The Best Hip Hop Songs of 2012

A list of the best hip hop songs of 2012.

Best Hip Hop Songs of 2012

It’s been an amazing year for hip hop, with a ton of great songs being released. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best hip hop songs of 2012. From Kendrick Lamar to J. Cole, there’s something for everyone on this list.

Kendrick Lamar – “good kid, m.A.A.d city”

When Kendrick Lamar released his major label debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city in 2012, he introduced the world to a new wave of West Coast hip hop. The album was a commercial and critical success, cementing Lamar as one of the most talented and exciting young rappers in the game. “good kid, m.A.A.d city” is the lead single from the album, and it’s a perfect example of Lamar’s skill as a storyteller. The song chronicles a day in the life of a young man growing up in Compton, California, and it’s both funny and heartbreaking. It’s also one of the best hip hop songs of 2012.

A$AP Rocky – “Long. Live. A$AP”

A$AP Rocky’s debut album, Long. Live. A$AP, was one of the most highly anticipated hip hop albums of 2012. The first single, “Goldie”, was released in April of 2012 to rave reviews. The album itself was released in January of 2013 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. “Long. Live. A$AP” is a braggadocious track that finds Rocky proclaiming himself as the best rapper alive. The song features a haunting sample of Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People” and a guest verse from fellow A$AP Mob member A$AP Ferg.

Drake – “Take Care”

“Take Care” is a song by Canadian recording artist Drake, featuring vocals from Rihanna. The song serves as the title track from his second studio album of the same name and was released as the album’s fourth single on October 24, 2011. “Take Care” was written by Drake, Noah “40” Shebib, Anthony Palman and Ericka Lee. The track features production from Shebib and additional production from Jamie xx, manning the mixing boards. The song samples Jamie xx’s remix of Gil Scott-Heron’s version of “I’ll Take Care of You”.

Chance the Rapper – “Acid Rap”

“Acid Rap” is the second mixtape by American rapper Chance the Rapper, it was released on April 30, 2013. The mixtape has been highly acclaimed by music critics and fans alike. Pitchfork Media gave the mixtape a 9.0 out of 10, saying “Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap is a spontaneous and compulsive explosion of ideas, overflowing with brilliant wit, unforgettable stories, and inventive rhymes delivered with unflagging energy.” The mixtape features guest appearances from Twista, Action Bronson, Vic Mensa, Ab-Soul, BJ the Chicago Kid, Busta Rhymes, Childish Gambino, Elle Varner, Frank Ocean and easily could have been one of the best hip-hop albums of 2012 had it been released as an official album.

Best Hip Hop Albums of 2012

The year 2012 was a great year for hip hop. So many great albums were released and there were a lot of good songs. It was hard to make a list of the best hip hop songs of 2012, but I did it. I also want to give an honorable mention to two other songs that didn’t make the list.

Kendrick Lamar – “good kid, m.A.A.d city”

Kendrick Lamar’s debut album is one of the most talked about and acclaimed hip hop albums of 2012. It was produced by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, MC Eiht, Jay Rock, Snoop Dogg, and Anna Wise. Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city was released on October 22, 2012 and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart.

A$AP Rocky – “Long. Live. A$AP”

Released in early 2013, A$AP Rocky’s debut album “Long. Live. A$AP” was one of the most anticipated hip hop albums of the year. The album did not disappoint, with Rocky delivering a solid debut that showcased his unique style and lyrical prowess. “Long. Live. A$AP” is a must-listen for any hip hop fan, and is one of the best hip hop albums of 2012.

Drake – “Take Care”

Drake’s sophomore album “Take Care” was one of the best hip hop albums of 2012. The album features Drake’s signature R&B/hip hop sound, and includes the popular singles “Started from the Bottom” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home”.

Chance the Rapper – “Acid Rap”

“Acid Rap” is the second mixtape by American hip hop recording artist Chance the Rapper. It was released on April 30, 2013, by independent record label Self-Sustainable Entertainment. The mixtape features guest appearances from Twista, Vic Mensa, Saba, BJ the Chicago Kid, Action Bronson, Ab-Soul and Childish Gambino. The production on the mixtape was primarily handled by Chuck Inglish, Blended Babies and Peter Cottontale of The Social Experiment. Chance the Rapper described “Acid Rap” as “the price of admission” to his next two projects–an EP called “10 Day” and his debut album.

In a positive review for Pitchfork Media, Matthew Trammell praised Chance’s singing ability and said he found himself “giddy with excitement about what this kid could do with a full album’s worth of material.” HipHopDX’s Consequence gave the mixtape 4 out of 5 stars, lauding its originality and production values. Jordan Sargent also of Pitchfork Media placed it at number 50 on their list of the top 50 albums of 2013. Rolling Stone listed it as one of the 20 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2013.