Top Rap Songs of January 2018 (Latest Releases)

Because the month is over, it’s time for me to reflect upon my favorite rap and hip-hop releases for January 2018.  If you’re new to my website, you should know that each month I scour the internet (and various YouTube channels) to find the latest rap releases.  Thereafter, I document all of the rap releases that I subjectively enjoy for the month and share them with a few friends.

If you’re not interested in rap music or dislike rap, refrain from reading this article – it will merely recommend songs from a genre of music that you don’t enjoy.  On the other hand, if you do like rap or are a fellow rap aficionado, this article may provide you with some songs for a new playlist for the whip, gym, or to bump while doing housework.  That said, you should also be cognizant of the fact that my subjective preferences may differ from yours.

Due to differences in subjective rap style preferences, you might dislike (or downright hate) many songs on this list.  As I’ve explained before, I’m a fan of rap music with a blend of the following qualities: catchy beats; catchy vocals; melodic choruses; lyricism (creative and/or intellectual); and sometimes deliberate non-lyricism or anti-lyricism.  Some of the songs I like may be more catchy than lyrical, others may be non-lyrical, and others might be catchy plus lyrical.

Top Rap Songs of January 2018

Understand that I work full-time and usually check for rap releases in my spare time via sources such as: Worldstar; Datpiff; Soundcloud; Elevator Music; Cole Bennett; and Audiomack.  For this reason, you shouldn’t be surprised if I missed some solid tracks (or even ridiculously popular releases).  That said, if you suspect that I may have missed a track, it may turn out that I’ve already heard it and simply didn’t like it – even if it became popular.  If I don’t like a track, I’m not going to include it on my monthly roundups.

Anyways, I’m not sure how long I’ll even be able to keep compiling these monthly lists… the amount of rap being released on a daily basis seems to be exponentially increasing.  (Everyone and their baby mama, and their baby mama’s, mama’s, mama’s, mama’s – seem to have entered the rap game).  More competition in the rap game means more quality music being released – which means I’ll likely end up wasting more time listening plus compiling lists.

Because I don’t want to play favorites, I’m not going to rank-order tracks in some sort of subjective “best of January” list (maybe I’ll do ranked lists in the future).  Although I don’t mind hierarchal rank-order lists, rank-ordering is entirely subjective – your ranking may be grossly different from mine.  Moreover, I don’t want people to skip over certain artists because they’re not ranked as high as others on a countdown style list.  For this reason, I’ve documented all of my favorite songs from January 2018 in alphabetical order.

Note: If you haven’t yet, check out the Top Rap Songs of December 2017 (last month).

Top Rap Songs of January 2018

• 21 Savage: Pause
• 6 Dogs: Buttcheeks
• 6IX9INE: KeKe feat. Fetty Wap & A Boogie
• Abhi The Nomad: Marbled
• Ace Hood: Uber
• AD: I Ain’t Playing
• AirlineJay: Cop A Benz feat. Nbhd Nick
• ASAP Rocky: 5ive $tar$ feat. DRAM
• Audio Push: Pump Fake
• Audio Push: Sanctified
• Bernard Jabs: Super Saiyan
• Bhad Bhabie: Hi B#tch (Remix) feat. YBN Nahmir, Rich The Kid, Asian Doll, MadeinTYO
• Blake: Such & Such
• BLVC SVND: WYD
• Brian Fresco: Pull Up feat. Kay Karma
• Carnage: I Shyne feat. Lil Pump
• Carnage: Learn How to Watch feat. Mac Miller & MadeinTYO
• Caskey: Dead Man
• Che Lingo: Same Energy
• Dave East: Violent feat. Lloyd Banks
• Dave East: Woke Up feat. Tory Lanez
• Don Mykel: Shake It Off
• Drake: God’s Plan
• Drayco McCoy: Shoot You Down
• DJ Spin & Whiite: Til She Lose Her Voice feat. Lil Wayne
• EyeKeem: Piped Up
• Famous Dex: Blue Chips feat. Rich The Kid
• Famous Dex: In Da Bank feat. NBA Youngboy
• Fetty Wap: Rockstar (G-Mix)
• French Montana: Famous
• FREEWIFI: Took Off
• Global Dan: Off White (Remix) feat. Rich The Kid & MadeinTYO
• Hoodrich Pablo Juan: Racks On Des Diamonds feat. Lil Baby
• Hoodrich Pablo Juan: Street Punk feat. Lil Yachty
• Hoodrich Pablo Juan: Walk Thru
• Hot Boy Turk: F#k How It Turn Out (Remix) feat. Lil Wayne & Kodak Black
• IDK: Hello Pt. 3 (Freestyle)
• Jay Critch: Bands feat. Rich The Kid
• Jesse And The Wolf: Selecta feat. Juelz Santana, Ghostface Killah, Telli
• Jimmy Lit & Mari: Nothing
• Jon Connor: I’m Back
• Juicy J: Advance
• Juicy J: Choke Hold
• Juicy J: Cut Em Off
• Juicy J: Broke N#ggaz feat. Y.K.O.M.
• Juicy J: Fanny Pack
• Juicy J: Got Em Like feat. Wiz Khalifa & Lil Peep
• Juicy J: Hot Line
• Juicy J: Kick Back
• Juicy J: Only For You
• Juicy J: Sauce Pic
• Juicy J: Them Drugs
• Juicy J: Trap Jumpin feat. Lil Pump
• Juicy J: Y.K.O.M.
• Juicy J: You Know
• K Camp: Cranberry Juice
• King Los: The 410 Survival Kit
• Kollision: Blessings
• Kollision: Cash Out
• Kollision: Flossin
• Kollision: Glow Up
• Kollision: Ironic
• Kollision: Made It
• Kollision: No Point feat. Lil Baby
• Kollision: Road
• Kollision: Who You Know
• Lancey Foux: Dough feat. Lil Cholo
• Lil Baby: Take Off feat. Snap Dogg
• Lil Debbie & Kid Class: Stunt
• Lil Jon: Alive feat. Offset & 2 Chainz
• Lil Skies: Big Money
• Lil Skies: Boss Up
• Lil Skies: Kill4u
• Lil Skies: Lettuce Sandwich
• Lil Skies: Nowadays
• Lil Skies: Strictly Business
• Lil Skies: Welcome to the Rodeo
• Lil Uzi Vert: 200 My Dash
• Lil Uzi Vert: Mood
• Lil Wayne: 2 Hot For TV feat. Lil Twist
• Lil Wayne: Back From The 80s
• Lil Wayne: Back To Sleep
• Lil Wayne: Big Bad Wolf
• Lil Wayne: Bloody Mary feat. Juelz Santana
• Lil Wayne: Don’t Shoot feat. Marley G & Rich The Kid
• Lil Wayne: Drowning feat. Vice Versa & Marley G
• Lil Wayne: For Nothing
• Lil Wayne: Freaky Side
• Lil Wayne: Go Brazy feat. Jay Jones
• Lil Wayne: Groupie Gang
• Lil Wayne: Gumbo feat. Gudda Gudda
• Lil Wayne: Kreep
• Lil Wayne: Main Things
• Lil Wayne: Sick
• Loso Loaded: On Deck feat. PnB Rock
• Lucki: 4everybody
• Lugo Haze: Pitcher
• MadeinTYO: Too Quick
• Malcolm Anthony: My Town
• Marty Baller: Feeling Good
• Marty Baller: Never Tired
• Meek Mill & Joyner Lucas: Run It
• Migos: Auto Pilot
• Migos: BBO feat. 21 Savage
• Migos: Beast
• Migos: CC feat. Gucci Mane
• Migos: Crown The Kings
• Migos: Emoji A Chain
• Migos: Flooded
• Migos: Gang Gang
• Migos: Higher We Go
• Migos: Made Men
• Migos: Movin Too Fast
• Migos: Narcos
• Migos: Open It Up
• Migos: Supastars
• Migos: Too Much Jewelry
• Migos: Too Playa feat. 2 Chainz
• Migos: Top Down On Da NAWF
• Migos: Walk It Talk It feat. Drake
• Migos: White Sand feat. Travis Scott, Big Sean, Ty Dolla Sign
• Migos: Work Hard
• Mir Fontane: New Friends feat. Kodie Shane
• MoneyBagg Yo: Ocean Spray
• NBA Youngboy: Love Is Poison
• NBA Youngboy: Outside Today
• NF: No Name
• Nimic Revenue: AWLORN Gang
• Nipsey Hussle: Last Time That I Checc’d feat. YG
• Oliver: Carl Edwards feat. Big Baby
• One Week Notice: Die A Legend
• One Week Notice: Get It N Go
• One Week Notice: Gutter
• One Week Notice: Icebox
• One Week Notice: In My Zone
• One Week Notice: In Tune
• One Week Notice: Proud
• Onji: Don’t Worry feat. Producer Dane
• Pac Man: Top Off (Remix) feat. 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Gorilla Zoe
• PnB Rock: All Alone
• PROMKNGHT: My Time feat. Dylan St. John
• Raekwon: The Biz
• Raekwon: The Sky
• Rich The Kid: All Of Them feat. Playboi Carti
• Rico Nasty: Key Lime OG (Remix) feat. Shy Glizzy
• Russ: Flip
• SahBabii: Watery
• Skrizzy: Sauce (Water) feat. JayAre
• Smokepurpp: Big Bucks
• Smooky MarGielaa: Vlone Flex
• Squidnice: For My Momma
• Squidnice: Outta Pocket
• Stiches: Out of My Mind feat. NBA Youngboy
• Tech N9ne: Don’t Nobody Want None
• Tinashe: No Drama feat. Offset
• TNT Tez: Cropped Out
• Ty Dolla Sign: On God (prod. DP Beats)
• Tyga: Dubai Drip
• Velliano & Benjamins: Can’t Fold
• Wale: The Weekend (Remix)
• Wifisfuneral: Midday feat. Craig Xen
• YBN Nahmir: Bounce Out With That
• YFN Lucci: Boss Life feat. Offset
• YFN Lucci: Street Kings
• Young Chop: 40K feat. YB
• Young Chop: Ice Cream feat. Chief Keef
• Young Chop: Set It Off
• Young Jasper: Tip Top
• Young MA: I Get the Bag (Freestyle)
• Young Thug: MLK
• Yung Pinch: Juicy Fruit
• Yung Pinch: Smoke & Drive feat. Blackbear & P-Lo
• Zoey Dollaz: Mula (Remix) feat. Lil Wayne
• ZOTiYAC: Snakes

Albums & Mixtapes worth a listen (January 2018)

• Kollision: Better Than Yesterday
• Juicy J: ShutDaF#kUp
• Lil Skies: Life Of A Dark Rose
• Lil Wayne: D6 Reloaded
• Marty Baller: International Baller
• Migos: Culture II
• One Week Notice: One Week Notice (Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton, Audio Push, Demrick, reezy, Emilio Rojas)
• Young Chop: King Chop 2

Because I don’t keep track of album and mixtape release dates, I wasn’t sure whether anything decent would drop in January.  At the beginning of the month, I had the “One Week Notice” album on heavy rotation… was a banger.  I’m familiar with Dizzy Wright, Emilio Rojas, and Audio Push, so when I saw they teamed up for a release, I was intrigued… ended up being pleasantly surprised with the outcome – a potent combination of: underground sound, solid lyricism, and catchy instrumentals.

Thereafter, I gave the Lil Skies mixtape a listen (solid throughout) and Kollision mixtape a listen (also solid throughout and heavily slept on); give these each a few spins.  Out of nowhere, one of my favorite artists, Mr. Trippy Mane (Juicy J) throws his tape up on Datpiff and then I’ve got that on heavy rotation – loaded with fiyah if you’re a Juicy J fan (I’m probably in the minority in being most excited of all tapes for this one).  Young Chop had about 3 quality songs on his tape (which is better than usual), and Marty Baller compiled some old and new tracks in a mixtape (I liked a few songs).

Just when I thought Weezy F. would take a mixtape hiatus (after his December release), he delivers D6 Reloaded – plus is featured on Zoey Dollaz “Mula (Remix).”  Upon first listen, I thought the Weezy project was weaker than his December release, but after a second, third, and fourth listen, I realized that it was better than expected and enjoyed many tracks on it (as you should see by my above list).

That said, of all the projects released, the Migos release was the best in terms of: vocals, choruses, instrumentals, sound quality, and overall catchiness.  Furthermore, the project had over 21 full tracks (no interludes) with few weak points.  I know it’s a cliché and mainstream opinion, however, Migos had the best release of the month.

Final thoughts on January 2018 rap releases…

January was chock-full of b-b-b-bangers in the realm of rap.  If I had to compare the releases in January 2018 to those last month (December 2017), I’m not sure which I liked better… I may have liked the December releases a bit more.  Anyways, there were a few tracks that I wanted to comment on, including the 6IX9INE track “Keke.”  Although I liked “Keke,” if it were up to me, I’d have removed 6IX9INE from his own track and just kept Fetty and A Boogie – not a fan of the screaming on this one; ruins part of the song.

NBA Youngboy dropped 2 quality jams for the month – always catchy and has a realness vibe about him that most rappers lack.  Raekwon the chef cooked up 2 legit tracks that are definitely worth some spins (hence their inclusion on my list).  I still think Ace Hood is heavily slept on for whatever reason, yet he released another good jam “Uber.”

I’m glad beach boy #714 Yung Pinch is back with releases – always has most artists slayed in terms of catchy/soothing vocals.  Speaking of soothing vocals, do not sleep on the artist Onji (I recently discovered his stuff)… this guy could easily blow up with the right marketing.  Was surprised by the Lil Jon release with Offset and 2 Chainz (reminds me of TD4W 2.0 and I like it).

Unexpectedly, Meek Mill and Joyner Lucas released a song that turned out dope (as I expected)… I’m good with any new Joyner (collab or not).  I liked the ASAP Rocky and DRAM track, although I was less impressed with ASAP’s other release.  And even though I’m not really a Young MA fan, she destroyed the “I Get the Bag” instrumental in her freestyle.

Lastly, although I included the “Hi B#tch” track by Bhad Bhabie on my list, I really only liked the instrumental, Rich The Kid verse, and chorus… I would’ve been satisfied if they remixed the entire the song with 2 Rich The Kid verses instead of including the other artists.  If you know Joyner Lucas, Montana of 300, King Los, Juicy J, or Lil Wayne – send them this instrumental so they can slaughter it [with a freestyle].

What were your favorite rap releases of January 2018?

If you’re interested in rap music and took the time to read over this article and/or checked out some tracks from this article (my playlist), be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section.  If you aren’t quite sure what to write in your comment, then just answer some of the questions I’ve listed below (keep it simple).  Any feedback from fellow rap aficionados is appreciated.

• What were your favorite releases of the previous month?
• Were there any songs that you had in rotation more than others?
• Were there any collaborations that you thought were especially dope?
• Did you discover any new songs or artists that you liked from my list? (If so, which ones?)
• Were there any rap songs and/or mixtapes from January 2018 that you think I might’ve missed or overlooked? (If so, which ones?)