Run That Back! Unveiling the Top Hip-Hop Anthems Released in 2023

Hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and along with the celebration came a slate of new rap songs.

From bold newcomers making their mark to seasoned veterans dropping game-changing beats, the rap scene is thriving.

According to Billboard, hip-hop has become the predominant commercial genre in the United States. Per the publication, R&B and hip-hop have experienced a 6.3% increase in overall units from 2022 to 2023.

And while the entertainment landscape continues to change, hip-hop remains the greatest force in music. Here are some of the biggest hip-hop bangers from 2023.

Lil Durk shows no signs of slowing down. He released “All My Life” in May, and the song became an instant hit. The track, which features J. Cole, was the lead singer from the rapper’s eighth studio album.

"All My Life" delves into Lil Durk's journey, offering a glimpse into the artist's experiences, struggles, and triumphs. The song spent 24 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Number 2.

PinkPantheress and Ice Spice’s hit song, “Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2,” dominated the charts (and TikTok) when it was released in February 2023.

The song garnered more than 20 million streams in its first week and debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

PinkPanthress previously scored two charting rock singles, but “Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2” marked her first major collaboration with a hip-hop artist.

2023 was a huge year for Toosii. The Syracuse native landed his first Hot 100 entry with “Favorite Song.”

The track, which was released in February, debuted at No. 51 before quickly reaching the Top 5. Similarly, the music video for the hit song has more than 142 million views on YouTube.

Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Princess Diana” was another bop that dominated the charts in 2023. The rap collaboration spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it reached the No. 4 spot.

Ice Spice opened up about her experience working with Nicki in an Apple Music interview with Zayne Lowe, revealing that she cried the first time she met the rap superstar.

“When she hugged me, I started crying,” Ice said. “I cried, but I walked away.”

Drake wasted no time returning to music following the release of his collaborative album with 21 Savage, titled Her Loss. He followed up the success of the No. 1 album with the release of his eighth studio album, For All The Dogs. The album’s lead single, "Search & Rescue," became just as successful as Drake’s previous musical attempts.

Drake also reunited with his former beau, SZA, for a track called “Slime You Out.” The song, which was released in September, reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the rapper’s first No. 1 single of 2023. He later scored another hit with “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole.