Spotify CLASSICS: Check Out The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Of The Streaming Era | Essence (2024)

Spotify CLASSICS: Check Out The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Of The Streaming Era | Essence (1)

By Rivea Ruff·Updated May 20, 2024

Let the debates begin!

Hot on the heels of their , Spotify’s first-ever program to celebrate catalog music, Spotify CLASSICS, has ranked the top 100 Hip-Hop songs of the Streaming Era.

For its criteria, Spotify defines “the Streaming Era” as the timeframe from 2015 to the present day, including songs released on or after January 1, 2015. Hip-Hop became the number 1 music genre shortly thereafter, in 2017. As such, artists whose careers have skyrocketed over the last nine years, such as Tyler the Creator, Travis Scott, Doja Cat, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Cardi B, and Future to name a few dominate the list with their genre-defining hits that have carried Hip-Hop from the 2010’s to its ever-morphing future.

The years from 2015 onward has seen a notable metamorphosis in the sound, song length, and frequency with which Hip-Hop is released. This list, however, isn’t based on streaming numbers or other numerical metrics, but rather a qualitative assessment of the cultural significance of each track and its overall impact on the genre.

Check out the list below. Have any of your favorites made the list of emerging classics?

Spotify CLASSICS: Check Out The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Of The Streaming Era | Essence (2)

100. Coi Leray – “Players” (2022)

99. Fivio Foreign – “Big Drip” (2019)

98. Doechii – “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” (2020)

97. YG ft. Nipsey Hussle – “FDT” (2016)

96. Sexyy Red – “SkeeYee” (2023)

95. Freddie Gibbs, Madlib – “Crime Pays” (2019)

94. Moneybagg Yo – “Time Today” (2021)

93. Lil Durk ft. Gunna – “What Happened to Virgil” (2022)

92. Flo Milli – “Never Lose Me” (2023)

91. Denzel Curry – “Ultimate” (2015)

90. A$AP Rocky – “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)” (2015)

89. Yo Gotti – “Down In the DM” (2016)

88. Doja Cat ft. Rico Nasty – “Tia Tamera” (2019)

87. Young Thug – “Check” (2015)

86. Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li” (2018)

85. Mac Miller – “Self Care” (2018)

84. Saweetie – “My Type” (2019)

83. YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “Outside Today” (2018)

82. Megan Thee Stallion – “Big Ole Freak” (2018)

81. Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj – “Princess Diana” (2023)

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80. MadeinTYO – “Uber Everywhere” (2016)

79. Playboi Carti ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Shoota” (2018)

78. Lil Durk ft. J. Cole – “All My Life” (2023)

77. Tyler, The Creator ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign – “WUSYANAME” (2021)

76. Nipsey Hussle ft. YG – “Last Time That I Checc’d” (2018)

75. Lil Uzi Vert – “Money Longer” (2016)

74. Drake – “Know Yourself” (2015)

73. Central Cee – “Doja” (2022)

72. Trippie Redd ft. Travis Scott – “Dark Knight Dummo” (2017)

71. Latto ft. Cardi B – “Put It On Da Floor Again” (2023)

70. Pooh Shiesty ft. Lil Durk – “Back in Blood” (2022)

69. Young M.A. – “OOOUUU” (2017)

68. Young Thug ft. Gunna – “Hot” (2019)

67. Jack Harlow – “WHATS POPPIN” (2020)

66. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie ft. Kodak Black – “Drowning” (2017)

65. Polo G, Lil Tjay ft. – “Pop Out” (2019)

64. Migos – “T-Shirt” (2017)

63. Future – “F*ck Up Some Commas” (2015)

62. A$AP Ferg – “Plain Jane” (2017)

61. Lil Baby, Gunna – “Drip Too Hard” (2018)

60. Drake, 21 Savage – “Jimmy Cooks” (2022)

59. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future – “King’s Dead” (2018)

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58. Tyler, The Creator ft. Kali Uchis – “See You Again” (2017)

57. BlocBoy JB ft. Drake – “Look Alive” (2018)

56. JACKBOYS, Travis Scott, Young Thug – “OUT WEST” (2019)

55. Tee Grizzley – “First Day Out” (2017)

54. 21 Savage ft. Future – “X” (2016)

53. Travis Scott – “BUTTERFLY EFFECT” (2018)

52. Lil Mosey – “Blueberry Faygo (2020)

51. Internet Money ft. Don Toliver, Gunna, NAV – “Lemonade” (2020)

50. Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock” (2022)

49. DaBaby – “Suge” (2019)

48. Metro Boomin ft. Future & Chris Brown – “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” (2022)

47. Hitkidd, GloRilla – “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” (2022)

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46. Gunna – “f*ckumean” (2023)

45. Future ft. Drake & Tems – “WAIT FOR U” *(2022)

44. Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” (2023)

43. Drake, Future – “Jumpman” (2015)

42. City Girls – “Act Up” (2018)

41. Travis Scott – “Antidote” (2015)

40. XXXtentacion – “Look At Me!” (2017)

39. Chance The Rapper ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz – “No Problem” (2016)

38. Lil Baby – “Freestyle” (2017)

37. GoldLink ft. Shy Glizzy & Brent Faiyaz – “Crew” (2016)

36. Kodak Black ft. XXXtentacion – “Roll in Peace” (2017)

35. Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties” (2021)

34. Mustard ft. Roddy Ricch – “Ballin” (2019)

33. Playboi Carti – “Magnolia” (2017)

32. Offset, Metro Boomin – “Ric Flair Drip” (2017)

31. J. Cole – “MIDDLE CHILD” (2019)

30. Kanye West ft. Chance The Rapper, The-Dream, Kelly Price & Kirk Franklin – “Ultralight Beam” (2016)

29. Drake – “Back To Back” (2015)

28. Kendrick Lamar – “DNA.” (2017)

27. Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “Rockstar” (2018)

26. Rae Sremmurd – “Black Beatles” (2016)

25. Tyler, The Creator – “EARFQUAKE” (2019)

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24. Polo G – “RAPSTAR” (2020)

23. 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot” (2018)

22. Meek Mill ft. Drake – “Going Bad” (2019)

21. Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen” (2015)

20. Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” (2020)

19. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable” (2017)

18. Lil Baby ft. 42 Dugg – “We Paid” (2020)

17. Kodak Black – “No Flockin” (2015)

16. Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE” (2017)

15. Kanye West ft. Kid Cudi – “Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1” (2016)

14. Roddy Ricch – “The Box” (2019)

13. Travis Scott ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Goosebumps” (2016)

12. Future – “Mask Off” (2017)

11. XXXtentacion – “Jocelyn Flores” (2017)

10. Juice WRLD – “Lucid Dreams” (2018)

9. Pop Smoke – “Dior” (2019)

8. Sheck Wes – “Mo Bamba” (2017)

7. Travis Scott – “SICKO MODE” (2018)

6. Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad and Boujee” (2016)

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5. Future – “March Madness” (2015)

4. Lil Uzi Vert – “XO Tour Llif3” (2017)

3. Drake – “God’s Plan” (2018)

2. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow” (2017)

1. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” (2015)

TOPICS: Hip Hop culture Hip-Hop rap music streaming streaming platforms

Spotify CLASSICS: Check Out The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Of The Streaming Era | Essence (2024)

FAQs

What are Spotify classics? ›

In February, we launched Spotify CLASSICS—our first-ever program to celebrate catalog music. Our inaugural list acknowledged the Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of the Streaming Era and featured timeless releases like Kendrick Lamar's DAMN., Future's DS2, Jay-Z's 4:44, and Travis Scott's ASTROWORLD, to name a few.

Can you play hip-hop on Spotify? ›

Check out the Top 100 Hip-Hop tracks played on Spotify this week. Follow this chart for weekly chart updates!

What is the best playlist on Spotify? ›

Public Playlists
  • Contemporary Singer-Songwriter5,570 likes.
  • Rap Playlist 202417,689 likes.
  • Drinking Songs14,834 likes.
  • Calm Your Mind18,378 likes.
  • Love Songs For Intelligent Couples15,262 likes.
  • Happy Songs6,598 likes.
  • Play Rock6,654 likes.
  • Break-Thru17,953 likes.

What is the most streamed song on Spotify 2024? ›

"Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd is the most-streamed song on Spotify, with over 4 billion streams. As of June 2024, "Blinding Lights" (2019) by Canadian singer the Weeknd is the most-streamed song to date.

What is the difference between Spotify and Spotify Premium? ›

Spotify Free gives subscribers access to the Spotify library, podcasts and audiobooks. The main difference between the Free and Premium options is that you will listen to ads with the Free version. The Free plan also does not allow the ability to download music or play songs in any order.

What's the difference between music and Spotify? ›

Apple Music plays well with other Apple devices. If you want voice control on the HomePod, for example, Apple Music is your only option. Spotify, on the other hand, has greater cross-compatibility across lots of different devices, from game consoles to smart speakers.

Is it legal to use music from Spotify? ›

Almost all songs on Spotify are protected by copyright. Unless specifically stated as being in the public domain or under a free license, it's safe to assume that a song is copyrighted.

Does Spotify pay rappers? ›

Contrary to what you might have heard, Spotify does not pay artist royalties according to a per-play or per-stream rate; the royalty payments that artists receive might vary according to differences in how their music is streamed or the agreements they have with labels or distributors.

Who is the number one hip-hop artist on Spotify? ›

The following list contains the most-streamed artists on the audio streaming platform Spotify. As of June 2024, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is the most-streamed artist of all time on Spotify, while Canadian rapper Drake is the most-streamed male artist.

What is the #1 song on Spotify? ›

Blinding Lights The

What is the top 1 listening on Spotify? ›

ArtistListenersDaily Trend
The Weeknd106,675,217-192,996
Taylor Swift101,604,923-304,230
Billie Eilish101,189,177-452,615
Post Malone89,353,198-303,268
94 more rows

What is the number one Spotify plays? ›

At the top of the list, with 4.21 billion streams, is a song that owes a lot to TikTok and the pandemic, “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.

Which is the greatest song of all time? ›

Rolling Stone updated its list of the 500 greatest songs of all-time – its first update in 17 years. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, took home the top spot for her version of "Respect," which was originally recorded by Otis Redding. Snagging second place was Public Enemy's "Fight the Power."

What is the most played song in history? ›

Various sources cite the Righteous Brothers' “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” (1964) as having more than eight million plays on radio and TV, and The Beatles' “Yesterday” (1965) with at least seven million in the U.S. alone, and many more in the rest of the world.

What are the top 10 songs of all time? ›

Top 10 songs
RankArtistSong
1Bob Dylan"Like a Rolling Stone"
2The Rolling Stones"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
3John Lennon"Imagine"
4Marvin Gaye"What's Going On"
6 more rows

What are the different levels of Spotify? ›

  • Free for 1 month. Individual. Free for 1 month. $11.99 / month after.
  • Free for 1 month. Student. Free for 1 month. $5.99 / month after.
  • Duo. $16.99 / month.
  • Family. $19.99 / month.

Is there classical music in Spotify? ›

The Best Classical Music. Whether it's chamber music or concertos that excite you, you'll find them all here in music from Bach and Handel, Mozart, Strauss and many more.

What does classic music include? ›

Classical music can have many forms, including the symphony, concerto, oratorio, opera, sonata, fugue or any combination of dance movements such as suites. In many of the longer compositions, short tunes are developed and changed during the course of the piece.

What are the different types of Spotify Premium? ›

The Spotify Premium prices in India are different depending on which Premium plan you choose: The Spotify Premium Mini plan costs ₹7 for 1 day, the Premium Individual plan costs ₹119 per month, the Premium Duo plan costs ₹149 per month, the Premium Family plan costs ₹179 per month, the Premium Student plan costs ₹59 ...

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