My Top 10 Songs of 2020 (According to Spotify Wrapped)
By: Nia Simone Mcleod
Tags: Spotify, Culture, Music, Hip Hop, Black Women

To escape the horrific dystopian novel that is 2020, I listen to music on Spotify. The streaming platform gave me Spotify Wrapped in return: a hodgepodge of data about the music I consumed this past year. My favorite piece of data is their educated guess on my top 10 songs of 2020.

Did their data accurately reflect my taste in music? I’m diving into my top 10 songs of 2020 to give y’all the scorching hot tea.

10. Yummy — Justin Bieber

Having Justin Bieber’s “Yummy” in my top 10 is laughable. Its placement probably has a lot to do with the battle for number one Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” and “Yummy” had back in January.

It’s funny to see how hard Justin Bieber went to try and snatch the number one spot from Roddy Rich. Then, later in the year, as the Black Lives Matter movement became more popular, he posted on Instagram about his support of the BLM movement and how he benefits from Black culture.

“Yummy” isn’t even that great. It’s a mediocre, phoned-in song. It strides the fence well enough not to offend anyone but not wow anyone either.

But, I’m a long-time Justin Bieber fan so of course, I streamed it a few times. Don’t judge.

9. B*tch From Da Souf (Remix) — Mulatto feat. Saweetie & Trina

As a fellow “real ass, rich ass, b*tch from the south”, of course I love this song. It’s a crime that songs like “B*tch From Da Souf” came out during a pandemic. This song would hit at a club on a Friday night amidst the $10 drinks, blaring strobe lights, and a blanket of vape smoke.

Mulatto, Saweetie, and Trina are all fantastic. They’re basically the bad b*tch Avengers and I’m here for it. Seeing Trina on the song was especially great. She’s the blueprint for all these female rappers; she’s “da baddest b*tch”. Until it’s safe to go out clubbing, this will just be my “rapping-in-the-mirror-like-I’m-Issa-Rae” song.

8. Tap In — Saweetie

I love Saweetie. And, the fact that her whole brand is centered around her prettiness: iconic.

Just as “My Type” took over Summer 2019, “Tap In” did the same during Summer 2020 — at least as much as it could during the quarantine.

It’s hard to debate the timelessness of Too Short’s “Blow the Whistle”, the song “Tap In” samples. “Tap In” is a great track that’s fun to listen to no matter what mood I’m in.

7. Baby — Quality Control, Lil Baby feat. Da Baby

Seeing “Baby” surprised me. I never would have guessed this song would be in my top 10. I would take “Drip Too Hard” or “BOP” over “Baby” any day. I understand why it’s on my list though.

I enjoy this song enough to not skip it. And, it’s ridiculously short — like barely over 2 minutes. Before you notice it’s happening, it’s over. Those streams rack up fast.

I ain’t mad at “Baby”; there are worse songs to creep up on your top 10.

6. Know My Rights — 6LACK feat. Lil Baby

6LACK is one of my favorite artists out right now. His music is consistently great. His last full-length album, East Atlanta Love Letter, was one of my favorite projects in recent years. In summer 2020, he released an EP entitled 6pc Hot EP.

“Know My Rights” was my favorite track off of the project (I also liked “Float” and “Long Nights”). I played the heck out of “Know My Rights” all throughout Summer 2020 — so I can totally see how it made my top 10.

5. In The Party — Flo Milli

Flo Milli, by far, is my favorite artist I found in 2020. She’s so energetic and she’s got this great unfriendly black hottie vibe that I love.

“In The Party” is incredible. It’s such a great party song. Along with “B*tch From the Souf”, it’s another track I think hits harder around other people (i.e. club, party, etc.).

Every single time I hear it I want to dance. The song’s also got a stellar first line that gets me hype every time I hear it — it’s almost Shakespearean.

4. SUGAR — BROCKHAMPTON

“SUGAR” is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever heard. Every time I hear it I scrunch my face up like I smelled some onions — it’s that good. I love the beat. I love everyone’s verses. I love the raw emotion of it all. It’s perfect.

The video is also so good: the simplicity, the flipping mirror, the peeks backstage. This is one of those songs I’ll play for my kids and I’ll have to hit them with the, “Kids, y’all don’t know nothing about BROCKHAMPTON…”

3. OUT WEST — JACKBOYS, Travis Scott (feat. Young Thug)

There’s so much going on during “OUT WEST” and you’re just along for this wild ride. I love listening to it. The video’s great too. Like, why is Quincy Jones at the same party Travis Scott is at?

I also may have been trying to learn that Tik Tok dance for a while. That might have something to do with its high placement.

2. Life is Good — Future ft. Drake

Of course “Life is Good” is number 2. I mean, what do you want me to say? It’s Future and Drake! I’m Black and a millennial; I’m contractually obligated to listen to this song at least once a day.

“Life is Good” is a great song. Future had that great line that I couldn’t stop saying: “100 thousand for the cheapest ring on a n***a finger, lil’ b*tch”. It’s so ridiculous, so trashy, but so good.

1. The Box — Roddy Ricch

Like I mentioned earlier, the battle for number one between “The Box” and “Yummy” was a big deal. Because I love messy drama, I placed myself into the situation by streaming “The Box” as much as I could to secure Roddy Ricch the number one spot.

As Issa said, I’m rooting for everybody Black. I’m gonna do my part to secure Roddy’s place in history — and he deserved that number one spot. I regret nothing.

Honorable mentions:

Hit Different — SZA feat. Ty Dolla Sign

SAUCE — Reason feat. Vince Staples

Jobs — City Girls

Fkn Around — Phony Ppl feat. Megan Thee Stallion

What are some of your favorite songs from 2020? What artists are you anticipating releases from in 2021?

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Nia Simone McLeod is a writer, content creator, and pop culture enthusiast from Richmond, Virginia. Follow her on Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram for more dope digital content.