If there was any sort of running theme in this year’s Best Songs, it was just how many of them found international success. Two of the biggest winners on that front were Central Cee and Dave, whose “Sprinter” broke all sorts of absurd records, including staying at No. 1 for nine weeks straight to become the longest-reigning British rap single in UK chart history.
Meanwhile, another of Cench’s collaborators, PinkPantheress, found stratospheric success with “Boy’s A Liart Pt. 2” with Ice Spice, which achieved the not-insignificant feat of parlaying TikTok success into real-world success. Then there’s J Hus’ “Who Told You” with Drake, which turned clubs upside down the world over. As is tradition, Jorja Smith bagged herself another hit with “Little Things”, a dancefloor-ready gem that got a second wind when Nia Archives reshaped it into a jungle slammer not long after; South London’s Krept & Konan built bridges across the Atlantic when they got Coke Boy star French Montana and dancehall legend Beenie Man on their 10-deep remix of “Dat Way”; and it would be a disservice not to mention Headie One’s “Martin’s Sofa”, which was released at the very top of 2023.
In a year when he nixed the “is drill dead?” debate with a tour-de-force joint project with K-Trap (Strength To Strength), it was actually this solo joint that proved to be one of his finest this year (alongside “Park Chinois” with Trapo, of course). Best enjoyed as a complete experience with the video, the track told the story of his old pal, Martin—an older neighbour whose eponymous sofa had been a safe haven for Headie in tougher times.
Check out the songs we were bumping the most this year down below, and to read more or see the official videos just click through the links. The full playlist can be streamed on the flip.
50. Guvna B f/ Michaela Coel — “Bridgeland Road”
49. ENNY f/ Smino — “Charge It (Remix)”
48. Blanco — “Londis”
47. MIST — “Open Wounds”
46. Novelist — “Grind Don’t Stop”
45. D Power & K.Dot — “Sour”
44. Krept & Konan f/ OFB, Backroad Gee, French Montana, Clavish, Beenie Man, Pa Salieu, KTrap & DoRoad — “Dat Way (Remix)”
43. Ama Lou — “Caught Me Running”
42. Elmiene — “Mama”
41. M Huncho — “Where You Been?”
40. Lancey Foux f/ Sexyy Red — “MMM HMM”
39. Late Replies — “What The Funk”
38. Murlo — “High Heaven”
37. Eliza Rose — “Take You There”
36. Kings Of The Rollers & Katy B — “Paradise”
35. Ceechynaa — “Last Laugh”
34. CASISDEAD f/ Desire — “Matte Green Wrap”
33. Cristale — “Roadents”
32. Sir Spyro, So Large & Bossman Birdie, — “Bout It X2”
31. D Double E f/ Ghetts — “Glory”
30. Nemzzz — “FYP”
29. Ashbeck & SamRecks — “Juice”
28. Kwollem f/ AJ Tracey — “Grandma’s Kitchen”
27. RAYE f/ 070 Shake — “Escapism”
26. Jamie Jones — “Lose My Mind”
25. Jorja Smith — “Little Things (Nia Archives Remix)”
24. Skepta — “Can’t Play Myself (A Tribute To Amy)”
23. Asake f/ Olamide — “Amapiano”
22. Uncle Waffles, Tony Duardo & Justin99 f/ Pcee, EeQue & Chley — “Yahyuppiyah”
21. Tyler ICU & Tumelo.za f/ DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee — “Mnike”
20. Skepta, Jammer & Etta Bond — “Touching My Body”
19. Chy Cartier — “Bossed Up”
18. Headie One — “Martin’s Sofa”
17. Cleo Sol — “Reason”
16. Skepta & Ryder — “#skeptacore pt.3”
15. JayO — “22”
14. SBTRKT f/ Sampha & George Riley – “L.F.O.”
13. Adekunle Gold & Zinoleesky — “Party No Dey Stop”
12. Jim Legxacy — “Old Place”
11. Nines — “Calendar”
10. Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan — “Rumble”
9. K-Trap & Headie One — “Park Chinois”
8. PinkPantheress f/ Ice Spice — “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2”
7. Burna Boy — “City Boys”
6. Jorja Smith — “Little Things”
5. Digga D — “Energy”
4. Byron Messia — “Talibans”
3. Tyla — “Water”
2. Central Cee & Dave — “Sprinter”
1. J Hus f/ Drake — “Who Told You”
