2023 was a transitional year for rap.

After the attention to drill rap subsided, it seemed no one really knew what direction the genre needed to go in. Old sounds stuck around, mainstream singles with obvious samples were made and forgotten, previous scenes splintered, and plenty of rappers minded their business and made the music they would always make.

Its cultural and commercial success may have been on the wane but, like every year, interesting music made it out of the brains of creative people, and rap is still vibrant. Read on for 10 of the best rap songs of 2023.

Warning: The following songs and videos are explicit

The gun-metal grey of NY drill rap finally played itself out, with its rhythmic skeleton making its way into massive mainstream singles and many rappers who once led the sound either dead or incarcerated.

Even Kenzo B is fed up with the way things are going, using DeadGame as a final farewell to drill and the life from before. Her trademark machine gun flow makes a break for it across a classic-sounding bunny-hopping beat.

TisaKorean’s obsession with the rap scene of his 2000s youth is endlessly endearing, picking up aesthetically from the snap and baller rap of yesteryear. Tisa evokes a vibe from when rap was fun and carefree, modernising the era for his young TikTok audience.

© Herald Scotland