Let’s get ready for 2024 by overanalyzing 2023.
MOST UNDERRATED SONG
Right around the time Tory Lanez went to jail, he and YUME dropped “Pull Up,” which is one of my favorite tracks of the year. I love the vocal performances, extremely infectious melodies, and slick lyrics the two artists gift us with. Also, the track feels extra pure. I know you don’t know who YUME is (I didn’t know who she was before this) and probably can’t stand Tory’s guts right now, but if you take those two feelings away, you will f**k around and find this track to be one of the perfect ones from 2023.
MOST OVERRATED SONG
Drake & Yeat – IDGAF
“IDGAF” is not the best track from For All The Dogs. As a matter of fact, it’s not the fourth, fifth, sixth, or even tenth-best track on the album. Surprisingly, though, it stands as the most streamed track on the album and holds a high rank on the Billboard charts. In my opinion, Drake’s verse on the song is quite forgettable, and Yeat’s performance doesn’t offer anything particularly spectacular. More respect should be directed towards “Gently” with Bad Bunny.
“Rich Baby Daddy” deserves to be on this list too…
MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM
Why the hell doesn’t Mick Jenkins ever get the credit he deserves? Is it because his first name is Mick? Is it because he likes to rap over elegant beats? Whatever the case, too many of his projects get swept under the rug. This trend continued with the release of The Patience this year. The eleven-track project showcases fantastic beats, standout features, meaningful lyrics, and impeccable rap deliveries. It’s also far from boring, with Jenkins literally yelling at negroes in some of the tracks. I don’t get it. Maybe if Mick applied for the Illuminati, y’all would start listening.
MOST OVERRATED ALBUM
Doing this hurts my soul, but I must add UTOPIA here. You can argue that this was the most anticipated rap album ever. It was supposed to save hip-hop, bathe it, and put it in shiny new clothes. While I did think UTOPIA sounded on the epic side production-wise, I felt like its overall music wasn’t that good. There was just a little too much experimentation, too many forced features, and a bunch of throwaway songs that I prefer never to hear again (Like “MODERN JAM” and “FE!N”). There was something beautifully organic about ASTROWORLD that this album didn’t have. Trust me, I am disappointed too.
I overrated this album, too: I gave it a B when it really should’ve received a C- or D+.
WORST SONG
Kodak Black dropped probably two or three songs that could’ve ended up on this list. Our search function isn’t working properly right now, so I couldn’t find them all. The worstest of them all has to be “Eaze Your Mind.” In the track, he sounds under the influence of every drug on the planet, including magic markers. He also tries to sing like T-Pain and fails successfully.
Do you know what my issue with Kodak is? He’s more than capable of making really good songs. For some odd reason, he chooses to drop bulls**t like this way too often…
WORST ALBUM
I had high expectations for BIA, being one of her staunch supporters and advocating for her over Ice Spice, but her latest and most significant album, REALLY HER, ended up being REALLY disappointing. Despite the standout track, “London,” the album was plagued by too many gimmicky, unimpressive, and cheesy records. I initially rated it a C-, but it deserves a solid D upon further review.
This section is hard because I don’t waste any time on F albums.
WORST VERSE
Despite the scrutiny “Shaka Laka” got when it first came out, I am actually a really big fan of the song. I think it features a fantastic hook by that random dude, a solid/funny verse by Kodak Black, and a pretty dope beat. The one thing that I hated was 6ix9ine’s verse. Though he flowed solidly, the lies, the screaming at the top of his lungs, and the non-rhyming just pissed me off. I don’t know about you, but in 2023, it’s really hard to get through a 6ix9ine verse without rolling my eyes.
BEST VERSE
We probably need to call this the J. Cole Award because I feel like he can win it every year. This year alone, he has had at least three verses that are better than the rest. I’m talking about his verse on “First Person Shooter,” his verse on “The Secret Recipe,” and even his verse on “There I Go” with Gucci Mane. That said, the one verse by him that I think is the best of the year is his verse on “All My Life.” I just feel like it met the assignment well, features a bunch of different flows that I f**k with, and has some well-needed schooling. Honestly, I believe it’s Cole’s verse that got the song a Grammy nomination.
BEST ADLIB
N/A
Let’s face it: Adlibs seem to be a thing of the past. I’ve gone through countless songs from 2023 and couldn’t spot one. It’s as if adlibs have lost their place in contemporary hip-hop. Even notable artists like Quavo seem to be moving away from them. Farewell to adlibs, it seems.
BEST HOOK
I closed my eyes when I heard the hook to “All My Life” for the first time. That s**t did something to my soul and heart simultaneously. Whenever you add a children’s choir to some s**t, it will always move the needle. Additionally, the way Lil Durk adlibs the children during the hook is genius. Man, this might be a no-brainer…
I was so close to giving Byron Messia’s hook on “Talibans” the nod here…
BEST FEATURE
J. Cole on “First Person Shooter”
Surprise, surprise, J. Cole wins another award!
There’s something completely divine about “First Person Shooter.” It is the purest form of hip-hop; it’s competitive and tough. If you ask me, this is the most meaningful hip-hop collab in a while (I’m talking two or three years).
Can I rant for a little? Okay, here I go. Why haven’t we gotten more tracks from the three best rappers in the game today: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole? This will remind you of the crazy things they can do when they link up. All in all, I think Drake and Cole killed both beats that drive “First Person Shooter” and even came up with one of the only PURE rap tracks to make it to the top of the Billboard charts.
BEST BEAT
Do you know what didn’t happen much this year? We didn’t get many beats that many rappers decided to spit bars over. I feel like two years ago that s**t was happening every other week. If we judge this award on this aspect, “Put It On Da Floor” has to be the winner. All year, the explosive beat turned clubs upside down, sparked several remixes, and elevated Latto’s rap prowess a little more. I personally think the beat is OK, but I cannot deny its impact at all.
CHEESIEST SONG
Nicki Minaj & Lil Uzi Vert – Everybody
I love Nicki Minaj and Lil Uzi Vert, but I hate the idea of this song. I thought the song’s sample was a little weak, it was way too predictable that Uzi would be on it, and I feel like it was strictly made for TikTok. I personally don’t love manufactured songs like this at all. In all honesty, I’ve yet to get through this s**t fully. I can see it turning clubs upside down, though.
BEST INTERNATIONAL SONG
Tyla – Water
I got hip to “Water” very late. Once I heard it for the first time, I listened to it about ten times in a row. The song is incredibly catchy, infectious, and full of great energy. Also, I think Tyla puts up a performance that is Rihanna-esque. I truly think she can become the next big thing.
BEST INDIE SONG
Dani Stocksdale – Swimming Pools
I’ve developed a profound appreciation for indie music lately. Amidst the plethora of songs I’ve encountered in the past year, “Swimming Pools” stands out as the epitome of indie charm. The artist’s vulnerability shines through in the verses, the vocals exude a poignant emotion, and the overall down-to-earth quality of the sound captivates me. This song resonates with me in precisely the way I hope an indie track would, fostering a connection that feels personal and authentic.
BEST INDIE ALBUM
Big O – In The Company of Others
First and foremost, I am thankful for every single submission we get. I love mainstream s**t, but I listen to the submissions we get a lot more. That said, the best project I heard that was submitted to us is Big O’s In The Company Of Others. The production we get on it is diverse, soulful, and hard-hitting, perfectly blending old-school vibes with contemporary ones. However, my favorite thing about the album is the chemistry between Big O and all of the guests. If you’ve listened to his music in the past, you know how great he sounds with artists like P-Rawb, L.O.U., and Frannie El, and they don’t disappoint here at all. I know Big O wins a lot of awards on this site; it’s because his s**t is that good (Trust me, I tried not giving him this award this time around).
SONG WE’RE AFRAID TO ADMIT WE LIKE
Sexyy Red – SkeeYe
Look, I’m not crazy enough to say “SkeeYee” is the best hip-hop track of the year, but I do think it’s pretty damn good. The song is catchy as f**k, original, and features a bunch of memorable lines. I’ve yet to hear it in the club, but I bet you that s**t goes there.
This song will have a longer shelf life than that song you like from you know who…
QD’S FAVORITE ALBUM
No, I am not sad or depressed. No, I haven’t been triple-crossed by my friends. However, Rod Wave’s Nostalgia album has resonated with me all year. The passion he sings with and the subject matters he covers fascinate me. Like, who else is making songs about calling your friends or getting your ex back in the most passive-aggressive way possible? There’s something unbelievably real and relatable about the songs on this album, which is why I played it almost every week.
I figured out Rod’s formula: He likes to repeat s**t at the end of songs so that it can get stuck in your head. That s**t works!
QD’S FAVORITE SONG
The Kid LAROI, Central Cee & JungKook – Too Much
I often point to a song getting a top spot when I write album reviews because it sounds “complete.” If I confused you by saying that in the past, I’ll point you to “Too Much” to make you understand me. In my opinion, this The Kid LAROI smash hit has everything a song should have: A chill beat with a nice little tempo, absolutely infectious melodies by LAROI and JungKook, and a verse by Central Cee that perfectly straddles the line between sounding sly and gangsta. Also, this song is commercial but not in a corny or forced way. If we had more songs like “Too Much,” I would hand out more 5s.
TOP SONG
SZA – Kill Bill
Have I ever heard a song like “Kill Bill” before? No, I haven’t. Never has a song been so hard to put in a box genre-wise. Never has a song been so effortlessly violent and bold. Never has a song been so hypnotizing. “Kill Bill” is the best song of the year because of what it will do for music moving forward. It’s also a song you could’ve thought would’ve been made in the ’50s. How did SZA create this song exactly?
TOP ALBUM
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown – Scaring The Hoes
Scaring The Hoes isn’t an album designed to be crowned in 2023; it’s destined for accolades in 2060 when robots are the predominant race and people commute to work via powerful servers. This album is boldly unconventional yet sprinkles in traditional rap styles to engage regular humans. I seek mind-blowing experiences in music, and that’s precisely what this album delivers. If you haven’t given it a listen, you’re unquestionably missing out.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for your continued support throughout the year! As I express every year, I am genuinely grateful for everyone who invests their time reading our album reviews, song reviews, originals, and more. The content we’ve provided in 2023 has been extensive, and in the coming year, we aim to push boundaries even further. Anticipate that 2024 will be our most significant year to date!!
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
Leave a Reply