There has yet to be a No. 1 hip-hop album in 2023, but there has been no shortage of elite rap verses from a variety of artists this year so far. From the energetic and innovative Jersey Club and New York drill fusion in Mali Smith’s On The Radar MHPG Cypher to the introspective toilings of Tyler, the Creator on his “Sorry Not Sorry” verse and the coveted Cardi B add-on—this time, on Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again;” rap has still yielded impressive bars despite the genre not topping the charts as it has in the past. Hip-hop is constantly changing, but it’s trending in the right direction, even if the numbers haven't reflected that yet.
Here are the best rap verses of 2023 so far.