The Best Rap Verses of 2020

From Che Noir to Freddie Gibbs, these artists delivered excellent verses this year. These are the 30 best rap verses of 2020, ranked.

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Complex Original

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bes rap verses 2020 lead

If you’re the kind of person who likes to sit at home, put on headphones, and dissect rap verses, there was a silver lining to being stuck inside throughout 2020: There was plenty of time to pore over every metaphor and punchline in the year’s best rap verses. 


Thankfully, artists dropped music that was worthy of our close attention all year long. From Royce Da 5’9”s show-stopping verse on Eminem’s “You Gon’ Learn” in January to G Herbo addressing his recent fraud charges on “Statement” in December, 2020 was full of moments that had us running standout verses back over and over.


Because there were so many excellent rap verses in 2020, we decided to limit this list to just one verse per artist, in an effort to spotlight as many MCs as possible. Go ahead and argue in the comments about which specific verses deserved mentions, but one thing is certain: Every rapper on here earned their place on this list. All of these artists delivered verses that stopped us in our tracks and had us poring over each line until we’d caught every little nuance. These are Complex’s picks for the 30 best rap verses of 2020.

30. Che Noir, "2k20"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “I’m waitin on one of you rap niggas to namedrop/’Cause bitch I’m pullin up with two straps, look like a tanktop”

If you’re unfamiliar with Che Noir, “2K20” with El Camino is a strong intro to who the Buffalo rhymer is. She starts off by letting men know, “I never let you niggas come decide what I’m worth,” and rhymes, “I treat my lyrics like the paintbrush, my life is the canvas” over 38 Spesh’s glorious instrumental. The 16-bar verse embodies what makes her great: her technical lyrical ability, her no nonsense mic persona, and her disdain for rappers who “put lies in y’all rhymes.” The rappers she called out are going to have to step up their game, or Che’s going to outshine them with standout verses like “2k20.” —Andre Gee

29. Westside Gunn, “Euro Step”

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Verse: 2

Key line: “Goyard leashes on all-red Saint Bernards/Saint Laurents, water whip the coke with the Avian/They be on bullshit, I be on real time/I be out in France with Clovis sippin’ real wine”

Westside Gunn has received a lot of praise for his talents as a curator and for his ear for production. This, of course, is very well-deserved, as the Griselda ringleader has served as the mastermind behind some of the most immaculately orchestrated rap albums of the past few years. But sometimes his skills as an MC get lost in the conversation. On songs like “Euro Step,” though, WSG reminds everyone of talents as a lyricist, weaving together an extravagant verse full of luxurious imagery and references to the world’s finest designer clothing. Who else but Westside Gunn could give us a line like, “Goyard leashes on all-red Saint Bernards/Saint Laurents, water whip the coke with the Avian”? Incredible. —Eric Skelton

28. G Herbo, "Statement"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “Before Twitter was a trendin' topic/I was on the block with thirty shots and glocks had the spot hoppin’ dummy”


By now, most of us are used to rappers addressing everything on social media instead of doing it in their music. Beefs often play out on Instagram rather than diss tracks, and artists pull out the notes app on their phone before responding to controversies on wax. G Herbo, however, chose to hit the studio and release “Statement” after he and some of his crew members were charged in a federal fraud case reportedly involving stolen IDs used for private jets and car rentals. Maintaining his innocence, Herbo drops lines like, “Bond money, know I’m straight/I spent a 130K out the gate/They like, ’Swervo stay safe,’ I’m like, ‘Man, y’all late’/Y’all like, ‘Free me,’ I’m like, ‘I’ve been in the crib all day.’” He also addresses some of the allegations head-on, rapping over a sample of “I Really Mean It” by the Diplomats: “Let’s talk about them jets, yeah, let’s talk about Jamaica/Can ask about me, I ain’t never been a fraud, I went hard from the start/In my city I’m a God, motherfucker/If you know you know/Never been no phony though.” It’s clear Herbo had a lot on his chest, and he let it all out on this one, delivering a buzzer-beater submission for one of the most memorable verses of the year. —Eric Skelton

27. Big Sean, "Deep Reverence"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “After what happened to Nipsey, I reached out to Kendrick/ It wasn’t even no real issues there to begin with” 

“Deep Reverence” finds Big Sean in reflection mode, ruminating about the pressures of fame, life, and personal demons. His delivery is quick and calculated, but what most stands out about his second verse is the revelation about a conversation he had with Kendrick Lamar following Nipsey Hussle’s death. “After what happened to Nipsey, I reach out to Kendrick/It wasn’t even no real issues there to begin with/Lack of communication and wrong information/From people fueled by their ego, it’s like mixin’ flames with diesel,” he raps. In 2013, Big Sean and Kendrick were entangled in a supposed beef over their collaboration “Control,” and Big Sean’s verse on “Deep Reverence” serves as an important moment that documents two artists putting a feud to bed. —Jessica McKinney

26. Lil Uzi Vert, "Silly Watch"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “I’m a hare all on my bike, bitch, I bunny hop/Hugh Hefner died, so I can’t get bunny top”

“Silly Watch” is an all-around dope record, making it difficult to select just one bar that stands out the most. Uzi spends most of his time bragging about his many sexual conquests (“We get money and we fucked up just on your thots”) and his designer wardrobe (“Raf Simons jeans, they good for the pocket rock”). But it’s his eye-rolling attitude and effortless delivery that are most important here. It’s best to consume this one as a whole. On the second verse, we see peak Uzi, as he shows his unapologetic and sassy side, while also making time to spit pure raps without melody. And along the way, he makes sure to get off some wild lines, like, “I’m a hare all on my bike, bitch, I bunny hop/Hugh Hefner died, so I can’t get bunny top.” —Jessica McKinney

25. Eminem, "The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady"

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Verse: 2

Key line: A toll-free number, only way you'll ever have a hot line”

Deep into his career, Eminem can still write verses that stop the internet in its tracks. Whether he’s name-dropping celebrities, sharing his takes on hot-button topics, or dropping over-the-top punchlines, he figures out ways to get people talking. And that was exactly the case with his performance alongside Kid Cudi on “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady.” This verse has it all, from a headline-grabbing “fuck Drew Brees” line to subtly clever gems, like, “A toll-free number, only way you’ll ever have a hot line.” Then he ends the verse by sending “prayers to George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery,” and asking, “How the fuck is it that so many cops are dirty?” We didn’t expect to hear a Kid Cudi and Eminem collaboration this year, but we’re happy it arrived. —Eric Skelton

24. Lil Wayne, "Timeless"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “Watchin’ movies with a bitch that wouldn’t watch a commercial with you”

Becoming a cultural icon isn’t about constantly dominating the marquee. It’s about sustained excellence that becomes mundanity. Wayne has been an amazing lyricist for so long that he’s grandfathered into our consciousness like an old habit. Even if we’re annoyed by his antics, we can’t shake him. He’s “Timeless,” as he demonstrated with a characteristically ferocious feature alongside Benny the Butcher and Big Sean. Benny is one of rap’s newest phenoms, and has been melting verses for several years now. But Wayne held his own with him and Sean, as he always does, with a mix of braggadocio and wit that makes him a guest verse assassin. —Andre Gee

23. Ransom, "Hunger Games"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “I used to wanna be Hov/Until I was told mocking Jay can lead to some hunger games”

One of the best aspects of today’s scene of so-called “underground” MCs is how often they collaborate. It’s nothing for an artist’s tracklist to boast features from any one of about two to three dozen MCs. They all work together, but they also try to knock each other’s heads clean off in the booth. That was the case with Ransom’s appearance on Che Noir’s “Hunger Games,” which also boasted 38 Spesh. Ransom has had an amazing 2020, typified by lyrical onslaughts like the one he unleashed over Che Noir’s urgent production. He reminded that, “Seekin for gold can also weaken your soul,” and let us know that “the bar’s high cause we set it.” All three of them rapped their asses off, but Ransom was just a notch above in this round. —Andre Gee

22. Noname, "Song 33"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “Yo, but little did I know all my readin’ would be a bother/It’s trans women bein’ murdered and this is all he can offer?”

“Song 33” is only 70 seconds song, but Noname still managed to disrupt the industry with a necessary statement. The track was recorded in response to J. Cole’s “Snow on tha Bluff,” but the end of the song is where Noname is the most direct (for the purposes of this list, we’re counting the whole song as one verse). “It’s trans women bein’ murdered and this is all he can offer?” she questions. While fans came for suspected disses toward J. Cole, Noname made it a point to shower them with information about the repeated killings of members of marginalized communities. Her final lines are a call to action for everyone to do better and focus on the things that really matter. It’s an informative and important message with a subtle jab. It doesn’t get better than that. —Jessica McKinney

21. Black Thought, "Thought vs Everybody"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “And try to separate the truth from the lies that they told us/I even heard that the Soviet’s the 45th POTUS”

“This n***a rhyme better THAN ANYONE,” wrote Roots drummer Questlove on Twitter about his longtime groupmate Black Thought, offering “Thought vs. Everybody” as evidence. After listening to the song, it’s hard to disagree. The track offers yet another in a seemingly endless stream of virtuosic performances from the Philly rhymer. It’s three minutes and 11 seconds of solid, non-stop rhyming, with nods to Rakim and Phonte; $5 words like “latrophobia” defined without breaking a sweat; and punches in the gut like, “Great men chose the Papermate pen or the state pen.” “Rappers can’t get no mercy,” Thought rhymes on the track. “That’s the reason any other one who spit won’t verse me.” If he keeps rhyming like this, we’re unlikely to see a Black Thought Verzuz anytime soon. —Shawn Setaro

20. JID, "Baptize"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “That’s that liquor talkin’, sippin’ Gin and readin’ the book of Genesis/ Just before in the beginnin’ and shit, pride lies, deceit/Blah-blah sinnin’ and shit, Adam and Eve dumb ass, apple-eatin’ thumb ass” 

On “Baptize,” JID hits his stride, dropping a series of Biblical references. “That’s that liquor talkin’, sippin’ Gin and readin’ the book of Genesis/Just before in the beginnin’ and shit, pride lies, deceit,” he spits. Later, he uses typical church lingo, flipping the meaning of baptism. “Look at yo neighbor and say ‘Neighbor,’ uh/ Stack up all yo paper,” he adds. While it gives JID’s an opportunity to flex his lyrical skill, the song also calls for listeners to question their faith and actions. There’s a lot to digest here, and it’s worth running back multiple times. —Jessica McKinney 

19. Tierra Whack, "TD"

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Verse: 3

Key line: “These hoes can’t rap, they need a permanent pack/I ain’t fuckin’ with you boys, need the cervical cap”

Everyone held their own on “TD,” but Tierra Whack came out on top. Lil Yachty knew what he was doing when he recruited Whack as the anchor of this record. She polishes off “TD” with immaculate precision as she whips through vivid anecdotes and godly comparisons (“I’m God, you follow me cause I know the way”). By the end of the verse, Tierra claims she’s bored, sleepy, and tired, but we sure aren’t. There are enough quotables in her short appearance on “TD” that you’ll need to run this back a few times to catch them all. And despite continuing to drop gems like this year after year, she is still underrated. So when you think of Philly rap, make sure you mention Tierra Whack. —Jessica McKinney

18. Jay Electronica, "Ezekiel's Wheel"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “Mastered the force, made my saber, I’m in the light now/It’s the hour of chaos, the black steel is on me right now”

“They say it was gon’ never happen,” Jay Electronica raps at the beginning of “Ezekiel's Wheel.” We waited over a decade for his debut album to arrive, and he knows it. Fully aware of the mounting expectations on his back (“Sometimes I was held down by the gravity of my pen”), Jay Cirque du Soleilica reminds us all why we waited so long for this music to arrive on “Ezekiel’s Wheel,” as he moonwalks through a verse that contains some of the most self-aware bars of his career. He understands it took him too long to deliver these rhymes, but he’s hell-bent on making up for lost time. Better late than never. —Eric Skelton

17. J. Cole, "Lion King on Ice"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “Nigga dissed me, it was nonsense/I sat em down like his father/My nigga asked, ‘Why you bother?’/We should’ve caught him and mobbed him.” 

On “Lion King On Ice” J. Cole reflects on making it out of Fayetteville, achieving fame, and the challenges that come with it. While he acknowledges his celebrity, he says, “Deep down inside, though, I still feel as broke/As that nigga who graduated from college.” J. Cole also reverts back to his “big brother” role, rehashing his old disagreement with Lil Pump who dissed him in 2019. “Nigga dissed me, it was nonsense/I sat em down like his father/My nigga asked, ‘why you bother?’/We should’ve caught him and mobbed him,” he raps. Cole isn’t so much attacking Pump as he is trying to lead him down the better path. This verse is yet another reminder of everything Cole does so well. —Jessica McKinney

16. Armani Caesar, "Lil Cease"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “Armani here to stay, you bitches fast fashion”

Hailing from Buffalo, Armani has the same edge to her raps as her labelmates, making her a welcome addition to what they’re building over there at Griselda. She sounds like a polished vet as she shit-talks her way into our hearts and minds over a ridiculous JR Swiftz beat. The cadence, the flow, the bars; they’re all there at her disposal. Playing the Kim to Gunn’s B.I.G. on this record, she holds her own and establishes herself as Griselda’s first lady. —Angel Diaz

15. Tyler, the Creator, "327"

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Verse: 3

Key line: “My health good, my mama good, my n****s too/And they only wanna have good times like Josh Safdie”

If you hadn’t noticed, Tyler likes rapping again. For years, he told anyone who would listen that he was bored with writing rhymes, even going out of his way to warn everyone not to expect a rap album before IGOR dropped. Well, something changed this year. Between loosies like “GROUP B” and a string of guest verses on songs with artists like Freddie Gibbs and Westside Gunn, it looks like he’s fallen back in love with the art form. His verse on “327” is so effective because he isn’t afraid to show us how much fun he’s having in the booth again. Effortlessly flowing over a soulful piano loop from Camoflauge Monk, he brags about his glowing skin and waxes poetic about riding around town blasting “Frontin’” by his idol Pharrell. “Yes, I’m is, I’m so happy,” he clarifies, in case you hadn’t picked up on his incredibly good mood. In fact, Tyler is feeling so good here, he manages to pull a reference of the Safdie brothers’ Good Time out of thin air. If Tyler’s spirits stay this high, we might just get another rap album from him soon. —Eric Skelton

14. Ka, "Patron Saints"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “A monk swore a vow of silence to the jakes/Our yogis did stretches upstate/Our Sir Lancelot's at round tables cuttin’ eighths/Our mogul just caught another case”

Ka rhymes like a fantastic poet who, instead of becoming swallowed by his surroundings, resolved to hover above it all and gaining an almost-omniscient understanding of its inner-workings. His calm tone and poetic flourishes shine through on “Patron Saints,” an extended verse from his standout project, Descendants Of Cain. Ka skillfully weaves religious terminology into a retelling of the sin of modern day oppression, which results in environments where “our peacekeepers bust their gun repeated” and “each week in BK you see us here grimacin’.” For Ka, there’s no boasting about the antics. There’s no pride in violence. The cycle has run its course so many times that it feels like a fact of life. Ka perfectly captures that deterministic dynamic on this harrowing track. —Andre Gee

13. Drake, "BB King Freestyle"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “But now I’m givin’ house tour ‘til it’s back to world tours/ Play that ‘Mask Off’ when they find the real cure.” 

On “BB King Freestyle,” Drake looks back on his come-up, rapping about dropping out of high school to pursue a career in entertainment (“When it came to school there’s no way that I’m A-plus-in’ it/So I just dropped out of it, trust me, I’m not proud of it”). He later touches on his private jet, mansion in Toronto, and other riches. Drake also drops some COVID bars, spitting, “Play that ‘Mask Off’ when they find the real cure,” he raps. And while Drake’s verse is memorable, the song as a whole might be even more special because it marks the first time we’ve heard Drake and Lil Wayne together on wax in a few years. —Jessica McKinney

12. Boldy James, "Run-Ins"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “I been running all my life/Having run-ins with the law, leave the engine running/Finna run up in this bank, I’m ’bout to run a play”

Throughout this Alchemist-produced track, Boldly recounts the ways running has been a part of his life, from getting a runny nose on a harsh Detroit winter day to running into an ex. Boldy’s brilliant imagination is on full display here, and Alchemist’s decision to run a snare drum on all four beats of the loop gives the track a propulsion. You can almost hear Boldy sprinting from trouble and dodging opps, dropping enemies into the ground and running dope. But at the end of the track, Boldy assures us of one thing: “You might’ve caught me down bad but never caught me running.” Though he’s been grinding in the rap game for nearly a decade, Boldly James isn’t afraid to take on any fight. —Will Schube

11. Method Man, "Lemon"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “I think outside the box, then I find a box I can keep ’em in/Or just leave it then, like the bouncer, won’t let your people in”

Method Man still churns out brilliant verses on a consistent basis, but it’s easy to imagine him wanting to bring something extra to his verse on Conway the Machine’s “Lemon.” Together, the two string together a world of Benz trucks and the diligence that went into accruing such success. Daringer and Beat Butcha’s production gives the song an eerie tension, with the buzzing, invasive synths suffocating any extra air. But Meth’s voice cuts right through the rising unease with sharp bars about going after biters and cutting down the competition. Meth’s voice pairs very well with Conway’s gruff delivery, not necessarily smooth in tone but effortless in delivery. Meth’s been doing this for  many years, and his ability to stay fresh and inventive is a remarkable testament to his lasting power in the game. —Will Schube

10. Mulatto, 'XXL Freshman Cypher'

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Verse: 1

Key line: “I ain’t even fuck a rap nigga yet/But if Fivio want to, then I ain’t gon’ pass on” 

Mulatto’s XXL Freshman Cypher was a certified moment. Throughout the performance, she was very confident, showing why she is one of the best new artists out. There are plenty of records on her excellent album, Queen of Da Souf, that display her rap skills, but Mulatto’s witty and comedic bars in the XXL Freshman Cypher achieved ultra-viral status. In the freestyle, Latto turned heads when she threw in Fivio Foreign’s name, spitting, “I ain’t even fuck a rap nigga yet/But if Fivio want to, then I ain’t gon’ pass on.” The bar, although simple, was so surprising that Fivio offered up a priceless reaction. Moments like those don’t come easy. —Jessica McKinney

9. Lil Baby, "The Bigger Picture"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “We ain’t takin’ no more, let us go from them chains/God bless they souls, every one of them names”

“The Bigger Picture” arrived right on time, as many artists shared records that commented on the political uprising unfolding across the country. But Lil Baby separated himself from others with a strikingly personal account of how police brutality and racism have affected him and those close to him. “Corrupted police been the problem where I’m from,” he raps. Understanding his place as one of the most popular young rappers in the game, he takes on a sense of responsibility in this current moment. Throughout the verse, he acknowledges that he isn’t perfect and that he also feels helpless at times, but he still wants to use his power and influence to create change (“I got power, now I gotta say somethin’”). Reflecting an important moment in history with vivid detail, Lil Baby rose to the occasion with one of the best verses of his career. —Jessica McKinney

8. Royce da 5'9", "You Gon Learn"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “I’m walkin’ across a suicidal tightrope intentionally/While the demons comin’ out of me”

“I’m a product of properly hoppin’ up out of that poverty,” Royce da 5’9” spits on “You Gon’ Learn,” which is a testimony of perseverance in spite of life’s many obstacles. On the first verse, Royce outlines some of the struggles he has overcome, including poverty, the weight of fame, addiction, and other demons. He previously revealed the record was originally created for his album, but it ended up on Eminem’s Music to Be Murdered By instead. Whatever the case, Royce accomplishes the difficult task of outshining Em on his own record with a refreshingly honest verse over a chilling sample of Billy Preston and Syreeta’s “With You I’m Born Again.” —Jessica McKinney

7. Conway the Machine, "Spurs 3"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “Talk to Ebro, ask Sway in the Morning/About the impact of this movement, sure, they’ll say it’s enormous/’Member I used to sell the yay with the AK on the corner/Now reality TV bitches keep sayin' I'm gorgeous”

It’s tempting to spend hours contemplating which Griselda member corresponds to which member of those championship Spurs teams, but on “Spurs 3,” Conway steps up as all three. He’s got the back-to-the-basics perfection of Duncan, the unconventional precision of Tony Parker (that floater), and the get-buckets-by-any-means mentality of Manu. In the grander scheme of things, Conway is probably Manu, Benny is Tony, and Westside is Duncan, but here, Conway renders the conversation moot. He moves from the past to the present with ease, remembering standing on the corner and freezing his ass off, then jumping to a reflection on how quickly Griselda changed the rap game. Conway’s verse includes a run-through of the co-signs he’s received from power players in the game, and with a performance like the one he turns in here, the brilliance of his pen is obvious. —Will Schube

6. Stove God Cooks, "Jose Canseco"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “I follow the bricks, I seen the wizard behind the curtain”

Stove God Cooks was a star on Westside Gunn’s latest offering, Flygod Is an Awesome God 2. He shines the brightest on “Jose Canseco,” though. The Stove God raps like he’s just talking with you, delivering line after line of ugly face raps. You know, those raps that are so filthy, you can’t help but make a face? “These fake boss n****s is really workers/I follow the bricks, I seen the wizard behind the curtain” is a bar. “They talk big till we catch ’em in person/They talk big till we shoot they Suburban” is a bar. And “Me and Emeril Lagasse should be the next Verzuz/Two stoves side by side, I bet I work him” is, you guessed it, a bar. Cooks hits this feature out of the park like Oakland A’s-era Canseco as he continues to build momentum after dropping his debut album, Reasonable Drought. Stove God Cooks isn’t a fluke, and his mentors are Busta Rhymes and Roc Marciano, so it’s best to keep paying attention to him. —Angel Diaz

5. Jay-Z, "Flux Capacitor"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “You backstabbers gon’ turn me back to the old Jay/He’s not who you wanna see, he’s not as sweet as the old Ye”

Jay Electronica and Jay-Z have always been great duet partners, whether sharing wax or a stage. Something about Jay Elec’s thoughtful, Nation of Islam-inspired persona brings out the best in Young H-O. So it only makes sense that A Written Testimony would inspire some of Shawn Carter’s best post-retirement performances. The best of the best is “Flux Capacitor.” Biblical references (“Hov here to deliver ye like Moses”) rub up against boasts about having “a watch like a Saudi prince.” A relatively weak defense of his NFL ties is bolstered by a seemingly endless stream of football-related wordplay. And then there’s the now-famous “backstabbers” line: an actual, honest-to-goodness triple entendre. Don’t even ask him how. —Shawn Setaro

4. Roc Marciano, "Sins of the Father"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “Cain killed Abel in prison, while upstate on a visit”

Roc came down from the top of rap’s mountain like Moses to bless us with some tablets. While Marci usually raps elegantly about the spoils of living the life of an underworld kingpin, his turn on Ka’s “Sins of the Father” speaks to the push and pull one experiences while living that type of lifestyle. Marci raps, “Cain killed Abel in prison, while upstate on a visit/They so quick to trade and hate on a n***a/Nothin’ my radar couldn't pick up,” as he touches on the jealousy that resides in some folks as they watch others become more successful. Roc has always done a good job of not only glorifying but also turning the coin and shedding light on the pain that comes with life on the streets. This verse is no exception. —Angel Diaz

3. Benny the Butcher, "Frank Lucas"

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Verse: 2

Key line: “We the Yankees on a pennant run/You needed soldiers, I heard you rented some”

It’s no easy task to follow a verse as incredible as the one Freddie Gibbs laid down in the first half of Alfredo standout, “Frank Lucas,” but Benny the Butcher was up to the challenge. Opening with the line, “Bury me with ratchets,” Benny spends the next 103 seconds talking shit and outlining his rise from running loose in Buffalo to securing the kind of rap stardom where he’s afforded luxuries like getting head in a Rolls-Royce at the Super Bowl. Benny had dozens of excellent verses in 2020, all of them worthy of contention for a list like this one, but “Frank Lucas” stands above the others because of moments like his “we the Yankees on a pennant run” declaration, a nod to the tear that the whole Griselda crew has been on over the past couple of years. It’s performances like this one that have established the Buffalo rappers as the crew everyone looks to when it comes time for lyrically intricate rap verses that demand repeat listens. At the end of the song, after completely annihilating the beat, Benny warned, “The Butcher comin’.” He wasn’t lying; 2020 was his year. —Eric Skelton

2. Killer Mike, "Walking in the Snow"

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Verse: 2

Key line: And every day on the evening news, they feed you fear for free/And you so numb, you watch the cops choke out a man like me/Until my voice goes from a shriek to whisper, ‘I can’t breathe’”

Run the Jewels received widespread acclaim for their latest project, RTJ4, which arrived in the wake of police killings of Black men and women across the country. And Killer Mike’s verse on “Walking in the Snow” features the most pointed social commentary on the album, capturing the anger and grief that many people are feeling right now. Killer Mike is critical of institutions, like the education and prison systems, as well as the media’s coverage of police brutality and racism. His most striking line comes toward the end of his verse, where he cites the final words of Eric Garner before he was killed in 2014. Unbeknownst to him when he first wrote this verse, those same words would later apply to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. While Killer Mike recognizes the tragedy of his lyrics continuing to be relevant, his ability to document an ongoing issue with such visceral detail is what makes this verse so powerful. —Jessica McKinney

1. Freddie Gibbs, "1985"

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Verse: 1

Key line: “Michael Jordan, 1985, bitch, I travel with a cocaine circus”

On “1985,” Gibbs gets busy over an Alchemist beat that sounds ripe for a montage of a protagonist training for his ultimate battle. Perhaps that was the case for Gibbs, who was so locked in that he didn’t waste a bar all year. There were many standout verses from Gibbs to choose from in 2020, but we had “1985” at the top of our mid-year list, and we kept it there because it’s the embodiment of everything that makes him one of the best rappers out right now. He crashes through Alchemist’s gliding production like lightning through clouds, rhyming with a masterful mesh of ferocity and melody while chronicling cocaine cowboy exploits. It’s not just that the verse was sonically pleasing, it’s the deft with which he kept his dizzying cadence up while telling a story, delivering humorous lines, and shouting out early quarantine favorites like The Last Dance and Tiger King. Serving as the intro to Alfredo, this verse was so good that it set the tone for one of the best rap albums of the year. It simply didn’t get better than this verse on “1985” in 2020. —Andre Gee

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