13. Blaccmass, "Stayed Together" (Yeat & Mariah Carey Mashup)
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What if Yeat rapped over a Mariah Carey song? That’s the question Blaccmass was daring enough to ask. And it turns out, it sounds like a damn hit. Somewhere between Yeat’s zany vocals, the infectiously bouncy beat, and Druski’s hilarious dance video, Blaccmass struck gold with this mashup, and it was all over our timelines this summer. Even as summer came to an end, high school and college football teams kept making videos with it, so it just might be the song of the fall too. Who knows? Maybe Mariah and Yeat will hit the studio together. —Eric Skelton
12. J Hus f/ Drake, "Who Told You"
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J Hus dropped a great summer album with Beautiful and Brutal Yard, and its lead single “Who Told You” featuring Drake was a perfect prelude. The track flips the stereotypes associated with being gangster on its head, begging the question, “Who told you bad man don’t dance? Who told you gangsters don’t dance?/Even with a wap on my hip, I dance.” No one is too cool for a dancehall beat, and Drake complements the track perfectly by adding in his toxic quotables like, “Just cause I’m not jealous, doesn’t mean I don’t care,” to round out the track. “Who Told You” is one of those songs you can rap, croon, and dance to—a few key ingredients of a perfect summer song. —Jordan Rose
11. Young Nudy f/ 21 Savage, "Peaches & Eggplants"
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The eminence of “Peaches and Eggplants” ties back to the formula of the record it’s on. The Gumbo cut vacuums listeners in off the rip with a face-souring bassline and repetitious “boah” ad-libs that could both signify a 223 firing off or the impact of being flesh to flesh in the bedroom. Simply put, it’s a successful sonic recipe for fans who are eager to let loose. The beat, created by Coupe, is potent enough to stand alone as an instrumental, but Nudy’s racy verse about geeking and freaking is A1 as well. Then he tags in feature cheat code 21 Savage, who offers a red-letter contribution to what already was a smash. This song has emerged as a must-play song over the last few months, and if Sexyy Red hops on the official remix (as previously teased), we’ll be talking about this one into the fall as well. —Kemet High
10. Kendrick Lamar & Baby Keem, "The Hillbillies"
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Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem have been cleverly establishing themselves as one of the best duos in rap this decade. The production on “The Hillbillies,” laced by EvilGiane, is coded with a woozy sample of Bon Iver’s uplifting sonnet “PDLIF.” That, in combination with staticky kicks and throbbing 808s reflective of the now-dominant Jersey/Philly Club movement, allows room for K. Dot and Keem to jig through different pockets. Plus, daffy lyrics about effing the world up with style and status trumpet their shared ability to bar up as caption generators and piquant lyricists in one. From the bars to the beat, everyone involved in making “The Hillbillies” smoked the execution of crafting this summer’s sticky dub anthem. Big protein.
—Kemet High
9. Jorja Smith, "Little Things"
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It’s the little things that really allow a song to permeate airwaves enough to make it a song of the summer. Jorja Smith is laying the groundwork to make a triumphant return in album form come September, five formative years after Lost & Found. Luckily for us all, the Walsall artist is doing so intentionally, and having a whole lot of fun along the way, allowing for a Summer-invasive track that shone even further thanks to its share-friendly mashup with Crystal Waster’s iconic1991 hit “Gypsy Woman.” Jorja is light, free, and doting the annually ephemeral, yet urgent, need for release on the dancefloor, and beyond. An infectious summer energy she’ll hopefully help us take into the cooler months of the year. —Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
8. KAYTRAMINÉ f/ Pharrell Williams, "4eva"
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Aminé and Kaytranada's entire album, Kaytraminé, was a top to bottom listen this summer, but if we had to choose just one song to play on repeat, it would most likely be “4eva.” With co-production from Pharrell Williams, this track encapsulates the essence of summer, with a radiant and uplifting beat that compels listeners to get up and move. While Pharrell and Kaytranada mastered the production with a hypnotic rhythm, Aminé's smooth flow and fun storytelling create the perfect groove. “4eva” may not get as much airtime as some of the other songs on this list, but it is an instant mood lifter, effortlessly transporting listeners to a sun-drenched paradise, making it a staple for summer playlists. —Jessica McKinney
7. Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice, "Barbie World"
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If you think Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s “Barbie World” was everywhere, that’s because it was. Just like the blockbuster movie Barbie, “Barbie World” was on TikTok, on the radio, and playing on just about any speaker. Sure, you could say the single was a tad bit overplayed, but it has become annoying. That’s because Minaj’s rap prowess and dynamic personality shine through on the colorful single, proving why she is the original Barbie of rap. Ice Spice also further establishes herself as the one to watch with slick and seductive bars. While “Barbie World” samples Aqua’s 1997 hit “Barbie Girl,” the girls take a modern twist on the track, turning it into a bold and unapologetic anthem for a new generation of listeners. “Barbie World” is both the lead single on the soundtrack of the movie and perfect soundtrack to a carefree and fun-filled summer. —Jessica McKinney
6. Lil Yachty, "Strike (Holster)"
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“Strike (Holster)” was a hit before it even dropped. When Yachty’s sister previewed a snippet online, it was immediately hyped as the follow-up to his viral smash “Poland.” And when it finally arrived, alongside a beautiful Cole Bennett music video, it lived up to everyone’s sky-high expectations. Yachty brought the warbling “Poland” vocal effect back (but used it with an impressive amount of restraint), and he’s as confident as we’ve ever heard him, floating over the Teddy Walton and Aaron Bow–produced beat. If you haven’t noticed, Yachty’s on a hell of a run this year, and “Strike (Holster)” is one of his finest moments. —Eric Skelton
5. Central Cee & Dave, "Sprinter"
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A fluttery stringed instrumental and boat-rocking bass helped Central Cee and Dave’s track “Sprinter” cross the Atlantic to become a hit in the United States and beyond this summer. UK drill has been having a major moment in the States, and tracks like this exemplify how it’s become so popular. “Sprinter” is carried by Central Cee’s smooth cadence, while Dave elevates the track with a flurry of memorable one-liners like “Heard that girl was a gold digger/That can’t be true if she dated you.” Ultimately, it’s the chemistry that both UK rappers have that makes “Sprinter” the perfect bar-heavy summer song that everyone learns every word of by accident. —Jordan Rose
4. Latto f/ Cardi B, "Put It On Da Floor Again"
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Latto has been on a ridiculous run in 2023, and her “Put It On Da Floor Again” remix featuring Cardi B punctuates the summer perfectly. “Rip me out the plastic, I’ve been acting brand new” has become the bar that’s taken over both social media and the club alike, with other lines like “Say she got a problem? Imaginary smoke” adding just the right amount of spice as well. Adding the undeniable star power of Cardi B to deliver an equally memorable second verse is also what elevates this track to another level. “Put It On Da Floor Again” is the kind of semi-subliminal song that’s reminiscent of a Drake “Summer Sixteen;” where even if it’s not a direct diss, your enemies will still have to hear it all summer because it’s just that good. —Jordan Rose
3. Byron Messia & Burna Boy, "Talibans II"
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Back in the day, every summer, a new dancehall song from the likes of Sean Paul or Beanie Man or Wayne Wonder would become a party staple. But in recent years, as music consumption became more globally informed, dancehall has been upended by genres like reggaeton and Afrobeats. In a call back to the past, 23-year-old Jamaican-born, St. Kitts-based dancehall artist Byron Messia caught fire with his anthem “Talibans.” Despite taking its title from an infamously militant political movement, the Ztekk Records and EJ Fya-produced song is a smooth groove that’s perfect for peak party wind down. In a call to the present, the sleeper hit became undeniable when Afrobeats star Burna Boy hopped on “Talibans II,” flawlessly sharing tough talking verses with Messia. Burna took the song to a new level, helping it chart on the Hot 100. “It’s more of a warning song, it’s not a crime organization song,” explained Messia, in a Dash Radio interview. “It’s more like telling somebody ‘If you want, we can get down like how di people dem in Afghanistan get down’ song.” Whether dancehall will return to prominence remains to be seen, but this summer “Talibans II” was a song you can feel down to your skeleton. Consider yourself warned. —Insanul Ahmed
2. Gunna, "Fukumean"
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Gunna has undoubtedly had a rocky few years. But that aside, the Atlanta rapper was able to capture listeners’ attention with “Fukumean.” The track, which was released on his comeback album, A Gift and a Curse, is an undeniable hit that finds Gunna rapping with charismatic delivery over an infectious beat. What works best about this song is Gunna’s smooth and melodic flow with irresistibly catchy hooks. “Young Gunna Wunna back, callin' me splurge/Watch me jump right off the curb,” Gunna raps, followed by magnetic ad libs. The lyrics capture the carefree essence of summer. While sonically the song is an obvious standout, the success of “Fukumean” proves that despite adversity, Gunna is still an undeniable hitmaker. —Jessica McKinney
1. Sexyy Red, "SkeeYee"
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Summer can be dedicated to various things, like resting and relaxing or refocusing before the colder months arrive. But above all else, summertime is also reserved for doing hoodrat shit with your friends, and no song better soundtracks those antics than Sexyy Red’s “SkeeYee.” If rolling down all the windows with the designated driver riding just above the speed limit and belting, “Benz clean, but we ridin' dirty/Slidin' with your boo, yeah, that's my dirty/My sister in the backseat with a .30/Niggas tryna shoot they shot, Stephen Curry,” doesn't scream summer, then I don’t know what does.
The Tay Keith–produced track bangs because it throws caution to the wind and replaces tactful bars for a carefree call-and-response hook that sounds good in any venue. Rap doesn't always have to be serious, and Sexyy Red doesn’t have to be saying anything of substance on “SkeeYee” to make it a great summer song. It’s successfully taken over the clubs, NFL practices, and even classrooms across the country. If you still have a problem with that, ease up, touch some grass, and just “holler ‘Skee-yee,’ that mean pull up!” —Jordan Rose
