With today’s rap scene constantly changing, the sounds, styles, and cast are generally being cycled just as rapidly. Every month can be defined by a set of new tracks, albums, and snippets of music to come. A lot of this is due to the beauty of the internet and how quickly new material can become viral. With that being said, what songs are representing the current sound? Here’s a list of some of today’s rap hits that are the most genre-defining and telling of what could be to come.
Blueface – Bleed It
At this point, everyone knows of Blueface’s biggest hit “Thotiana“, and it’s definitely his most successful song, for sure. However, “Bleed It” just has so much more to it that not only makes it a more enjoyable song, but also demonstrates the potential Blueface has to become one of the next big names in trap. The beat hits hard, the mixing is on par, and the hook is infectious. Not to mention, his “off-beat” flow has the same flavoring but sounds much more controlled. Overall, this track shows all the signs of a rapper coming into his own, and it’s only a matter of time before Blueface is on billboards everywhere.
J Cole – Middle Child
With this song, J Cole proves that there’s still a place for non-trappers in the rap scene. He sounds confident and experienced, challenging others to come at him if they really think he’s fallen off. His lyrics describe some of the troubles that he’s witnessed in places like the projects, as well as references to conversations with Jay Z, 21 Savage, and Kodak Black. Delightfully, the hook on this track ties it together the most, displaying the most energy and ruthlessness I’ve heard from J Cole in a while. Not to mention, his singing voice sounds good, something that can’t always be said about Hollywood Cole. This is some of his best stuff in a while, and this upcoming album should be one of his best to date.
Gunna – Outstanding
One of the biggest names of 2018, Gunna is still going strong into 2019 with the release of Drip or Drown 2. Along with Lil Baby, Gunna has respectably defined the current sound, guiding production, flow, and lyrics into the direction it’s heading. On this track, Gunna displays every attribute that makes his music likable to so many people: great production, catchy hooks, and the usual drug-laced lyrics. It’s probably the single most defining track of today’s trap sound, and it will most likely be the formula for some time to come.
Juice WRLD – Robbery
The breakout “Lucid Dreams” star, Juice WRLD is back with his emo-rap style, a subgenre that seems to be taking hold of the mainstream more and more. Off his new album Death Race for Love, “Robbery” demonstrates Juice WRLD’s development as an artist the best; the instrumental sounds clear and interesting, and Juice’s vocals are great, showing how good of a singer he really is. His blending of emo and rap is way more cohesive on this project, too, with this track specifically featuring the iconic rattling hi hats and snares while Juice spits lyrics of lost love and heartbreak. While some of emo-raps biggest stars, such as Lil Peep and XXXTentacion, have faced tragic deaths, the demand for the genre is as strong as ever, and Juice WRLD seems to be the driving force to take it into the future.
While there are definitely many more defining tracks of today, these songs are the MOST so. The sounds of these four songs alone can succinctly define the beginning of 2019, and will most likely guide where the scene is going for the remainder of the year. Like it or not, many of these trap rappers are here to stay, and it will take a major event for the current course to change.