The Best Apple Music Playlists Right Now

We’ve done the leg (or should I say ear?) work for you. From Unwind to Breaking R&B, here are the best playlists on Apple Music that you need to check out.

Best Apple Music Playlists
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Image via Getty/Igor Golovniov

Best Apple Music Playlists

Good luck keeping up with all the music that flows into streaming services every waking moment of our lives. Now more than ever, we turn to entities that can make sense of these releases and organize them into digestible forms. We call these people playlist curators, and Apple Music has some of the best on the planet. But, like Spotify, there are so many curated playlists to choose from that it’s difficult to figure out which ones you absolutely need to check out. And if you’re trying to understand how to find playlists on apple music, well, you can either tap the magnifying glass icon and search or appreciate the fact that we’ve done all the work for you. So, have no fear. We’ve done the leg (or should I say ear?) work for you. From Unwind to Breaking R&B, here are the best playlists on Apple Music that you need to check out.

Unwind

No matter who you are—or what kind of music you usually listen to—there’s always a part of your day where you need a little time to unwind and relax. That’s where Apple Music’s Unwind playlist comes in. The constantly updated playlist blends indie pop, electronic, and R&B sounds for a collection of music that will help you shed the stresses of the day. Pour a glass of tea and enjoy this one. You deserve it.

The Plug


It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the constantly evolving machine that is contemporary rap. Every minute, either your fave or most hated (and everyone in between) drops something that demands attention. The Plug is Apple Music’s news bulletin, covering new releases from rap’s next stars, ranging from Baby Keem to Juice WRLD. With a wide-ranging focus of bass-heavy trap anthems to booty-bouncing bops, this is where you’ll find the latest and greatest from under-the-radar talent.

Top 100 Global


Apple Music is full of playlists that are expertly curated by users and staff, but sometimes you just want to find the most popular songs. The Top 100 Global playlist updates every day to reflect the most-streamed songs from around the world. Make sure you’re in the loop about the songs that shape global culture at any given time and follow the playlist now.

Soul Brother No. 2


Drowning in 808s eternally isn’t always the best way to consume the medium. Soul Brother No. 2 is a grainy, jazzy mix of hip-hop with bluesy elements from many of the genre’s biggest names. At the moment, Kendrick Lamar’s “FEEL.” starts it off, only for the musicality of Kanye West’s “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” to command attention immediately after. The playlist also includes Isaiah Rashad, Smino, Denzel Curry, Goldlink (four paragons that frequently dibble and dabble in these aesthetics), as well as established elites like Nas and A Tribe Called Quest. You’ll imagine rainy city blocks and warm coffee shops by the time it runs its course.

In My Room


Apple’s pop-curated playlist is perfect post-shower, no towel music. It also doubles as the soundtrack to throwing the backpack off your shoulders at the end of a long day. In My Room is populated by the calming whispers of artists like Joji and Khalid, while the sullen chords of pop stars like Taylor Swift and Lana Del Reyadd some gravitas to the mix. If there’s a feel here, it’s ethereal. There’s a majestic nature to its simplicity and quietness, making it, collectively, one of the most relaxing listens you’ll find on Apple Music’s vast database.

Breaking R&B


Although they often escape our memories, dreams are collections of sentimental thoughts that live in your subconscious. The muses of love, lust, hurt, and joy radiate through the sedated sounds of rhythm and blues—all of which are found in Apple Music’s Breaking R&B playlist. This playlist mainly works to put you on. Whether you’re at work, on your daily commute, or you’ve just turned on your alarm clock to knock out for the evening, this playlist will put you on to the new class of R&B while submerging you into your clearest dream state: soothed, satisfied, and free.

The A-List: Hip-Hop


The A-List: Hip-Hop contains the biggest, baddest streaming gems, with some more obscure cuts sprinkled in. What doesn’t change is that these are gargantuan, parade-stopping listens. The sounds are vast and varied, too. You’ll find the watery “Highest in the Room” by Travis Scott, just a few songs before the catchy “Glo Up” by Lil Tecca.

Midnight City


A ride through your local city (unless it’s New York) is typically made up of long stretches of green lights, little-to-no cars on the road, and a necessary feeling of tranquility. It’s at moments like these where Apple Music’s Midnight City blooms into sensibility. It’s a mass of gummy pop and purplish synths that send shooting neon lights from the eardrums into your peripheral vision. Robyn’s nostalgic hits come to mind with this description, but there are some more surprising choices here as well. It feels like I’m listening to the soundtrack to a Midnight Club game right now. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, to be precise.

The New Atlanta


Atlanta, as a fortress of rap, is impenetrable. It contains every kind of foot soldier that you can imagine. It’s impossible to take its crown, and The New Atlanta is proof. From 21 Savage to Future to Lil Baby to Lil Yachty, the brand is impenetrable. The aesthetic is inimitable. The quality of the music may not satisfy everyone, but the commercial sheen and easily recognizable array of names more than make up for it. It’s astounding just how much of the rap game hails from Atlanta. This playlist will open your eyes.

The New Chicago


If Atlanta is the current fortress for commercial rap, Chicago is the eclectic city in the sky. The area has moved away from its harsh drill sound from more than five years ago and has become a wide array of contrasting skills that mesh together. Inclusions from artists like Lil Durk contain some of the brutal street machismo of Chicago past, while Noname’s offerings are silky throughout. It’s not all either of these extremes, with CupcakKe bringing some comedic sheen and 600Breezy rapping quietly and effectively. These aren’t the sounds of frequently copied and watered-down contemporary rap styles. This is a playlist full of unique, tasteful imprints from a city poised for a second coming.

Motown Love Songs


Everyone has their opinion on modern R&B music, but most of us can agree that it isn’t as vulnerable as it was yesterday. This yesterday isn’t necessarily a time period, but an era of passion (and a lack of voice-editing technology). Motown Love Songs is a collection of powerful romantic ballads that should come with a coupon code for 50% off fresh roses. Johnny Gill’s “My, My, My” is where the waves crash together at their highest point, with a wall of feels cascading as the goosebumps peak. Smokey Robinson appears on the same tracklist as both Stevie Wonder and Boyz II Men. There is some Jackson 5 here as well, and it opens with Marvin Gaye to really set the stage for the night to come. Grab a partner, hold them close, and turn off the lights.

Blonded Los Santos 97.8 FM


Frank Ocean continues to prove himself as one of modern music’s most intriguing minds. When he brought his skills as a curator to Grand Theft Auto 5 near the end of 2017, the world was eager to hear what the singer chose for his personal radio station. The mix here is astounding. “International Feel” by Todd Rundgren is bold and thunderous while Frank Ocean’s own “Provider” plays the opposite and keeps things reserved, calm, and collected. There’s so much unpredictability here, but the constant is that each song feels perfectly selected to cover the vast range of Frank’s massive musical mind. This is the only playlist where you’ll find SWV’s seductive “Rain” in the same vicinity as Migos’ “First 48.”

The Lounge


For some perkiness and pep in your step, The Lounge is a playlist that’ll whip you into shape. It wisely juxtaposes jumpy grooves with downtempo vocal cuts featuring heavenly melodies. “Comfortable” by Moods demands you to slink into a sofa, and enjoy its coolness and “Color World” manages to conjure kaleidoscope images thanks to its bold funk patterns and whispering voices. This collection of rhythms will keep your heart under 80 beats per minute by making sure that there’s no reason to leave the couch. Let Kaytranada, Osvaldo, Audio Dope, and the other members of its smooth cast absolve you of your problems. You’ll have to get up for the remote, though.

It’s Lit!


When it’s time to get energetic and jump off the chain, It’s Lit! contains everything you’ll need to make sure that happens. The playlist is designed for club DJ consumption and AUX cord domination when your other friends don’t have anything good on their iPhones. It’s bombastic, featuring viral hits from artists like DaBaby, Young Thug, and Juice WRLD.

New Fire


For the best in breaking music updates across all genres, New Fire is the one-stop shop for keeping in touch with the music industry writ large. It doesn’t try to connect the dots, and that helps it to act as a sampler of the latest and greatest. Much of the playlist is rooted in hip-hop aesthetics, like growling bass drums and excited hi-hats, so expect to be enchanted by its collective theatricality. This playlist is a collection of everything you’ve probably never heard of.

Slow Down 2 Speed Up


Nike’s curated playlist melts together into a formless mass of moods and atmosphere. It’s the kind of mellow adventure that requires a sleeping mask to distract the eyes and focus on its vast collection of emotions. With the exception of “Facing the Sun” by Fritz Kalkbrenner, no words are uttered or whispered, yet the production speaks volumes thanks to its fascination with intense moaning and crashing synths. I can’t imagine working out to this, but I can’t imagine not having it around after giving it a listen. 

Songs of the Summer


Was your summer one for the books? Regardless of your answer to that question, Songs of the Summer captures the toasty feeling of the season with its collection of hot anthems. Updated each year, Songs of the Summer is a great stop to admire the feels and moments of last year’s scorching sunsets.

Heartbreak Pop


What does breaking up sound like? Noses being blown, audible gasps between crying episodes, and sniffling while watching movies on Netflix (yes, for once, I am still here watching this movie). But Apple Music’s Heartbreak Pop playlist adds a sound and aesthetic to this shitty period in life that we all go through and manages to make it sound good. The mood alternates throughout, with Justin Timberlake, Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Halsey, and more pushing your needle constantly until you make up your mind if you want to continue pursuing the one that got away or focus on going after the next. I’m in a committed relationship right now, but I know that Heartbreak Pop would give me the strength to hop on Tinder if things don’t work out.

The Pharmacy


The Pharmacy is the official playlist for Apple Music’s radio station of the same name, created by Dr. Dre and co-hosted by Xzibit. The playlist brings West Coast music to the masses with a tracklist of legends like N.W.A. and Snoop Dogg. While the radio show primarily focuses on the West Coast’s contributions to hip-hop, the playlist also incorporates sounds from every end of the country. You can catch anyone from J. Cole to Nicki Minaj, and Nas on this playlist. No matter the region, it’s all good rap music.

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