The Top 10 Hip Hop Songs of 2012
Contents
- “N****s in Paris” by Jay-Z and Kanye West
- “Drake – Started From the Bottom”
- “A$AP Rocky – F***in’ Problems”
- “Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop”
- “Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)”
- “Pusha T – Numbers on the Boards”
- “Wiz Khalifa – Work Hard, Play Hard”
- “Big Sean – Guap”
- “2 Chainz – I’m Different”
- “Miguel – Adorn”
Looking for the best hip hop songs of 2012? Here’s our top 10 list, featuring hits from Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and more.
“N****s in Paris” by Jay-Z and Kanye West
“N****s in Paris” is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaboration album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is built around a sampled beat from “Apache”, written by Jerry Lordan. It was listed as the best song of 2012 by multiple publications, including Pitchfork, Complex and Spin.
“Drake – Started From the Bottom”
Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” is one of the top 10 hip hop songs of 2012. The song is about Drake’s come up in the music industry, and how he’s worked hard to get to where he is today. The song is catchy and has a great beat, making it one of the most popular hip hop songs of the year.
“A$AP Rocky – F***in’ Problems”
“A$AP Rocky – F***in’ Problems” is a song by American hip hop recording artist ASAP Rocky, released October 24, 2012 as the second single from his debut studio album Long. Live. ASAP (2013). The song, co-produced by frequent collaborator Danger Mouse, features guest appearances from fellow American rappers Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar.
”F***in’ Problems” became Rocky’s highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eight. It also became his first top ten single in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The song received two nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the 56th Grammy Awards which were held on January 26, 2014.
“Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s “Thrift Shop” was one of the most popular hip hop songs of 2012. The song talks about Macklemore’s love for thrift shopping and how he is able to find great deals on clothing and other items.
“Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)”
One of the biggest hip hop hits of 2012, Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools (Drank)” was a crossover success, reaching #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s catchy hook and dynamic production helped it become one of the year’s most popular songs.
“Pusha T – Numbers on the Boards”
“Pusha T – Numbers on the Boards” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Pusha T, released on May 21, 2013, as the lead single from his debut studio album My Name Is My Name (2013). The song, produced by Don Cannon andpharrell Williams with additional production by Kanye West, features guest vocals from American rapper Tyler, the Creator. Lyrically, the song is about drug dealing. The song peaked at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Wiz Khalifa – Work Hard, Play Hard”
“Work Hard, Play Hard” is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa, released as the lead single from his second studio album, O.N.I.F.C. (2012). The song peaked at number two on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
“Big Sean – Guap”
“Guap” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean, released on October24, 2012 as the first single from his second studio album Hall of Fame (2013). The song, produced by Mike Will Made It, features a guest appearance from rapper Jhené Aiko.
“2 Chainz – I’m Different”
I’m Different is a song by American hip hop recording artist 2 Chainz, released on October 8, 2012 as the lead single from his second studio album B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time (2013). The song, which serves as his debut single as a solo artist, was produced by Mike Will Made It and features a guest appearance from American rapper Lil Wayne. The track peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
“Miguel – Adorn”
“Miguel – Adorn” is a song by American singer-songwriter Miguel, released as the lead single from his second studio album Kaleidoscope Dream (2012). Written and produced by Miguel, it was released to urban contemporary radio on August 7, 2012. “Adorn” peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song has been certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“Adorn” was ranked number 22 on Pitchfork Media’s Top 100 songs of 2012 list. Time magazine named it the best song of 2012 and Rolling Stone ranked it number two on their list of the 50 best songs of 2012. Complex named the song the fourth best R&B song of 2012.
