Post Malone
Rockstar
Rap/Hip-Hop

This chart-topping hit from rapper Post Malone either embraces hedonism or satirically critiques it—but it’s not clear which.

G-Eazy
No Limit
Rap/Hip-Hop

Profane, dehumanizing degradation of women is the name of the game on rapper G-Eazy’s latest hit.

Various/Soundtrack
Descendants 2
EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop

The soundtrack to this Disney Channel movie surprisingly packs in more problems than the story that inspired it.

Jay Z
4:44
Rap/Hip-Hop

Jay Z apologizes to his wife for his infidelity and sings the praises of family and fatherhood … using lots …

Cardi B
Bodak Yellow
Rap/Hip-Hop

Rapper Cardi B may be the genre’s new queen bee. But her explicit vulgarity and hyperbolic bravado is hardly new.

Liam Payne
Strip That Down
Pop, R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop

The first single from this former One Direction member splits the difference between love and lust.

Linkin Park
One More Light
Alternative, EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock

Linkin Park’s latest trades anger and angst for humility and maturity. (Well, mostly.)

Imagine Dragons
Whatever It Takes
Alternative, Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock

Imagine Dragons’ latest is another exercise in sorta: sorta pop, sorta rock, sorta rap. Sorta spiritual. Sorta positive. Sorta vague.

Kendrick Lamar
D–N.
Rap/Hip-Hop

Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s fourth effort veers wildly between the spiritual and the carnal, the profound and the profane.

Drake
More Life
R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop

Drake’s self-described “playlist” unloads 22 tracks that meander from melancholy insight to profanity-drenched braggadocio.

Lecrae
Blessings
Christian/Gospel, R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop

Rapper Lecrae’s latest encourages us to cultivate humility, work hard, trust God and count our blessings.

J. Cole
4 Your Eyez Only
Rap/Hip-Hop

Rapper J. Cole’s fourth effort tells the profanity-riddled tale of a man desperately trying to break the cycle of crime …

Maroon 5
Don’t Wanna Know
Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop

Breaking up has always been hard. But it’s even worse when you start brainstorming what your ex might be doing …

Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello
Bad Things
Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop

“Bad Things” romanticizes and rationalizes a volatile and destructive relationship.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Drug Dealer
Rap/Hip-Hop

Macklemore’s latest social-issue song shines an autobiographical light on the important issue of prescription medication abuse.