5: “Nice for What” (Drake)

In my worst list, Drake took up a couple entries, so people might think that I hate most of his music. The thing is I don’t actually hate him as an artist. He just has an incredibly inconsistent career. Which means gems like this pop up from time to time.

I haven’t heard a Drake song with so much energy in such a long time. His breakdown part is also catchy and fun to listen to. It’s weird how in one year he can have one of the lowest points and highest points of his career. 

4: “Psycho” (Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign)

If I could be honest, the hardest part of this list was picking the best Post Malone hit. I didn’t want to fill out too many entries with Post, but narrowing it down was hard. Rockstar was an obvious exclusion since it made the year end last year, but I Fall Apart and Better Now are great songs. In the end, I decided to go with Psycho.

The production on this song is so blissful and laid back, but at the same time is kind of eerie and chill inducing. Post matches this feel with how he sings as well. This was easily the best hit Post had this year and I’m glad he’s doing so well now. If it means more songs like this, I’m all for it.

3: “Call Out My Name” (The Weekend)

Heartbreak. It’s something we all have to go through in some way or another and this year had a couple of big hits around that subject. Lucid Dreams, Better Now, and I Fall Apart just to name a few. This includes Call Out My Name, which I feel is the best of them.

The quiet piano and booming bass in the chorus help to give this song a sad vibe. The Weekend makes that even better, especially since he isn’t afraid of eluding to the person he is referrencing (Selena Gomez).

2: “Finesse” (Bruno Mars & Cardi B)

As someone who’s a pretty big fan of Bruno, it wasn’t hard for me to love this song. I mean the man can make genre’s that I don’t like (in this case, New Jack Swing) into one of my favorite songs of the year. But he didn’t do it alone.

Bruno harmonizes on the hook, his long notes at the end sound so smooth, and the addition of Cardi B works great. She gives the attitude of ‘dripping in finesse’ and her refrain is so catchy. I wouldn’t like this song as much if it wasn’t for Cardi.

1: “Sicko Mode” (Travis Scott ft. Drake, and Swae Lee)

Honestly, picking between this and “Finesse” was a hard decision. Both are great songs made by some of my favorite artists and both have features from artists (Drake and Cardi B) that bring in great performances. In the end I went with Sicko Mode because every time I listen to it, I find something new to love about it.

Each of the three sections of different beats work together really well. That ‘like a light’ chorus has no right being as catchy as it is, especially when Travis returns for the final chorus and then goes into his own final verse. While I think saying it’s the new “Bohemian Rhapsody” of this generation is a little silly, I will say this was the best hit song of the year.