While fans patiently await new music from Kendrick Lamar, Rolling Stone is delving into his discography and celebrating his greatness.
The magazine has ranked the 50 greatest songs from the Compton kingpin, who it calls the “most important and groundbreaking rapper of the last 15 years.” The list spans across his entire catalog, including his mixtapes released prior to his first album, Section.80.
Topping the list is 2012’s “Money Trees” with Jay Rock with its lingering refrain “Ya bish,” described as “one of the most enduring turns-of-phrases in modern pop culture.” 2015’s “Alright” takes the runner-up spot, with the magazine calling it an “anthem for the emerging Black Lives Matter movement.”
The top 10 also includes “Backseat Freestyle” at No. 3, followed by “Swimming Pools (Drank),” hailed as “one of the greatest songs of the past decade.”
“Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” comes in at No. 5, while the top 20 includes “A.D.H.D.” (No. 6), “HUMBLE.” (No. 8), “Loyalty” featuring Rihanna (No. 14), and “King Kunta” (No. 16), as well as lesser known tracks like “Ronald Reagan Era (His Evils)” (No. 9) and “Rigamortis” (No. 10).
The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper is now readying his final TDE album and will join Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige at next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
See which K-Dot cuts made the top 20 and view the full list here.
Kendrick Lamar’s Greatest Songs
1. “Money Trees,” feat. Jay Rock (2012)
2. “Alright” (2015)
3. “Backseat Freestyle” (2012)
4. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” (2012)
5. “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” (2012)
6. “A.D.H.D.” (2011)
7. “Untitled 05 09.21.2014” (2016)
8. “HUMBLE.” (2017)
9. “Ronald Reagan Era (His Evils),” feat. RZA (2011)
10. “Rigamortis” (2011)
11. “Sing About Me (I’m Dying of Thirst)” (2012)
12. “The Blacker the Berry” (2015)
13. “Untitled 02 06.23.2014” (2016)
14. “Loyalty,” feat. Rihanna (2017)
15. “Cartoon & Cereal,” feat. Gunplay (2013)
16. “King Kunta” (2015)
17. “m.A.A.d City,” feat. MC Eiht (2012)
18. “Untitled 07 2014-2016” (2017)
19. “Element” (2017)
20. “FEEL.” (2017)