A REFLECTION ON 2021: 40 STANDOUT RAP SINGLES FROM WOMEN AND NON-CISHET MALE ARTISTS OF 2021
As 2021 came to a close, the emergence of “Top 10” and “Top 100” lists came out from every publication in every crevice of the media realm. All of these lists are subjective — true albeit that most are written by white men and white-operated publications. Through that mix, many wonderful creators who have supported, if not created music and hip-hop culture are thrown stray from recognition. One small underground publication, in particular, set me off as it released a “Top 100 Rap Singles'' list with only participants being non-Cishet males. In response, here is a list showcasing only a small fraction of the Black women and nonbinary musicians that shaped hip hop music in 2021 and everything in its reach with little to no recognition.
Here are 10 stand-out tracks from this past year, not ranked in any given order, along with a playlist in the end.
STANDING OVATION by Little Simz
Little Simz arguably released a top ten album last year, and despite acclaim from both critics and fans, Introvert didn’t get the buzz it deserved. Introvert stood out not just because of its conceptual structure, but specifically because so many cuts on this album sound epic. The orchestration constantly clashes with Simz’ abrasiveness. “Standing Ovation” is particularly excellent. A rework of a Just Blaze beat, it’s inventive through its use of the sample redone with an orchestra with backing vocals that sound like cherubs sprinkled in during small pauses. Following a strong narrative, Simz comes on guns blazing — completely obliterating all that is in her path.
Dangerous by Ivy Sole
Ivy Sole has been flying under the radar for a minute, even though she released one of the best EPs of 2020 with Southpaw. 2021 saw the North Carolina wordsmith grow not only musically but personally and “Dangerous” perfectly illustrates that self-grown. The track is a vivid musical experience showcasing the rapper’s relationship with love in tandem with danger. This song is tender and vulnerable beyond belief. The beat is subtle and smooth with these little sound effects that morph and adjust to the tone as the song progresses. With the light and airy poetry, Ivy Sole sprinkles over the instrumental, you get this sense of vulnerability and compassion with the rapper and, as the song comes to the closing crescendo you feel a sensation of closure as well.
Jumpin by Jean Deaux
Jean Deaux, not pronounced Jane or Dux, is one of the most well-known names in the Chicago music scene, who you can count on to release a new Ep every year, with 2021’s excellent Most Wanted being the crown jewel of the bunch. The album’s opener “Jumpin” showcases Deaux’s wordplay as well as her flow being able to get any listener up and moving. “Jumpin” is as assertive as it is smooth with Deaux showcasing that she is a wordsmith to be reckoned with.
An Invocation for Beginnings by Pink Navel
Hailing from the most midwestern of midwestern small towns, Pink Navel is arguably one of the most prolific and creative voices in hip-hop this moment. Hailing from the Ruby Yacht, the poet gang, Pink Navel stands out through their DIY production and vocal delivery that often sounds like an anime protagonist shouting out the names of their attacks. Pink Navel is sincere In every aspect of their music with a tone and style influenced heavily by a love of midwestern emo and Cartoon Network. Their music is warm as it is entertaining and AN INVOCATION FOR BEGINNINGS is this passionate, encouraging call to artists as well as themself to create with no fear and no boundaries. The track is immensely down to earth and comes off as a hymnal, a chant calling for strength through trial.
Rainforest by Noname
Rainforest is a narrative essay jam-packed into a two and half minute song. With a flow dancing over a Kount beat like raindrops over sediment, Noname speaks her truth and is upfront with harsh social realities. “How you defending billionaires, you broke on the bus”. A bar that hits so close to home, it makes you take a step back and analyze who is defending who and why. Noname has been one of the most formidable rappers among her peers for the last decade and something that makes Noname special is her transparency between fans and critics. Noname has been right about many things, controversial albeit, but the rapper has utilized her position these last few years critiquing the imperialist, capitalist core of the United States and how that hegemony has bled into hip-hop and the music industry in general.
Beating Down Yo Block by Monaelo
Monaelo’s “Beating Down Yo Block” gave me the same impression as the first time I heard Flo Milli’s “Beef FloMix.” It’s an aggressive, southern-style, punch-in-the-mouth that left me on the floor with my head bobbing, wanting more. Houston native Monaelo is new to the game but “Beating Down Yo Block” is already a heavy nod to the rapper’s charisma and character. Sampling Houston legend Yungstar, the beat is a rework of his song “Knocking Pictures Off da Wall”, and the edit is almost like a perfected modern version of the original acting as the gasoline fueling Monaelos anger anthem that yearns to blow out every car speaker in the 281 area code.
Made A Circle by Moor Mother
An insane collaboration would be an understatement. The visceral production from Philadelphia’s Moor Mother brings together two of rap’s most underrated and new lyricists from opposite sides of the coast with a chorus beautifully sung by Orion Sun. “Made A Circle” assembles four artists incredibly confident in their own individual crafts, synergetically tackling this cohesive theme of generational trauma. Circling the same issues they’re currently undergoing that their elders went through and how this will continue with their kin, but as the trauma circulates, so comes wisdom from the previous kinfolk as defined with the haunting chorus line “They made a circle of sage and gold”. A beautiful and haunting song that could only be crafted by the aforementioned women and their art.
Aye by Mereba
Mereba is omnipotent beyond comprehension and her accolades include writing the greatest song ever to exist: “Sandstorm”. Mereba specializes in beautiful guitar ballads, but the Atlanta writer also has one of the most underrated pen games currently; capable of writing impeccably hard lines as demonstrated in her time on the Spillage Village albums. Her E.P. AZEB showcases the artist’s range in songwriting, singing, and especially rapping with “Aye” standing out with the hardest bars. Lines such as “There are buds on my fingertips growin' beautiful things, there are thieves on my pillow pluckin' my peace while I sleep, I got armor inside, I see snakes 'fore they jump. I got ancestral ties. We could knuck if you buck” showcase the rapper’s clear sense of inspiration of her community and her southern musical and spiritual roots with the line referencing Crime Mob.
It’s Not My Choice by Mykki Blanco
Mykki Blanco is one of the most important rappers from the last decade. Their journey since their debut mixtapes in 2012 demonstrate Blanco’s personal struggle with gender identity, navigating the music scene as an underground Queer rapper, and living with H.I.V. Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep finds Blanco in a much more grounded and confident place in life and “It’s Not My Choice” is a beautiful telling of the artist's experience dealing with love over beautiful Blood Orange production. The track demonstrates a vulnerability Mykki puts into their bars, a sensation that any listers can immediately relate to.
Body of Water by Tierra Whack
Tierra Whack can best be described as an enigma. Someone whose career makes no sense in a typical music industry sense. Starting off as a freestyling champion over the internet to skyrocketing to one of the heaviest hitters in rap currently, her releases are inconsistent in scheduling but consistent with content. “Body of Water” by Tierra Whack is one of the most out-of-pocket and eccentric songs in the Philidelphia rappers collection. Continuing the trend of Whacks obscure use of metaphors and play on words all with the spirit of a beat from an early Outkast album. We were blessed with three Tierra Whack bodies of work this year and “Body of Water” is truly the black sheep of them all.
Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hllxBpTl58B4O08YKeRLD?si=7d6d2c39ad2c430a