If you’re the kind of music fan who likes putting on a pair of headphones and rewinding rap verses until you’ve caught every subtle reference and double meaning, 2020 has been a good year. Most of us have been stuck inside with nothing to do, leaving plenty of time to obsess over tiny details in verses from our favorite lyricists. Fortunately, there has been lots of great material to pore over during our time of need. From newcomers like Stove God Cooks to legends like Jay-Z, rappers have blessed us with many standout verses over the past six months. So, at the midway point of the year, we’re counting down our favorites. These are the best rap verses of 2020 (so far).
15. Lil Uzi Vert, “Silly Watch”
14. Tierra Whack, “TD”
13. Jay Electronica, “Ezekiel’s Wheel”
12. Benny the Butcher, “Frank Lucas”
11. Lil Wayne, “Whats Poppin (Remix)”
10. Armani Caesar, “Lil Cease”
9. Noname, “Song 33”
8. Stove God Cooks, “Jose Canseco”
7. Tyler, the Creator, “327”
6. Royce da 5’9,” “You Gon Learn”
5. Lil Baby, “The Bigger Picture”
4. Killer Mike, “Walking in the Snow”
3. Jay-Z, “Flux Capacitor”
2. Roc Marciano, “Sins of the Father”
1. Freddie Gibbs, “1985”
Verse: 1
Key line: “Geekers beamin’ up to Scotty in my crack lobby, I can smell the ’caine burnin’/Michael Jordan 1985, bitch, I travel with a cocaine circus”
When I first listened to “1985,” it was two days after The Last Dance finished airing, and only five weeks after the final installment of Tiger King. So to hear a completed song with punchlines about both of those series seemed impossible—like Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist had created the song right in front of my eyes. But even months afterwards, Gibbs’ verse still sounds fresh, funny, energetic, and virtuosic. Even beyond the TV show references, the Assata Shakur shoutout and the attendant fuck-the-police sentiment make it still feel eerily timely. Gibbs’ rhythm and phrasing are, just like he told Complex, God-level. It’s heavy on triplets, but he moves in and out of the rhythm masterfully. Nearly every phrase spills over into the next bar, as a way to keep things moving and keep us guessing what’s next. The writing is vivid from the word go: funny, tough, and boastful, with a hint of sadness underneath everything Gibbs has seen to get to this point in his career. It’s an absolutely perfect way to start off one of the best albums of 2020. —Shawn Setaro