The flute is a hot topic that has inserted itself into the music conversation this year for various reasons, and Gunna’s flute-laced banger “FukUMean” loomed large in 2023. The second single from the hip-hop icon’s fourth studio album, “A Gift & a Curse,” struck a major chord with our audience this year.
Artists who also turned up the heat this year represent the globetrotting range of the platform’s hitmakers, from Cassö’s bouncy nightclub banger “Prada” (feat. Raye) and Superstar Pride’s melancholy, memoiristic “Painting Pictures” (featuring a Faith Evans sample) to several magnetic tracks from the Arabic pop world, where musicians are breaking new ground by melding melodies based on traditional microtonal scales with modern beats.
Some very familiar names also bolstered our top tracks, including Drake, Calvin Harris, Trippie Redd, and the fast-rising newcomer PinkPantheress. On “Ella Baila Sola,” the group Eslabon Armado, from California’s Central Valley, is joined by the Mexican superstar Peso Pluma. “A ella le gusto y a mí me gusta,” he sings: “She likes me and I like her.” We like them all, and it’s evident that you do, too.
LISTEN TO THE TOP TRACKS OF 2023 ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
Gunna, “fukumean”
The runaway leader in 2023 SoundCloud action is a song addressed to Gunna’s haters:.“Can’t be my equal,” he boasts. With 25 million streams and counting, he sure got that right.
Cassö x RAYE x D-Block Europe, “Prada”
The British electronic DJ’s smash hit, featuring Raye, is all about the high life: “Feel like I’m in Prince’s house/Purple paint all on the walls.”
Superstar Pride, “Painting Pictures”
Breakout rapper puts a modern spin on Faith Evans’ "Soon as I Get Home," as he reflects on his family connection and street life in this viral smash.
Ice Spice, “In Ha Mood”
She was destined for greatness back at age 14, when she gave herself the nickname Ice Spice on her finsta. Now she’s “rap’s new princess.”
Toosii, “Favorite Song”
Raleigh, North Carolina rap star lets the music do the talking on this Valentine’s Day-inspired viral smash.
PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice “Boy's a Liar Pt. 2”
Continuing her meteoric rise the British breakout star recruits Bronx rap’s princess Ice Spice for the sequel to her single, clearly turning up the heat.
Hamada El Asmar, “انا الاسد سايق عريني”
He’s one of the superstars of modern Middle Eastern music, melding traditional melodies with hip-hop production.
Destroy Lonely, “If Looks Could Kill”
After plenty of mixtape success, the young ATL rapper released his studio debut in 2023. There’s a grunge-y menace to the title track, which slayed a lot of listeners.
Lil Durk, “All My Life” feat. J. Cole
Beautiful children’s chorus + fierce Cole feature + a powerful message = Durk’s biggest hit to date.
Drake, “Search & Rescue”
“I know I'm a pitbull, but dale, mami / I just wanna take you on a holiday, mami,” sings Drake on this single where the Canadian icon as he seeks a perfect match on his first release of 2023.
Lil Yachty, “Strike (Holster)”
Yachty came back to Earth, in a manner of speaking, with this true-to-form single, the follow-up to his intergalactic psych-rock album “Let’s Start Here.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, “Bitch Let's Do It”
No punches pulled on the lead track from YoungBoy’s 20th (!) mixtape. “Pray at night for my soul to keep,” he raps.
Trippie Redd, “Knight Crawler” feat. Juice WRLD
The voice of the late Juice WRLD crawls all over this chaotic collab with Trippie Redd, a key track from his star-studded, action-packed ‘23 album “Mansion Musik.”
Yeat, “Split”
Breakout cloud rap star Yeat teams with ChaseTheMoney, Synthetic, Aunix, and Noa Nalu for production on this heavy banger.
Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola”
Thus traditional Mexican music group from the Central Valley teams with Mexican superstar Peso Pluma on this smash of a track.
JKRS & ECHO, “Maneater”(Sped Up)
This omnivorous track raced to the front of the class of one of the year’s biggest trends – the “sped up” phenomenon that has dominated the platform.
Calvin Harris, “Miracle” feat Ellie Goulding
This dance floor-ready collab earned the DJ Harris and singer Goulding their first Grammy nods since 2018 and 2016, respectively.
Rod Wave, “Fight the Feeling”
The moving lead single from the “soul-trap” king’s fifth album imagines a heartbroken young woman trying not to cry in the club. We’re fighting the feeling, too.
Yeat, “No More Talk”
“Don’t get it confused,” as one of the game’s recent breakout superstars puts it on this murky track. He’s here to stay.
Drake, “IDGAF” feat. Yeat
After Yeat received a shoutout from Drake on "Bigger Then Everything," the two linked up for Bnyx and Shah produced sci-fi inspired “IDGAF.”
DJ Fall A Fello, "عنبة - وزير الحنية ( البابا) توزيع جديد ”2023
Heavy beats and an apocalyptic soundscape from another of Egypt’s talented producers.
Young Nudy, “Peaches & Eggplants” feat. 21 Savage
With help from his cousin 21 Savage, the Atlanta rapper presents this pulsating banger of a track with a tight production assist from Coupe.
Lil Tecca, “500lbs”
Shout-out to Queens, where Tyler-Justin Anthony Sharpe cut his teeth by rapping on his Xbox mic.
Byg Byrd, “Hail” feat Tarna
Canadian producer Byg Byrd known for his work with French Montana, Lil Kim, Lil Durk and more was born into a Punjabi Sikh family and has established himself in the Punjabi music scene blending hip-hop beats with traditional Pubabi instruments and melodies, which can be heard on his breakout track “Hail.”
Dave and Central Cee, “Sprinter”
The two British rap icons reunite with this verbal barrage, backed by a drill beat and flamenco guitars.
LISTEN TO THE TOP TRACKS OF 2023 ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
Click HERE to see a breakdown of how our SoundCloud community listened this year.
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