The Genius Community’s 25 Best Songs of 2023 So Far

SahBabii’s signature vocal inflections are nothing short of melodic ear candy. His second single of the year, “Lost All My Feelings” is an addictive, introspective trap song, complete with a chorus that’s stuck in all of our heads. The Atlanta rapper presents an interesting dichotomy between this upbeat, catchy melody and some frankly somber lyrics. When he is not begging to be healed from his pain, the rapper is describing his hectic lifestyle of juggling romance, affluence, and violence. Though not without its eyebrow-raising moments, the song still illustrates a familiar feeling of dissociation that Sahbabii has depicted on other hits. —Joseph Haske

A cut from Yeat’s latest studio album, AftërLyfe, “Split” is a hard-hitting rage anthem that finds the Portland rapper doing what he does best: bragging about the money he’s accumulated over the span of his already impressive career. Yeat’s love for repetition shines on “Split”; he copied and pasted the vocals from the first minute and 12 seconds of the song, and the beat—courtesy of CHASETHEMONEY, Synthetic, ​aunix​, and ​noanalu—loops throughout with no switch-ups. Although this unconventional song structure wouldn’t work for most artists, Yeat’s exhilarating, relentless flow ties everything together. —@streetlights

The debut single from her sixteenth studio album, Tension, “Padam Padam” by Kylie Minogue revolves around the excitement and attraction between two individuals. The onomatopoeic title, which describes the sound of a beating heart, sets the tone for the electronic track, which is mesmerizing in its combination of sleek, pulsating beats and irresistibly catchy dance-pop elements. The result is a sound that is both energetic and sophisticated, making it perfect for dancing or simply enjoying as a piece of music. Kylie has described the track as a blend of personal reflection, club abandon, and melancholic high. —@axelcv

He may be “lost in the lights,” but “Like Crazy” by Jimin of BTS definitely doesn’t deserve to get lost in the shuffle. With an addictive electro-pop beat bordering on psychedelic trance music, Jimin’s solo debut single was one of the best releases of the year. The song works exceptionally well because it plays on Jimin’s strengths and is customized to his unique vocal tone, which keeps the singer in his comfort zone. One of the highlights of the song is the stunning extended interlude, which also parallels the heartbreaking lyrics of the song that were co-written by Jimin himself. —Saquib Syed

Unironically, the self-proclaimed princess of rap vividly proves her worth through “Princess Diana,”, a bouncy, addictive, and catchy track which quickly gained traction through TikTok due to Ice Spice’s captivating and raspy sound, which holds many worldwide in a headlock. The song goes so hard it even obtained a remix from the queen of rap herself, Nicki Minaj.

“Bitches not takin' shit from me but notes,” is what Ice confidently raps on her second Top 10 single on Billboard’s Hot 100, solidifying her spot in the rap game and making it impossible to doubt her future accomplishments. —@777TT

After dropping his breakout 2022 song NO STYLIST, fans did not have to wait long for their next taste of the Opium member’s catalog. “If looks could kill” sees Destroy Lonely effortlessly flow over a rock-inspired instrumental that features ear-catching guitar riffs played by Carter Bryson.

First shown on an Instagram Live in late 2022, the song then expanded to become immensely popular on TikTok, with some videos receiving millions of likes. All of the hype surrounding the song led to it being surprise-dropped on March 3, giving fans a new refreshing sound from Lonely, as well as a glimpse into what his debut album of the same name would entail. —@love

“​the BLACK seminole.” is the perfect introduction to Lil Yachty’s critically acclaimed, Let’s Start Here.. With a soothing, psychedelic feel, it previews a side of Yachty that had yet to be seen in his previous projects. The track incorporates a flawlessly executed style of experimental rock and jazz, which is assisted by the immaculate tone of Yachty’s stretch melodies. It’s safe to say that with the sharp turn in Yachty’s style, he’s broken away from being named a “rapper,” proving himself a true artist. —@777TT

Written in “the backs of cars” while traveling on tour, beabadoobee’s “Glue Song” is an ode to a blossoming relationship. It is heartfelt and honest, capturing the excitement of new feelings and the purity of newfound love. Singing, “I’ve never known someone like you / Tangled in love, and I’m stuck by you / From the glue,” beabadoobee bashfully admits the inseparable nature of the bond they share and the bliss she finds in it. The gentle guitar strumming, light piano keys, mellifluous strings, and trumpets form a captivating symphony, which delicately accompany her voice. A harmonious blend of emotions and melodies, “Glue Song” reminds us of all the love in the world we’re yet to experience—love that patiently waits for us to open our hearts to it, no matter how unexpected its form. —@Jyoti Amrita

Unsurprisingly, Dua was one of the first artists to unveil songs from the latest Barbie soundtrack. If one were to ponder the musical preferences of Barbie, it would definitely include infectious, feminine, disco-pop tunes. Consequently, it is unsurprising that Dua was granted the chance to record a song that combines her signature disco sound, reminiscent of her Future Nostalgia era, with the lyrics conveying a sense of nothing but positivity and optimism. The song flawlessly achieved its intended purpose and, in that regard, can be considered a perfect track. “Dance The Night” is everything. Non-believers are just Ken. —Dusan

Taken from their joint trilogy release, RR, “BESO” exudes an aura of intimacy through its simple yet powerful lyrics. The song serves as a testament of their past love affair and mutual desire, as the upbeat keyboard melody and seamless vocal harmonies meld together to create a flawless love scene. Full of moments shared by the then-couple, the music video showcases the heartfelt romanticism they had.
Although the future is unpredictable, “BESO” still serves as an anthem of intimacy, recalling the passion they once shared through lines like, “Being close to you is my peace,” that still sparkle within the chorus. —@thousandeyes

After his release from prison in December 2022, Gunna had a lot to prove to haters and old fans alike. He showed up with “fukumean”, the standout track from June’s a Gift & a Curse. “Fukumean” sees Gunna rap over a summer-feeling instrumental about how he’s back for more, and how you won’t compare to him and his money-making lifestyle. The song also features earworm adlibs from Instagram influencer P Litty, whose voice gives the song a breath of fresh air and makes it like nothing else in the music game right now. —@love

“SORRY NOT SORRY” is the climactic finisher to Tyler, The Creator’s March 2023 deluxe release, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale. Though it can be briefly summarized as Tyler wavering between genuine and sarcastic apologies, its substance comes in how it functions as a celebration of sorts for Tyler’s ever-maturing career. Over a dynamic, jazzy melody accentuated with his signature bold synths and sharp harmonizing, Tyler pats himself on the back for navigating entitled fans, complicated relationships, haters, and sociopolitical strife in a fashion so unapologetically authentic that you can’t help but root for him. —@spillretro

“It’s about how eviscerating it can be to have healthy love for the first time and how the absence of chaos is quite difficult to handle,” Parks said of “Pegasus” via her newsletter, and “eviscerating” is the perfect word for it. Metaphorically, a new relationship is a lot like delving into the unknown, and in “Pegasus,” Parks and Bridgers team up to create a euphonious blend of the joy and fear that surface in that unknown. Set against a backdrop of dreamy piano chords, soft percussion, and smooth guitar pickings, the pair perfect the intimacy of two people’s worlds joining, as well as the lightness and lessons that accompany this union. The song encapsulates the vulnerability of opening ourselves up to love and the bravery found in honesty. With its warm nature, “Pegasus” provides a comforting haven for hopeful romantics, inviting them to find solace in its melodies. —Jyoti Amrita

Soundscaping the credits to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the greatest theatrical release of 2023 (so far), “Am I Dreaming” is the welcome afterglow of the euphoric event. Fittingly, it’s also the question audiences ask themselves after experiencing the innovative masterpiece. The song opens with inspired strings before welcoming the sensational synthesizers, kicks, and snares that round out its soundbed. Roisee delivers a cinematic performance, seemingly channeling Miles Morales' internal dialogue, while Rocky draws parallels from his life as a fellow New Yorker to the central protagonist. Thankfully, we’re in the universe where this song exists. —@Skhills

After smashing everyone’s expectations with her previous rock album, Plastic Hearts, Miley Cyrus decided that it was time to go back to good ol' pop. Her decision paid off tremendously, as her latest single “Flowers” broke records by becoming the fastest song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify just three months after its release. But this success isn’t merely a result of marketing tactics or paid promotions—it’s also a testament to Miley’s ability to blend catchy lyrics and high-quality production with an iconic backstory. Miley came back with new music and unsurprisingly served. —Dusan

Breaking onto the scene just last year, NewJeans released two of their most inventive tracks with their sophomore release. Their take on Baltimore club music, “Ditto” is a dreamy anthem which subtly made its way into everyone’s playlist. The dreamlike vocals pair very well with the mystifying production as the girls sing about confessing their feelings to a crush. Besides the production and lyricism, “Ditto” also comes with one of the best music videos released this year. The video represents the parasocial relationships that form between fans and their favorite artists. Following a lonely girl, the video’s protagonist begins to imagine her idols as her friends—a very relevant phenomenon. —Saquib Syed

Kill Bill," the second track on SZA’s second project sees the singer reckon with heartbreak and loss using references to Quentin Tarantino’s two-part movie series, Kill Bill. Written in SZA’s “villain era,” the track sees her cleverly juxtapose her murderous lyrics with the soothing effect of her voice, which echoes throughout the track. The result is a psychedelic, late ‘90s vibe that earned SZA her first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. —@777TT

Doja Cat enters a new era with “Attention.” Set against a backdrop of harp and ‘90s hip-hop production, the artist showcases her rapping skills and gets the last word with her haters. The song is a scathing response to all those who have criticized her and also offers a revealing look at what it means to be a celebrity: “Talk your shit about me, I can easily disprove it, it’s stupid/ You follow me, but you don’t really care about the music.”Doja Cat’s unique style has again captured all our attention. Now, we are looking for more. —Layla

As if the collaborations of 2022 couldn’t get any better, PinkPantheress hooked up with Bronx rapper Ice Spice this year on a brand new remix of a track from her debut EP, Take Me Home. “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” had audiences swooning all around the world for the London-based artist, who has defined her sound in recent years to create this unique alt-pop style. Going viral on TikTok after a fan posted a video of the pair filming the music video on the New York City subway, the upbeat tune, with its catchy lyrics and irresistible chorus, created an unbeatable banger for the pair. —@georgeybuckley

Ahead of 2021’s “family ties,” no one could’ve predicted just how captivating it would be watching cousins Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem take over the rap game with their subsequent collaborations. And after the pair teamed up for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, we thought we may never be blessed with the tight-lipped duo again. That was, until May 30, when “The Hillbillies” debuted on the pgLang YouTube channel. Keem and Kendrick respectively dub each other as Neymar and Messi on this electric, less-than-serious track. From interpolating Drake, sampling Bon Iver, and Keem discussing his love of PlayStation, we’re happy we were blessed with a another addicting West Coast jam from them, even if it was on nobody’s 2023 bingo card. —Joseph Haske

From Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, “A&W” is an intense 7-minute blend of folk-pop and R&B that recounts Del Rey’s evolution from little Lizzy Grant to fortified pop star Lana Del Rey.
Opening with gentle acoustic guitar chords, Del Rey embraces her melancholy and vulnerability before the sound changes direction to a hard-hitting beat about four minutes into the track. The lyrics shift as well, going from Del Rey recounting her innocent childhood to experiencing over-sexualisation as a young woman, illustrating how cruel the world can be to women and showcasing, yet again, Del Rey’s masterful versatility as a musician. —Layla

Possibly the most successful global rap song from the U.K. this year—as well as a record-breaking song within the U.K., “Sprinter” sees a long-awaited professional collaboration between British MCs Dave, and Central Cee. The track finds both Dave and Central Cee rapping catchy, punchline-filled bars over a captivating guitar beat—co-produced by Dave himself. The ambient, sensational track brings together the raspiness of Cench’s voice and the soothing tone of Dave’s to create a warm summer classic which will be memorable for years to come. —@777TT

“All My Life” is about beating the odds, combating negativity, and paving a better future for children in low-income neighborhoods. And who better to assist Lil Durk than J. Cole on this triumphant lead single off 2023’s Almost Healed? Durk and a children’s choir deliver an unforgettably catchy chorus, with Cole spitting an inspirational second verse. Durk’s music has often been perceived as violent, but “All My Life” is a chart-climbing hit that doubles as a reminder of his softer side and consistent support of Chicago’s impoverished communities. —Joseph Haske

This year, a seemingly unknown girl group from South Korea managed to turn viral TikTok fame into international success. However, unlike most viral songs, “Cupid” by FIFTY FIFTY also excels in quality. “Cupid” draws on a retro sound and pairs it with the bubblegum pop style of K-Pop. Despite there being two versions of the song, with slight differences in lyrics and song structure, they both maintain the easygoing vibe and simplicity. The song’s minimal instrumental puts the focus on the group’s stunning vocals as the quartet sings about amateur love in Korean and English. And with “Cupid” recently becoming the longest-charting K-pop girl group song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, FIFTY FIFTY definitely deserve all the attention and accolades that come their way. —Saquib Syed

boygenius’ the record took the world by storm with its masterful songwriting, most notably on “Not Strong Enough,” where the trio work through their “self hatred plus having a God complex,” as Dracus put it. Its bright guitars and drum fills immediately make the listener nostalgic for a lighter time, and the bridge’s refrain of “always an angel, never a god,” is a particular highlight, with Bridgers, Dacus and Baker’s voices coming together in a perfect ensemble before setting off on the final, glorious chorus. With soaring harmonies and raw lyrics, “Not Strong Enough” is a track for the ages. —@falling_ivy