With amazing releases like To Pimp a Butterfly, Rodeo, Barter 6, and If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, 2015 gave us some of the best hip-hop music we’ve ever heard, which means it also gave us some of the best hidden gems we’ve ever discovered

jump off the roof by Vince Staples (Feat. Snoh Alegra)

Vince Staples has a unique ability to inject the listener with energy from the moment he touches the mic. 2015’s Summertime ‘06 was his coming out party with standouts like “Norf Norf”. That being said “Jump off the roof” is the kind of energetic darkness that represents Vince. It’s darker message and undertones over a beat that smacks you in the face is the perfect combination. He’s so charismatic on this song he almost makes you want to join him. -Miles Hagan

I’m Ya Dogg by Snoop Dogg (Feat. Kendrick Lamar & Rick Ross)

Though Snoop Dogg’s 2015 record BUSH was far from critically acclaimed at the time of its release, the Pharrell-produced record was actually home to some of both Snoop and Pharrell’s biggest sleeper hits. “I’m Ya Dogg” features none other than Rick Ross and Kendrick Lamar - who I personally believe delivered his career-defining performance - over Pharrell’s signature taught and bouncy production with a dash of ambiance thrown in for good measure. Though it may be a while until the culture starts to appreciate “I’m Ya Dogg” for the banger that it is, you can catch me yelling “Head in the Maybach boomin’ / thank God for leg room!” every time it comes on shuffle. -Carter Fife

Holy Ghost by A$AP Rocky (Feat. Joe Fox)

Although to simply say that AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP is Rocky’s best project to date is a freezing cold take, I like to spice things up by attribute the album’s potency to the energy Rocky opens the project with on the tape’s intro, “Holy Ghost.” The song opens with long dramatic guitar bends that instantly cue listeners that what they’re about to hear is no rap song, but rather a sermon of epic proportion featuring pastor Flako at the peak of his powers. Rocky raps two of the best verses of his career cementing this as one of his best songs and one of the most criminally underrated tracks of 2015. -Spencer Lobdell

Two Matches by Mac Miller (Feat. Ab-Soul)

There will never be enough R.I.P.s to fill the void Mac Miller left in the music community. GO:OD AM was Mac Miller seemingly coming out of a very dark place in his life. With an Ab-Soul feature that almost steals the show and a hook that makes anyone wanna sing, “Two Matches” is a standout from this project. Mac reminisces on the dreams he had as a kid and the realities that came along with realizing those dreams. -Miles Hagan

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