I Can't Relate to Desperation: The 41 Best Songs of 2024 So Far (#41-21)
I think I Christmas tree'd myself
Metalcore royalty: Knocked Loose and Poppy (Photo by Cahil Bhanji)
41. Chief Keef, “Treat Myself”
You don’t earn this kind of stranglehold over weirdo rap Twitter without dropping a slapper once a decade or so. Even Lil B knows that.
40. Bladee, “Otherside”
Words fail even the stans to explain Bladee’s appeal and I’ve never understood what I’m supposed to hear in him either. But of course I understand a great, euphoric, cheesy rage beat. And now I understand one can lift anybody.
39. Knocked Loose feat. Poppy, “Suffocate”
All I know about metalcore is that I’d know more if it always ripped this good. The best rock’n’roll year in recent memory even elevated Knocked Loose, who should hire Poppy as their full-time Nico.
38. Kali Uchis feat. Peso Pluma, “Igual Que Un Ángel”
From Miguel’s “Caramelo Duro” to Orquídeas’ twin peaks with Rauw Alejandro and especially this glimmering slice of when-in-doubt-disco with pop’s biggest mullethead (now that Morgan Wallen’s gotten a haircut), I’m ready for her duets LP. Hell, Morgan Wallen is too.
37. Metro Boomin & Future feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Like That”
Give it up for the moment all of rap revolted against Drake’s hatefully mid regime overseeing a truly insufferable decade of negative growth and diminishing returns that only increased artistically in volume, both ways: numerous and shrill. Better late than never.
36. Megan Thee Stallion, “Hiss”
Nicki had to be destroyed, too.
35. Bad Moves, “New Year’s Reprieve”
Beloved purveyors of “Spirit FM” throwing their hat in the ring early as this year’s Beths/Alvvays Breakout Twee Event.
34. Rapsody feat. Lil Wayne, “Raw”
Maybe my lifelong taste for an hour-plus of boom-bap has finally run its course, but I’m still waiting for the right mood to properly enjoy the new, rapturously received Please Don’t Cry as much as I did Laila’s Wisdom and especially Eve. I couldn’t be less shocked that the exception to grab me early has her trading ODB-quoting bars with the loosiest-goosiest grandmaster of them all.
33. Usher, “Big”
I’m also a B.I.G. fan of the surprisingly subdued “I Am the Party,” but this is the real pick hit from his Super Bowl victory lap. Biggie quotes, cruise-ship Maceo horns, flatulent keytar bass, “bring a friend girl, you know I love sandwiches,” all deployed to praise the size of his girls, his dick, and, implicitly, his balls. He is the party.
32. Anitta, “Lose Ya Breath”
Baile funk on your breath in the morning she means, complete with ear-bleeding klezmer-cum-cumbia trumpet screeches. I was surprised as you to learn of her Grammy nod for Best New Artist.
31. GloRilla, “Yeah Glo!”
If only all trap beats fulfilled their destiny when you Play Loud but I’ll take it. Someone’s got to stop this trend of mixing everything inaudibly except the drums and vocals, this particular mic-melter notwithstanding.
30. Drake, “Family Matters”
For once, 69 God understood the assignment and the pressure on him was so great he actually squeezed out a diamond. For 30 minutes, he got to enjoy the fruits of feeling himself one last time and it’s to his credit we can feel it too. Then it fell apart. Maybe he’ll still prove too big to fail, but for once the world he ruled for too long agreed it was too little, too late.
29. Eric Slick, “Lose Our Minds”
The linchpin of my very short-lived outfit Cinderblock in the summer of seventh grade (followed by the seminal duo Overchortle) has since gone on to pound skins for legends local (Dr. Dog) and global (T. Swift). But this lovingly nerdy nugget of Byrned-out dystopian funk is my favorite thing he’s ever done, and we’re gonna need it. As a people nowhere near our final time losing our minds, might as well dance if we’re up all night with apocalyptic thoughts anyway.
28. Maxo Kream, “No Then You a Hoe”
Who said rappers don’t tell stories anymore?
27. St. Vincent, “Broken Man”
Did Sleater-Kinney teach her how to rock? Or was that Olivia Rodrigo? Because this sounds like To Bring You My Love sung by Corin Tucker and remixed by Janelle Monáe with drum fills by Dave Grohl. That last one is literal — he’s the drummer.
26. Biig Piig, “Watch Me”
Artiist aliias of the 2020s better get a piece of that “Riiverdance” moneii. She’s destined for biigger things than warming up the crowd for Glass Animals. And so are her sawtooth synths.
25. Cash Cobain feat. Ice Spice & Bay Swag, “Fisherrr (Remix)”
Uhh if quote-unquote “sexy drill” is about to make the whole Hot 100 sound like DJ Rashad’s Double Cup, lube me the fuck up. And if Ice Spice keeps comparing her pussy to things like fuckin’ Danimals, I might just have to regard her as a lyricist. Even if she needs a diaper.
24. Yard Act, “Dream Job”
“Lay waste to your superiors to lighten the mood / Or kowtow to your inferiors for fear you’ll look rude” is a class analysis David Byrne was too hip-to-be-square for.
23. Camila Cabello feat. Playboi Carti, “I Luv It”
Freakshow chorus straddles Jersey club drums and hyperpop synths without much setup from the verse, so if it wants to throw in a “Lemonade” interpolation (that’s Gucci, not Cowboy Carter) after, why not? You best believe I’m in love L-U-V.
22. Beyoncé feat. Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted”
Even before I performed the exhaustive ritual of letting an inevitably long, subtext-heavy, decreasingly rhythmic Yoncé (Renaissance excepted, of course) opus/Hivemeat/academic thesis into my heart again once more, I connected with its big standout, the most ebullient rodeo ballad from a pop megalith since Lady Gaga’s “Yoü and I.” Her duet partner’s always subsidized crap (“We Can’t Stop,” “Flowers,” “Prisoner”) with gold (“Younger Now,” “Malibu,” the rest of the “Prisoner” album), and where’s her long-awaited country pivot anyway? More pressing question: is this the prettiest song by either of them…ever? That can’t be right, can it?
21. Ice Spice, “Think U the Shit (Fart)”
She’s indeed quicker, thicker, and richer than those of us who once suspected she was lacking in the personality department. Now she’s also funnier.