There’s been a lot of talk lately about how pop stars are shifting to dance music and songs that provide escape. And—although some of these verses and songs host that energy, if you still want to stay at home, put on a pair of headphones, and dissect bars, don’t worry; this year gifted us a lot of great rap verses, too. From introspective efforts like Kendrick Lamar’s “Mother I Sober” and Che Noir’s “Communion” to more playful offerings like Tyler, the Creator’s verse on Pharell’s “Cash In, Cash Out,” there’s been a little something for everyone this year.
After counting down the 50 best albums and songs of the year, we narrowed our focus on the top 30 rap verses of the year. These are the verses that we’ve returned to over and over since we first heard them. To make room for more voices and styles, we limited ourselves to just one verse per artist. Without further ado, these are the 30 best rap verses of 2022.