50 Best Rap Songs of 2010

"Airplanes II" finds Bobby Ray Simmons and Marshall Mathers envisioning life without music. This gem from B.o.B.'s solid debut excels mostly because Marshall still doesn't know how to waste a good beat.

Purchase/Download

Read Review

Tyler the Creator, leader of the L.A. outfit OFWGKTA, kicks off his rap career by spewing venom at everyone and everything who's ever disappointed him: bloggers, the school system, his father, shallow rappers. That last group seems to inspire much of the vitriol on "Bastard" and its accompanying mixtape. Or as he simply puts it: "I created O.F. because I felt way more talented than 40-year old rappers talking about Gucci."

You could hear minds getting blowed from coast to coast when Hollywood Cole unleashed his breakout mixtape, The Warm Up in 2009. He turned heads again when he followed it up with one of 2010's best mixtapes, Friday Night Lights. "Premeditated Murder," a standout from the latter, stands as evidence that Cole hasn't lost the spark that propelled him into hip-hop consciousness.

Nas spews a torrent of fiery rhymes on this triumphant buzz single from Distant Relatives, while Damian Marley rides shotgun.

Purchase/Download

From one of 2010's best hip-hop albums comes this catchy, slaphappy dose of conscious rap sentiment.

Purchase/Download

Ricky Rozay rips through this Lex Luger beat like a bulldozer going through a wall made of LEGO. Much like Lil Wayne's "A Milli," "B.M.F." has inspired a chain of freestyles throughout the country, with everyone from Trae tha Truth to Lupe Fiasco making their own versions of "Blowing Money Fast." If you haven't heard the extended version, let's rectify that now.

Purchase/Download

No other song exemplifies Gibbs' raw emotion better than "National Anthem." And it's not just the uncompromienergy that makes this a winner. Listen to how he infuses his rhymes so that each line starts where the previous one ends and then gradually switches into double-time mode. The urgency of his flow gives each verse the sense of a grand epiphany. As subtle as a shot to the dome.

Purchase/Download

Bink laced this succinct jewel and inspired Kanye to rediscover his Late Registration-era mojo. Perfect for wine-sipping at sunset in a hammock. One of the finest moments on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Purchase/Download

Trunk scientist Big Boi delivers a hit sure to smack the paint off your SUV. Ever wonder who Big Boi's favorite rapper is? It's some guy named Cee-Lo.

Purchase/Download

An abrasive and fully formed meeting of like minds between the veteran duo of Kweli and Mos and Roc Nation draft picks Jay Electronica and J. Cole. Plus enough quotables to fill a library.

Purchase/Download