New York City Rap Songs of 2019

The shit I slapped all year

Envy Caine - “11AM in Williamsburg”

In New York, everyone knows a kid who brings up Loaded Lux and old Meek Mill freestyles in rap arguments. Envy Caine, a battle rapper disguised as a drill rapper, is that person in Brooklyn. For a rapper that’s supposed to be one of N.Y.’s drill staples, Envy Caine is most comfortable when he’s not tackling one of the subgenre’s rumbling instrumentals. “11AM in Williamsburg” works because Envy embraces his dustiness. Yes, you can tell he’s listened to Fabolous’ There Is No Competition series one too many times, but we can give him a pass. Don’t run from your calling. 

Signature Bars: “I hate when they talk about me, it’s behind my back, they never mention I’m great/I’m way too paranoid I hear the wrong noises I start grippin’ my waist” 

Dee Aura - “Money Money”

I ride for Queens rap. Dee Aura taps into that outer borough life, where there’s not much else to do besides drive around the whip desperately looking for places where you can flex the drip you acquired with that pyramid scheme bread. 

Signature Bars: “I got 10 different ways to get a bankroll”  

MIKE - “Take Crowns”

How MIKE made a song that feels as hopeful as “Take Crowns” in the midst of so much pain I’ll never know. 

Signature Bar: “Time turn to prayers, how funny shit can change/Took a days amount, my eyes full of strain/Supposed to help with me, but we was never trained” 

Chucky73 and Fetti031 - “Didi”

Chucky73 and Fetti031 are from the Bronx, but they essentially make Spanish language drill music infused with dembow. We’re months away from a video leaking online of these two passing a bottle to Gary Sanchez at the strip club. 

Signature Bar: I don’t know what they’re saying, but it slaps trust me 

^Art

Hawa - “Kill Some” 

Born in Berlin and raised in New York, Hawa hasn’t dropped much music, but everything she’s touched so far is heat. And you know once that Tony Seltzer tag drops, those drums are about to crank. 

Signature Bar: “Cuz she a real one!”

Lil Tecca - “Amigo”

To many, Lil Tecca is the bracefaced, four-eyed kid that looks like he should be live streaming on Twitch. But he’s actually good at this music shit, and he loves rap, which you can tell by his influences: Speaker Knockerz, Chief Keef, the entire city of Toronto. You probably know him because of “Ransom,” but dive into his production credits on SoundCloud, or listen to “Amigo.” That flute jeez. 

Signature Bar: “Boy, you beggin’ for attention, you ain’t really poppin’” 

Flee - “Swish/Use 2” [ft. Brent Faiyaz] 

I’ve seen your Spotify 2019 wrapped. So it’s time to stop pretending that you’re above some petty anthems. I always look forward to hearing Flee croon about why his latest flings don’t deserve his trust or loyalty. Toxicity is in the air. 

Signature Bar: “Niggas wanna act like me, niggas wanna rap like me, niggas wanna flex like me, wanna count that check like me”

Pop Smoke “Dior”

Pop Smoke can only name two clothing brands. His rapping is amateurish but coming along. And he’s yet to prove that he can make a song that doesn’t sound like the nearly identical ad-lib marathons that were pieced together and labeled his debut mixtape, Meet The Woo. But none of that matters: “Dior” is going to live forever in New York. 

Signature Bar: “Wait, wait, wait, wait, ayy, woo (Aw, shit)”

*Funk Flex Voice*

Polo Perks - “For Real”

Polo Perks hails from New York’s Lower East Side and makes short and grim rap songs that speak to an underground that still exists in the city. 

Signature Bar: “I remember they hated on me, I can’t wait to pop out in the wraith I’m gon’ shit” 

Young M.A - “BIG”

Young M.A is the coolest rapper. She has conversations with herself on a beat, and it’s cool. She’s the last rapper alive that loves doing radio freestyles, and it’s cool. She once directed a porno, and that was kind of cool, too. “BIG” is cool because Young M.A is cool, and there are a lot of rappers in New York that desperately wish to be cool, but with Young M.A, being cool is effortless. 

Signature Bar: “Double cup of carrot juice/Oh that’s my savage juice” 

Flex that health on us!

Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow - “For Love” (unreleased)

Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow both dropped solo mixtapes this year, but their leaks hold a special place in my heart. “For Love” is their best leak, as the duo handle the overwhelming feeling that they have to hide their emotions to survive on the streets. Like Master P says, “Gangstas need love too.”

Signature Bar: “Know a nigga got some feelings in him can’t express a lot ’cause he a thug” 

^random pic of Jada

Medhane - “Routine”

Gas. Medhane has the bars. Kahlil Blu has the beats. Run that back. 

Signature Bar: “I was by my lonesome/New problems in the way of all the old ones” 

Pasto Flocco - “Catch Up”

Pasto Flocco’s SoundCloud page is my safe space. It’s where I run to when the rap options are overwhelming. It’s like opening a bag of chips with a promise to myself that I’ll only eat one. 

Signature Bar: “You don’t need me every situation you exaggerate/I need a bag today, you get the cash today, I hit a jugg today, oh what’s the facts today” 

Goya Gumbani - “Process of Elimination” [ft. Adé Hakim]

The fuck, just bounce to this.

Signature Bar: Can’t even pick just run it 

YL - “A Long Afternoon”

Let me lace up my Nike ACGs, zip up my North Face bubble coat, and fold the gray brim of my Yankee fitted. 

Signature Bar: “I might just take that flight to Ecuador/Smoke that same shit you got arrested for/Dummy”

Smoove L - “OUU AHH 3 Wordz” 

Oh, so you thought New York was only composed of two genres, huh? Drill music and that shit where they sing like A Boogie. Right? Uh, well you were right. But Smoove L does both at the same damn time. Sing to me about drilling! 

Signature Bar: “All the bad in my past I done been through it/It’s so sad how they mad I’m an influence” 

^ Fivio using chopsticks

Fivio Foreign - “Big Drip”

Everytime I watch the “Big Drip” video, all I can think about is how I love this city. Outside of the Shake Shack in gentrified downtown Brooklyn, Fivio and the whole gang are hitting that footwork, probably startling a bunch of Pratt students in the process. Never change, New York. 

Signature Bar: “Bitch I’m on demon time!” 

Thanks for reading me. Email or hmu if u tryna argue. So much great music.