Best Hip Hop Music of 2013

A look at the best hip hop music of 2013, featuring Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and more.

Best Hip Hop Albums of 2013

1. good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
2. Yeezus by Kanye West
3. The Heist by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
4. Magna Carta… Holy Grail by Jay-Z
5. Nothing Was the Same by Drake
6. Run the Jewels by Run the Jewels
7. Watching Movies with the Sound Off by Mac Miller
8.OLDIE$ by A$AP Rocky
9. Long. Live. ASAP by A$AP Rocky
10. The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 by Justin Timberlake

Best Hip Hop Songs of 2013

As 2013 comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the best hip hop songs of the year. From Drake to Kendrick Lamar, there were plenty of great tracks that got us moving this year. Here are our picks for the best hip hop songs of 2013.

“Started from the Bottom” by Drake

Drake’s come-up anthem was one of the biggest songs of the year, and it’s easy to see why. With its catchy hook and relatable lyrics, “Started from the Bottom” was a track that resonated with a lot of people. Plus, it’s just a fun song to sing along to.

“Berzerk” by Eminem

Eminem made his long-awaited return with “Berzerk,” a lead single off his album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song samples Billy Squier’s “The Stroke,” and finds Em rapping at a lightning-fast pace. It’s an old-school sounding track that reminds us why we loved Eminem in the first place.

“Don’t Kill My Vibe” by Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar had a huge year in 2013, and “Don’t Kill My Vibe” was one of the standout tracks off his good kid, mAAd city album. The song is about not letting haters bring you down, and its positive message resonated with a lot of people. Additionally, Lamar’s lyrical prowess is on full display on this track.

Best Hip Hop Artists of 2013

In no particular order, here are the best hip hop artists of 2013:

Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar burst onto the scene in 2012 with his debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city, and he’s continued to impress critics and fans alike in 2013 with his follow-up release, Compton. Kendrick Lamar is one of the most exciting young talents in hip hop today, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.

Pusha T
Pusha T’s much-anticipated debut solo album, My Name Is My Name, was finally released in 2013 after years of delays, and it was well worth the wait. Pusha T is a lyrical mastermind, and he’s proved himself to be one of the best rappers in the game today.

Drake
Drake had another huge year in 2013, with the release of his third studio album Nothing Was the Same. Drake is a mainstream success story who has managed to crossover into the hip hop world without losing credibility with true hip hop fans. He’s one of the biggest names in music today, and there’s no doubt that he’ll continue to dominate the charts in 2014.

A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky’s debut album Long. Live. A$AP was one of the most anticipated albums of early 2013, and it didn’t disappoint. A$AP Rocky is a true style icon who has managed to make a name for himself both as a fashion trendsetter and as a talented rapper. We can’t wait to see what he does next.

Best Hip Hop Music Videos of 2013

There were a lot of great hip hop music videos released in 2013. Here are some of the best:

-Kendrick Lamar – “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”
-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Can’t Hold Us”
-Pusha T – “Numbers On The Boards”
-Drake – “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
-Lil Wayne – “Rich As Fuck”
-Eminem – “Berzerk”
-Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”

Best Hip Hop Collaborations of 2013

In a year dominated by solo releases, it was the team ups that defined hip hop in 2013. Here are the best hip hop collaborations of the year.

1) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Schoolboy Q and Hollis – “White Walls”

Off of the massive success of their debut album The Heist, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis teamed up with TDE’s own Schoolboy Q and Hollis for “White Walls”, a banger of a track that helped propel The Heist even further up the charts.

2) A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar – “F**kin’ Problems”

A$AP Rocky’s debut album LONG.LIVE.A$AP was one of the most anticipated albums of 2013, and it did not disappoint. “F**kin’ Problems”, which featured Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar, was one of the standout tracks off the album and showcased each emcee’s unique style.

3) Kanye West – “I Am A God” (Feat. God)

On his sixth studio album Yeezus, Kanye West teamed up with…God? On “I Am A God”, Kanye proclaimed himself to be a god (shocking, we know) over a heavy beat that samples Shirley Bassey’s “Where Do I Begin?”. The track is one of the most controversial on the album, but there’s no denying its catchiness.

4) Jay-Z – “Open Letter” (Feat Swizz Beatz)

After rumors circulated that Jay-Z had leased a plane to fly to Cuba for his birthday celebration, he addressed the issue on “Open Letter”. Over a down-tempo beat provided by Swizz Beatz, Jay spits some fiery bars about how he was able to fly to Cuba and addresses his critics head on. The track was short (it clocked in at under two minutes), but it was one of the most talked about songs of Jay-Z’s career.

5) Big Sean feat. Nicki Minaj & Juicy J – “Dance (A$$) Remix ”

Big Sean put out one of the best mixtapes of 2012 with Finally Famous Vol 3: BIG, and followed it up with his debut album Hall Of Fame in 2013. The lead single off the album was “Dance (A$$) Remix ”, which featured Nicki Minaj and Juicy J. The track was an instant club banger and helped propel Hall Of Fame to commercial success