With so much great music released this year it’s nearly impossible to pick just 25 songs to call the year’s best, but we tried anyway. Our team of writers and critics here at StereoVision spent the last two weeks of the year revisiting the years deep discography to make sure every song got it’s chance and we can put out a list we can feel confident in. All 25 songs were also compiled into a Spotify and Apple Music playlist which can be found here:

Listen along as you read and get a taste of any song you might have not tapped into in 2019. Now without further ado, the top 25 hip-hop/r&b songs of 2019:

“Ballin” by mustard & roddy ricch

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

Simply put, this was the song of the summer. It was everywhere, and I can say with the utmost confidence it still HITS every time. Roddy delivers in every way on this track. His flows and melodies go perfectly over Mustards beat. Anyone can get behind the songs message of celebrating your come up and basking in your glory after. “Ballin’” is the definition of a feel good song and will not only be on my summer playlist this year, but for many years to come. -Miles Hagan

“Are we still friends?” by tyler, the creator

“ARE WE STILL FRIENDS” may be the best song on the best album of this year. It encompasses everything that Tyler is trying to say and do on IGOR. He comes to terms with the tragic love story that has unfolded right in front of him and in the end, the only thing he has left to say is “Are we still friends?”. Tyler calls upon All Green and Pharell Williams and integrates them into the track masterfully. No one overstays their welcome, and it may even be such subtle contributions that on first listen some may not pick up on all the nuances that not only make this song a masterpiece, but the entire album. -Miles Hagan

“Intro” by dababy

There is a case to be made that no one had a better 2019 then DaBaby and although some may say his smash hit “Suge” was his climax, I believe “INTRO” was undoubtably his finest moment of the year. While most everybody enjoyed Baby On Baby, there was a common concern among rap fans that DaBaby was one dimensional and that his follow up would bring Baby hitting the same flows over the same type of beats rapping about the same subjects. Enter “INTRO”, a hard-hitting yet introspective cut where DaBaby juxtaposes his poor upbringing with his newfound success while simultaneously paying tribute to his deceased father and grandmother that passed during the rappers come up. With “INTRO” DaBaby doesn’t only perfectly introduce us to Kirk, the man who inspired his most recent album, he also shows that he is more than a rap super-star, he’s a multidimensional artist. -Spencer Lobdell

“Binz” by solange

When I Get Home is my favorite album of the year. With so many phenomenal tracks, it was difficult to choose just one to add to this list. Once giving the project another listen, however, I found myself utterly in love with “Binz.” “Binz” is an aspirational song. Solange dreams of luxury, but not in a way that is obnoxious or braggadocios. Her desire for opulence is driven by her socioeconomic context and the socioeconomic context of blackness in America. With clever lines like “Dollars never show up on CP time,” Solange subverts the narrative that blackness and poverty are a given all while rap-singing over a simple and melodic instrumental carried by groovy bass riffs and snares. -Kaila Cherry

“Racks in the middle” by nipsey hussle (Feat. Roddy Ricch & Hit-boy)

Released just over a month before the prolific LA rapper’s murder, “Racks In The Middle” is an extension of Nipsey Hussle’s excellent 2018 album Victory Lap and shows how happy Nip was during the last year of his life. On the track, Hussle raps about how good it feels to finally reap the benefits of years and years of hard work. Fellow Los Angeles native Roddy Ricch is featured and delivers one of the best hooks of the year that’ll having you hitting repeat over and over again if Nipsey’s motivational bars didn’t already do the trick. Rest in paradise Nipsey, the entire West Coast is still mourning your passing. -Spencer Lobdell

“Orange soda”

There seemed to be a shortage of A-list rap projects released in 2019, which gave talented underground artists a chance to shine through; Baby Keem was one of these artists, and he did not disappoint. “ORANGE SODA,” a single for his album DIE FOR MY BITCH, was one of the catchiest songs of the year, and it only foreshadowed how great the rest of his project would turn out to be. -Owen Tait

“Down Bad” by Dreamville

J. Cole, the mastermind behind Dreamville’s ROTD3 project, decided to organize one of the most collaborative hip hop albums of all time. No song represents that album like “Down Bad”, a track with an original hard-hitting beat that features hot takes from many popular and up-and-coming artists such as JID, Bas, EarthGang, and Young Nudy. When you hear the song come on, you have no choice but to go crazy. -Colson O’Connor

“Make it better” by anderson .paak (feat. smokey robinson)

While there were multiple songs off Anderson .Paak’s excellent 2019 offering Ventura that could’ve been selected, “Make It Better” edged out the others simply because of how good it feels. On this beautiful love song the soulful rapper recruits music legend Smokey Robinson to help him craft a track about lovers who have fallen out of love but are determined to reignite the spark they once shared. Anderson’s vocals are absolutely to die for as he rides one feel-good melody after another on the way to a musical masterpiece. The instrumental, which was aided by legendary producer The Alchemist, is just as impressive as the production team uses a stringed orchestra beautifully to create a modern symphony that is equal parts fun and brilliant. If you haven’t already, you need to hear this cut. -Spencer Lobdell

“Proud of u” by earthgang (feat. young thug)

“Proud Of U” is with out a doubt one of the most fun songs to drop in 2019. On the upbeat cut the three Atlanta MCs profess their gratitude for the women in their lives that make everything work. All three artists bring an unparalleled energy to this track and Doctur Dot’s third verse breakdown is one of my favorite moments in hip-hop this year. If you didn’t listen to this song in 2019, start the decade off right with this banger. -Spencer Lobdell

“off my feet / westside rider anthem” by Matt Martians

Definitely a tough call, but I think this track has to be my favorite of the year. Matt Martians is an industry staple - he is a famed hip-hop producer, songwriter, and has been a member of groups like Odd Future and The Internet. “Off My Feet” begins as an off-kilter descent into classic keyboard heaven, complete with pounding vintage drums and Martian’s soulful and alien vocals. The track evolves into “Westside Rider Anthem”, a much shorter and almost self-aware tangent from the original track. It is almost as if the first half is like a blissful dream, and the other is the process of waking up and rejoining reality. This track has been the soundtrack to my summer and fall this year, and I will be sure to keep it in heavy rotation for years to come. -Carter Fife

“Crime Pays” by freddie gibbs & madlib

On the third single for their excellent 2019 collab album Bandana, Freddie Gibbs spits his classic cocaine bars over a soulful Madlib beat that tastefully samples “Free Spirits” a 1979 song by Walt Barr. It is impossible to listen to this track and not be catapulted back to 2014 when the duo released their fantastic album Piñata. With a number of smart callbacks by Gibbs, the song seems to exist in its own world that we are allowed to visit for just over three minutes. Freddie ending the song with an A$AP Rocky and Jeezy diss is really the cherry on top of an excellent song. -Spencer Lobdell

“holy terrain” by fka twigs (Feat. future)

After four years of absence from the music scene, FKA twigs came back swinging with her second studio album MAGDALENE, released in November. In the weeks leading up to the release of the project, twigs dropped holy terrain as a single in conjunction with a music video. The video to the track is as mystical as it is demanding, the perfect companion piece to a song that exemplifies these same qualities. On holy terrain, twigs sings beautifully about wanting a man who will be able to take her in all her glory without feeling scared or threatened by her power. The addition of Future as the male voice makes the track all the more fascinating. Known for his trippy drug-induced raps, twigs encourages Future to delve into himself for a rare moment of self reflection. -Kaila Cherry

“sugar” by brockhampton

A soft guitar ballad with a melancholy twist. Throw on expertly-layered vocals, infectious refrains, and the boyband’s trademark vocal-pitching—this track was guaranteed to be a hit. “GINGER,” the titular track of their most recent album, was also a contender for this spot. -Owen Tait

“That’s life” by 88-keys (Feat. Mac miller & sia)

No song has impacted me on an emotional level this year quite like “That’s Life” by 88-Keys. This song was released under a year after Mac’s tragic death and he seems to offer us words of closure on both verses. Sia sings the beautiful bridge and 88-Keys responsible for the tear-jerking, piano-anchored instrumental. Mac uses the first verse to tell us about the struggles that he faced with his mom and drugs while growing up while on the second verse he offers advice to anyone going through something similar. This song seemed to be a message from Mac telling us to move on, he’s alright now and we should be to. -Spencer Lobdell

“Save Room for us” by tinashe (Feat. makj)

Found on Songs For You (Tinashe’s long-awaited return to R&B), “Save Room For Us” is an anthem for unrequited love. The infectiously catchy harmonies pared with her vocal ability and the bouncy mixing makes this song an easy highlight on the record. The layers of vocals truly make this a return to form for Tinashe. My first experience hearing this was while whipping down the I-5 at 2 AM. The look on my face must have been priceless. -Carter Fife

“Sanguine paradise” by lil uzi vert

After a long hiatus due to an ongoing feud with his record label, fans would’ve been happy with any music from Lil Uzi Vert. Fans didn’t just get any music from Lil Uzi Vert but rather an epic anthem that simply sounds like 2019. On “Sanguine Paradise”, we hear Uzi spit classic Uzi bars and melodies over a horn driven instrumental that is right in his wheel house. Let’s all say a quick prayer that we get Eternal Atake in 2020. -Spencer Lobdell

“WHAT to do?” by jackboys

This was a late release, but after hearing this song once, it’s clear that it’s one of the best pieces of music to be put out this calendar year. This collaboration between Travis and Don Toliver is “CAN’T SAY”, one of the standouts on ASTROWORLD, on steroids. The beat is dark and moody, and it sounds like Travis back in the same state of mind he was back on Rodeo and Days Before Rodeo. Don Toliver steals the shows with an absolutely captivating hook. While the actual lyrics have no choice but to take a backseat to the stellar production by Jenius and London Cyr there is not wasted words on the entire track. The best way to understand why this is one of the songs of the year is to do yourself a favor and play the track. -Miles Hagan

“Almeda” by solange

Now answered is the fated question: what would a song with producer powerhouse Pharrell, R&B icons Solange and The-Dream, and rising hip-hop star Playboi Carti sound like? The track is incredible, with Solange’s lyrics about her pride in her heritage weaving in an out of Pharrell’s larger-than-life production. Playboi Carti’s baby rap vocals are also joined by the rap debut of Metro Boomin, to end the track before you know what hit you. I will never forget getting lost in the Kelso Sand Dunes with a close friend while this song blasted out of her Bluetooth speaker. -Carter Fife

“psycho” by Slowthai & denzel curry

This track was a single that fully lived up to its name, as “Psycho” saw UK rapper slowthai and Miami native Denzel Curry team up for an absolute nightmare of a banger. The two complement each other to perfection, dishing out gruesome punchlines over hyper-aggressive flows. Meanwhile, the beat is otherworldly, featuring an off-kilter string sample and massive 808s that will surely inspire moshpits upon listening. -Owen Tait

“Jesus is the one (I got depression) by zack fox & kenny beats

The creation of “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” began as a joke between comedian Zack Fox and producer Kenny Beats. Spawned on Kenny Beat’s Youtube show The Cave, the song was intended to simply be a tongue and cheek “meme” track. The song subsequently blew up on the app TikTok and spread to Twitter. Very quickly, “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” went from being a one off track to being one of the most popular songs Kenny Beats has ever made. On a “post 9/11 pre Whitney Houston death type beat,” Zack Fox raps about loving God, his diamonds actually being rhinestones, driving his car into white-owned businesses, mental illness, and many other things. The song is totally random, but not absurd. Fox’s delivery is strong, the production is great, and the lyrics are hilarious. “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” describes the zeitgeist of 2019 in such a fun way, making it a perfect track to round out the decade. -Kaila Cherry

“Monte Carlo” by toro y moi (Feat. wet)

Toro Y Moi’s most recent LP, Outer Peace, was far more bright and funky than his work in previous years, but on “Monte Carlo” he offers a classic dreamlike and ethereal cut. Sounding both retro and futuristic at the same time, Chaz’s vocal production is unparalleled, and his lyrics about returning to a simpler time will resonate with even the most stone-hearted of listeners. It is on tracks like these that Chaz’s immense skill really shines through. I listened to this constantly during my first weeks after moving to LA, and the lines about PDX and OAK made me simultaneously homesick, and hopeful for what would be the best year of my life. -Carter Fife

“Sacrifices” by Dreamville

The Dreamville team didn't disappoint this year with their collaborative effort Revenge of the Dreamers III. “Sacrifices” comes at the very end of the project, and no other song could have served as a more fitting conclusion. EARTHGANG and J. Cole represent Dreamville and deliver some of their most honest verse in recent memory. Each artist reflects on the sacrifices they have made in their life to get to where they are today. It is beautiful to see such talented lyricists not only paint a picture but capture the emotions of loving something or someone so much that you really might contemplate sacrificing anything. Saba and Smino come in as guest verse and seamless flow over a beat that seems like it was handmade for everyone included. This song perfectly displays what Revenge of the Dreamers was at its peak; a collection of some of the most talented rappers and producers in music right coming together to make captivating music. -Miles Hagan

“Silent Ride” by Boogie

Boogie’s Everythings For Sale was one of the most impressive releases of 2019 and “Silent Ride” is without a doubt the best song on the album. On “Silent Ride” Boogie locks into a hypnotizing flow over one of the most interesting instrumentals of the year. The way that he draws on the emotions of listeners and uses pathos in his music is one thing that makes Boogie exceptionally unique and enjoyable to listen to. The Compton emcee shows exactly why he has cosigns from greats like Kendrick Lamar and Eminem on “Silent Ride”, simply put, he’s an excellent rapper. -Spencer Lobdell

“Racecar” by Deaton chris anthony (feat. Clairo & coco & clair clair)

Released as one of the few singles for DCA’s debut record BO Y, “RACECAR” features an enthusiasm previously unseen from the melancholic emcee. The guest features do a great job lending their energy on DCA’s nostalgic production, and simply: the song is just a banger. The percussion and synths pair well together to make a track that is unlike anything else released this year. Whenever anyone asks for indie-pop artists to be on the lookout for, DCA is the first one I mention. -Carter Fife

“A lot on ur plate” by father

In June, Father dropped “A lot on ur plate” on Twitter, where it remained the only place to stream the track until August. This was inconvenient for me because I was obsessed with the song. Father raps melodically over a dreamy Meltycannon beat. Father is known for his hypersexual approach to music, with many of his songs towing the line between suggestive and overly vulgar. On “A lot on ur plate,” Father is able to deliver blunt lines such as “Eat on that bitch like an edible” and “I know you got a lot on your plate but I still wanna take you to dinner and put dick in your tummy” with sensuality and sensitivity. His flow is tighter than ever before but not difficult to follow. Not to mention the chorus is extremely catchy, too. -Kaila Cherry

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram to get notified whenever we post: