil Baby are all on a track and that should be enough for anyone to understand why this is here. Each super-star does exactly what they are supposed to and delivers on a deep level. Baby deliver a verse dedicated to the trenches that would motivate anyone to get up and go get it. The Weeknd sounds angelic over the spacious production and booming bass. Kanye delivers a heartfelt verse, but sound very far from broken. The entire song feels like a big budget film. -Miles Hagan

“SMokin Out The Window” by silk sonic

While multiple tracks off of Silk Sonic‘s debut album could make a case to be on this list, none can compete with “Smokin Out the Window,” the ultra-smooth track about a relationship gone bad. The first time we hear Anderson .Paak proclaim “This bitch got me paying her rent” at the beginning of the hook is undoubtedly one of the most memorable music moments of the year and the entire song is as addicting as a track can be. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Bruno Mars said that this was the first song him and Anderson ever wrote together which helps explain why the two artists quickly realized they’d need to do an entire album together. No one else in 2021 gave us the feeling that Silk Sonic did and “Smokin Out the Window” was this emotion in peak form. -Spencer Lobdell

“HB2U” by Isaiah rashad

Confessionary, brutally honest, yet dazzling tracks like "HB2U" is what made The House Is Burning well worth the five year wait for Isaiah Rashad fans. “HB2U’s” first half is a recollection of the lessons Zay has learned in his tumultuous time away from music: trusting in oneself to pull through even when it seems your life is collapsing around you. A tear-jerking celebration of a life renewed, “HB2U” takes a darker turn after a beat switch. After a brief pause, a hallucinogenic melody cuts in, “This ain’t as hard as it gets, but i'm still on drugs,” sings Zay in the closing seconds of the project. “HB2U’s” second half acts as a intimidating warning to Zay himself, to continue his progress in life, or lose it all again and succumb to his old ways. “Am I cheating myself, I'm imploding.” As a whole, the song is haunting, victorious, revealing, sobering, a masterpiece. -Luke Modugno

“Dogs don’t lie” by IDK

This is probably the most important song from IDK’s USEE4YOURSELF, as “Dog’s Don’t Lie” is the first track on the album to overtly explore IDK’s relationship with love, sex, and masculinity, and how it’s tied up in his own personality as a hip-hop artist. It’s a relatively laid-back track at first, with IDK’s rapping being initially fairly breezy as the song quickly picks up steam and indicates that maybe there’s more than meets the eye (there is). Though it’s not the most melodic or the hardest-hitting track on IDK’s latest, “Dog’s Don’t Lie” serves as a perfect introduction for both IDK and USEE4YOURSELF to the uninitiated. -Carter Fife

“Swërved It” by Yeat

The vampire sounding pipe organ is very off-putting when you first listen to this song, but Yeat’s ability to fuse and control any “rage beat” truly shows his versatility and confidence when creating music. The beat, created by Outlit, truly is the masterpiece of this song, and should get the respect it deserves. As always, Yeat’s lyrics are bland, but go along with his aesthetic and culture creating one of the most enjoyable songs of the year. -Drew Jenkins

“Wockesha” by moneybagg yo

Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo was 2021 most surprising MVP candidate and it was in large part to the iconic street-hit “Wockesha”. The track opens with a Lil Wayne soundbite where he discusses his lean use before Moneybagg comes in and begins to develop the song-long metaphor where he compares lean to a woman he’s fallen in love with. The concept is genius and Moneybagg executes on every level (“My bitch don't like you, you've been fuckin' up my home/Relapsin' every time I try to leave you 'lone”). A September remix featuring two legends in Lil Wayne and Ashanti only strengthened the track's already-sturdy song-of-the-year case. -Spencer Lobdell

“Too GOod” by arlo parks

An upbeat song that joyfully covers the rough topic of overthinking love. It will take at least five listens while fully bobbing your head to finally understand the complexity of the song, which results in some important inner reflection. The fact that this song was able to hold its own if not be better than a remix made by Unknown Mortal Orchestra says it all. “Too Good” is without a doubt one of the best offerings of 2021 asserting Arlo Parks’ position as one of R&B’s most exciting newcomers. -CJ Allen

“On That Time” by Playboi carti

Arguably the most punk song on Whole Lotta Red, Carti gives us a high intensity song that makes you want to split through traffic and go crazy. Carti raps about how he’s not someone to mess with and having protection that he’s not afraid to use. The layered electric guitar melodies by co-producer Ojivolta creates a menacing atmosphere that is paired seamlessly with aggressive drums by other co-producer, F1lthy. The vibe this song encapsulates the direction of rap right now, with more of a focus on the performability of songs and the “rage” aspect to them. “On That Time” excels at both. -Q Hollomand

“Scapegoats” by Baby Keem

Despite being just over a minute long, Baby Keem’s “Scapegoats” is my favorite track of the year due to his prophetic message, celestial word choice, and absolutely disgusting flow that he locks in to for the duration of his single verse. There is so much to unpack in Keem’s writing and “Scapegoats'' seems to be the single moment on The Melodic Blue where the Vegas newcomer is writing from a perspective that is elevated in comparison to the present tense POV that he sees through for the majority of the project. On the track, Keem acknowledges his objective with his 2021 album while also alluding to a future project with a more serious story to tell (One day I’ll tell you how my life was unfortunate/For now I’ll tell you how fast these Porcshes get”). This track is everything I love about Baby Keem and when it comes on I can’t help but drop whatever I’m doing to go bar for bar with the exciting young artist. -Spencer Lobdell

“Come to Life” by Kanye west

Although the extensive Donda tracklist is littered with what will become timeless Kanye West songs, the definitive penultimate track “Come to Life” encapsulates the Donda era both sonically and philosophically. With a spine-tingling piano and roaring synth played by Tyler, The Creator gracing the background of the record, Kanye expresses his regret and sorrow in the face of losing his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, asking “Ever wish you had another life? I’ve been feelin’ low for so long.” Singing about how he wished he had listened closer to her dreams, aspirations, wants and needs, Kanye feels empty in her absence. “I'm free,” Ye sings repetitively in the closing seconds of the song. It's an expression we’ve heard from him before (“Ghost Town”). However, this time feels decidedly different. Kanye has overcome the death of his mother and the loss of his family. Somehow, someway, he has continually found peace in religion despite how low life tends to bring him. He’s willing to put his ego and pride aside for his family, a realization clearly years in the making. “Come to Life'' is vulnerable, despondent, telling, gorgeous. -Luke Modugno

“Sandman” by A$AP Rocky

While 2021 was the third year in a row in which we were deprived of an A$AP Rocky album, he did throw his fans a bone with the re-release of his iconic Live.Love.A$AP mixtape which showcased the psychedelic cloud-rap that exploded Rocky into the mainstream in 2010. The last track on the re-released mixtape was a new bonus song called “Sandman” that was first played at Yams Day in January of 2021. The song is produced by Clams Casino who produced 5 out of the 16 songs on Rocky’s 2010 mixtape making “Sandman” a perfect sonic match for this project's re-release. Rocky reuses some of his most iconic flows on the track well pulling a major influence from France in his writing making the track a perfect blend of old and new and creating a song that every A$AP Rocky fan should be able to thoroughly enjoy. -Spencer Lobdell

“Rocc Climbing” by Remble and Lil Yachty

Tik Tok does not get to claim this song. Remble broke out in a huge way in 2021, with one of the most unique and refreshing flows hip-hop has heard in years. Lil Yachty has proven with his recent work that he is a force to be reckoned with in terms of his wordplay and flows. Combine these things with a beat that give them both plenty of space to work, and all this culminated to one of the most entertaining and replayable songs of the year. -Miles Hagan

“5x” by don toliver

At the risk of sounding overtly-contrarian, I was taken by surprise with Don Toliver’s newest album Life of a Don. Having not been super impressed with his previous projects, I was happily proven wrong with the introduction of bangers like this one. “5x” sounds like something you’d play on a late-night drive in your spaceship. It’s ambient, it’s downtempo (but also a banger?), and Don’s sometimes-whispery-sometimes-singing vocals are perfectly tuned to fit the atmospheric and ethereal feel of the song. While I have been a Don Toliver fan for a while, “5x” sees Don finally hitting his stride with a release that truly feels larger-than-life, a cinematic record perfect for an artist with his talent. -Carter Fife

“Raindrops” by Goldlink and Flo Milli

This song seems to be a love ballad that lays out all there is to a complicated yet solid relationship. Goldlink manages to seamlessly communicate this all while also discussing the ability to stay independent and the wants that come with it. Flo Milli floats on a chorus that will be stuck in your head for months on end. All of this occurring over insane guitar plucking makes it a stand-out joint. -CJ Allen

“Steelo Flow” by Lancey foux

“Steelo Flow” is one of Lancey’s higher-energy songs, and you can’t help but knock your head to the blaring 808. A spacious synth bass alongside echoing melodies from producer Jay Trench makes this song sound almost like you’re in an empty warehouse. The release of this song gave us a taste of what to expect on his subsequent tape, LIVE.EVIL. His tone and subject matter all flow cohesively together with the rest of his recent discography, giving his name a brand that is memorable and recognizable. -Q Hollomand

“Look At Me” by Kalan.frfr

The title speaks for itself. There are very few songs this year that make you feel like the one this year like this one does. The bounce is infectious and Kalan delivers lyrics that show the confidence that got him signed by Roc Nation. This needs to be played in the car at high volumes with the windows down. -Miles Hagan

“Dinero” by bigbabygucci

This song starts off with elegant chords which imitating a Spanish guitar or classical harp. After about 30 seconds, the actual beat comes in and Gucci starts to go crazy. Gucci has always been great at making and organizing hooks, however; I believe he decided to really go in on this track. He goes on flaunting his money, ego, and lifestyle while also providing explanations for his drug use and attitude towards women. The abrupt ending of this song gives it even more of the snappy sound I believe Gucci is going for and truly makes this song a masterpiece in Gucci’s catalogue. -Drew Jenkins

“Much Money” by kenny mason and freddie gibbs

Kenny Mason’s deadpan delivery has already made him a fan-favorite in the realm of upcoming hip-hop stars, and “Much Money” is proof that his signature style can even go toe-to-toe with some of the culture’s most decorated titans. Working with the surreal and melancholic sample Kenny Mason flows over, his rhythmic monotone steadily produces one of the year’s most slept-on bangers. By the time Freddie Gibbs starts rapping you know it’s already game over, as “Much Money” is quite literally a perfect showcase as to why Kenny Mason is the next artist to enter hip-hop’s stratosphere. For now, those who are lucky enough to be in the know and anticipate releases from Kenny know how important he is to the culture - and for that reason alone 2022 is sure to be an insane year for our hero. -Carter Fife

“Loose Change” by earl sweatshirt and the alchemist

The Alchemist further cemented his legend status through a prolific 2021 in which he released nine excellent bodies of work. The likely epitome of these projects was his solo EP This Thing of Ours where he crafted some of his most impressive beats of the year and enlisted the best of the best to come and give words to the incredible music. Alchemist ends the project with the Earl Sweatshirt-assisted track “Loose Change” and delivers with one of the best songs of the year in just under two minutes. Earl absolutely floats over the mesmerizing horns and proves he still has one of the sharpest pens in the game with an insane hook showcasing some of the best wordplay I’ve heard in recent memory (“These niggas nickel and diming I'm giving 'em five, pretty penny, you my luckiest find”). -Spencer Lobdell

“LATE NIGHT” by 454

454 was one of my favorite new artists of 2021, and his debut album 4 REAL was quite frankly one of the most insane projects released this year. 4 REAL is decorated with high-octane insanity found at the crossroads of hip-hop, psychedelia, and even hyper-pop. Album-opener “Late Night” is a perfect example of this - fast paced electronic vocals and a booming beat so catchy you’ll find yourself having intrusive thoughts about knishes in no time. As “Late Night” progresses the vibe evolves - the pitch and tempo slow slightly, but none of that results in any lost energy from our hero. Already having received the stamp of approval from one Frank Ocean, 454 is definitely an artist to keep your eyes on next year. -Carter Fife

“Last Day Out” by rio da yung OG

One of the only songs to almost bring me to tears this year. Last Day Out is a reminder to all that Rio and his constituents have been and will be a formidable force even with his upcoming time incarcerated. The song is an honest look into Rio’s situation where finances, the actions that led to his current state, and the loved ones he has to be separated from are all discussed in equal detail. -CJ Allen

“Let Go” by tinashe

Tinashe’s latest project 333 was simply incredible, and how better to convey that to you (the reader) than with the album opener “Let Go”. On this absolutely ethereal and hypnotic banger, Tinashe and Cee Lo Green join forces to deliver a cathartic emotional anthem that really doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard before. Thundering bass signals find their home alongside the duo’s angelic vocals and nature/bird noises (?) on “Let Go” - and the result? A refreshingly forward-thinking approach to music that has me playing this song literally on repeat to this day. -Carter Fife

“I deserve” by smino &Nos

If you didn’t already know, Smino is a generational artist. There is no one alive that can make music like him and his November single “I Deserve” contains all the proof needed to legitimize that claim. Smino combines his wide range, impeccable vocal control, and insightful writing on the first confirmed single off his upcoming album Luv 4 Rent and it feels so damn good. “I Deserve” is an uplifting self-care anthem where Smi reminds you that you deserve to run up the check. -Spencer Lobdell

“HAZARD DUTY PAY” by JPEGMAFIA

JPEGMAFIA is a wonderfully mixed bag, you never really know what you're going to get. His 2021 effort, "LP!" is no different, mixing the usual tones of his work such as industrial hip-hop and punk with hyper-pop and noise, Peggy always finds a way to out-avant-garde himself. However, as a hip-hop purist, I'll always be partial to an exquisitely chopped and looped sample that defines "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" Simply put, "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" is the best hip-hop beat I've heard in years. Combined with a Peggy verse that radiates unmitigated energy and angst, this track is head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in 2021. -Luke Modugno

“Heart Stop” by weiland

Weiland’s sudden change to his musical career has skyrocketed him into almost mainstream success. “Heartstop”, the first single off his new project, shows his artistic progression and internal conflict, as his lyrics have always had an emotional side to them. On this track, he struggles with an ex-lover and drug abuse, while floating on a dream-like beat with Mike Dean-esque synths. Little less than midway through the song, there is a beat switch that packs a harder punch with the bass and at the end of the song, comes along strings and chords. When looked at this way, the song seems to symbolize life and mortality, all the while staying consistent to the human flaws Weiland himself has. -Drew Jenkins

“wusyaname” by Tyler, the creator & Youngboy Never Broke again

This was one of the biggest moments in music this year. Tyler dropped a beautiful music video for the song before the album, but intentionally left off the YoungBoy feature. When Call Me If You Get Lost dropped and the world knew that he would be on the track everyone was amazed at how perfectly he sounded over the beautiful summery production. This song truly highlighted the amazing versatility and talent of Tyler and YoungBoy. -Miles Hagan

“Trust Issues” by Ka$hdami, Riovaz, & D’mari Harris

This pluggnb anthem comes from Dami’s Epiphany tape, and features indie artist Riovaz, and r&b artist D’mari Harris. This unexpected collaboration is one of the most unique tracks released this year. The production by fwthis1will and Milanezie, make this song standout from the pack, with a satisfying keyboard melody and smooth bells drifting throughout. Riovaz steps out of his traditional indie lane and shows us he’s capable of holding his own while rapping. D’mari Harris does his thing on the last verse, introducing himself to many who weren’t familiar with him yet. And once again, Dami delivers a new flow that shows us why he’s on top of the underground. -Q Hollomand

“lick back (Remix")” by est gee, future, and young thug

The only problem with the original version of this song was how short it was so Geeski gave us another verse and added Future and Yount Thug to the track. This song knocks from the instant you press play, and keeps its foot on the gas till the last bar. Future and Thug compliment Est Gee perfectly and each rapper sounds like they need a plate, and if you don’t give them one they will take it. -Miles Hagan

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