HOT 97’s Editorial Team Selects the Top 23 Songs of 2023!

This year was a unique one for hip-hop, it was hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, however there was a number of debates about the current trajectory and identity of the genre. 2023 featured no new albums from Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Cardi B, Kanye, or many other mainstream A-list acts.

Nicki Minaj and Drake delivered huge projects that are represented on our list, but the “new guard” of hip-hop also made huge waves. The arrival of Sexyy Red on the scene made waves, Ice Spice continued her run of hits, and Burna Boy’s meteoric rise to international stardom gained more steam. 

How Did We Decide Our Song of the Year?

Members of the Hot 97 editorial staff were asked to rank their top 30 songs of 2021, those songs were given a point value based on their rankings. Each writer’s favorite song was rewarded 30 points, their second favorite song rewarded 29 then that continues all the way down to their 30th favorite song being rewarded 1 point. The maximum number of points a song could have gotten was 270, the winning song received 184 points.

Only songs that were released after November 1, 2023 were eligible to be the 2023 Song of the Year. For the first time in this series history, three songs released in 2022 are present on our end of year list. SZA’s “Kill Bill” and “Snooze” and “Players” by Coi Leray, all of which hit peak popularity in 2023.

The Top Songs of 2023

2023 feels like a transitional year for the genre, on our list there are a number of different subgenres of both hip-hop and R&B. Our number one song of 2023 was “Water” by Tyla, which would have been unfathomable just as recently as April of 2023. However, the South African singer has blown up on the back of this track and we’ll likely be seeing a lot of Tyla in 2024.

“Water” gained popularity on TikTok and Instagram with a mesmerizing viral dance that was essentially unavoidable throughout the Fall. Now, “Water” is a song that you’ll hear on HOT 97, Top 40 stations, on TikTok, in the club, or at a mall. The track is massive internationally and locally. “Water” is not a traditional hip-hop song, it is more of an international pop record, but that’s the kind of year it’s been where hip-hop is blending with other styles.

Our number 4, 6, and 22 songs are all R&B tracks. “Snooze” and “Kill Bill” by SZA were numbers 6 and 22 then newcomer Victoria Monet released “On My Mama” which has been a ubiquitous hit earning her number 4 on our list.

The songs that earned 2, 3, 5, and 7 on our list are more traditional rap songs with household names. This is where you can find Gunna’s “fukumean,” Lil Durk and J. Cole’s “All My Life,” along with Ice Spice’s “Deli” and Drake and J. Cole’s collab on “First Person Shooter.” Many people thought Gunna’s hot streak would be over after his arrest and subsequent release, but he proved the world wrong with “fukumean” whether you like it or not.

Newcomers and Rising Stars

Scar Lip gave New York another anthem with “This Is New York” and Lola Brooke is back on the our list for the second year with “You” featuring Bryson Tiller. Obviously Tyla, Sexyy Red, and Victoria Monet made huge names for themselves this year, but there’s one artist who really sticks out among this list.

From Kingston, Jamaica a breakout Dancehall sensation named Byron Messia made his name known with his smash hit “Talibans.” This song was remixed, chopped and screwed, and made massive waves across the globe. Burna Boy hopped on a remix of “Talibans” and put it on his 2023 album. The international popularity of hip-hop is starting to blur the lines between R&B, hip-hop, afrobeats, and dancehall. Hip-hop is in a unique place where you can either throw your hands in the air and say hip-hop is dead or you can appreciate the growth and expansion of the genre you love.

These were the HOT 97 top 23 songs of 2023! Congratulations to all of the artists on the list, we can’t wait to see what the top 24 songs of 2024 are.