Supreme Cerebral is just getting started for 2025. After releasing the incredibly dope album with Swab, Son Of Hannibal, he is right back at it! On the joint, Devils Playground, he gets straight to it with the often featured talent of Born Unique, and over a heater from one of our favorite producers, Level 13.
Top 50 Songs Of 2024
Here are some of my favorites songs from 2024 in independent hip hop. Again…not cumulative. I know your tastes my vary but maybe you will see something on the list you didn’t hear and enjoy. Click the song link to be taken to a youtube offering of that track. And as always…support the artist! Off to 2025!
| Song | Artist | Note |
| #1 T.I.M.E. | K-Salaam, JdotL, Wrekonize, & Jae Skeese (ft. D.Lylez) | This is the perfect song. The production is a vibe. The lyricism is fantastic. And the hook bridges perfectly! |
| #2 Oppenheimer | Vega7 The Ronin & Ferris Blusa (prod. by Kalos Beats) | Sometimes you just need a song to slap you in the face…this my friends is that slap. This joint is tough!!! |
| #3 Act Of God | Ed OG (prod. by Tone Spliff) | Our emcee has been doing this a long time…and he still knows how to craft GREAT music. |
| #4 Dangerous | Bobby J From Rockaway & Dom Dirtee | This joint not only knocks but can easily get caught in your head. Infectious. |
| #5 The Magnum | Dan Johns (ft. Amen) | I’ve talked about this song at length. Trust me. Lyrics. Production. This is top notch. |
| #6 Fuck It | Grieves & Mouse Powell | Another anthem for when you can’t care. Exceptional musically and love the horns on this track. |
| #7 Flinch | Locksmith (ft. Ekoh) | If you are feeling like you are on the brink. Don’t give your enemies the satisfaction. Don’t Flinch. |
| #8 Spare Change | J. Lately (ft. Ian Kelly) | The guitar licks. The vibe. And the style make this song play on in your head for days on end. |
| #9 Stupid. Dumb. Illiterate. | Heems (prod. by Lapgan) | This song has so much finesse and a great sound. The production and flow of the track is remarkable. |
| #10 Two Kids | maticulous (ft. Elzhi) | The art of storytelling is not lost in hip hop. Check out this case in point from 2024. |
| #11 OHLawd | J57 (ft. H3RO) | This again is just beautiful music. I love this production , the chorus, and the lyricsm on display here. |
| #12 The Way | Spit Gemz (prod. by Nickel Plated) | Some music gives way to thought and makes you think with another light. This is that! |
| #13 Cadillac | Brother Ali | HipHop is primed to speak on social injustice and Brother Ali does that through his own story. |
| #14 Defiance | Izrell & Dead Perry | Sometimes you just need something epic…dark and epic. |
| #15 Roc Nation Brunch | Marv Won (ft. Freeway) | Great concept, and creating a fun visual through words. Inventive. |
| #16 Delusions Of Grandeur | K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa | This is one of the best pairings of the year and you can hear exactly why on this track! |
| #17 Raised On | Mic Bles & Level 13 (ft. ethemadassassin) | I’ve talked about THIS track at length too. But this that authentic hip hop flavor! |
| #18 Close | M-Dot (ft. Kore) | No one does that “life music” better than M-Dot. He speaks like you are in his shoes. You too are “close”. |
| #19 Crownsville | Rock & Ruste Juxx | The tandem takes you into the streets of Crownsville in the illest way possible. |
| #20 Broken Mirrors | Jae Skeese & Superior | Skeese speaks to me on this one. Wow. Music that makes you feel something is invaluable. |
| #21 My Nephew and I | Nef & Bobby J from Rockaway | This beat from Nef! One of the best, and wow, Bobby J just continues to impress. Sure shot! |
| #22 Courtleigh Chemist | Daniel Son & Finn | Here you have a producer and emcee in perfect step delivering that head nodder. |
| #23 Budda Palm | ZaZa God | “I’m Big Anubis…The Ra Royal!” This track just goes incredibly hard. |
| #24 What I’m Asking | Pro Dillinger | Is your relationship stressing you to the limits? Dillinger taps in. You know you’ve been there. |
| #25 Home | Waterr & Wavy Da Ghawd (ft. Spoda) | One of the hardest working emcees in 2024 delivered many great moments but this is among my favorites. |
| #26 Sins Of The Father | Supreme Cerebral (ft. Eloh Kush and O The Great) (prod. by Swab) | Swab laces a beautiful canvas and these emcees put it to work. One of the best posse cuts this year. |
| #27 Lunar Stroll | CG The Producer (ft. Revalation x MKDel x Lateb) | Let your mind drift as though it was on a space walk. This song will help you. Great song. |
| #28 A Different Kind Of Payne | RJ Payne & BP | Payne gets deep and personal over some eloquent BP production. Hear the inner pain. |
| #29 Lessons | Willie The Kid & VDon (ft. Eto and Rome Streetz) | Another one of the best combos in the game unleashed excellence this year. And this is among the best. |
| #30 Symbiote Suits | Daniel Son & Futurewave | Vicious. This joint is just vicious. If the phantom of the opera hit the streets, this is the epic it will tell. |
| #31 Illuminati Money | Planet Asia & 38 Spesh (ft. Klass Murda and Tristate) | Spesh and Asia win again combining all their superlatives for another banger. This beat and these lyrical skills…wow. |
| #32 Korean Kimchi | Jay Royale (ft. Vega7 The Ronin) | Jay Royale is vastly underrated. Such a talent! Here you can listen to him deliver alongside Vega7 over a really dope production. Love the vocal sample. |
| #33 LoFi | Guttr (Havoc x RJ Payne x Ras Kass) | Hip Hop supergroup put the industry back in it’s place with this one. Lyrical swordplay over some glorious production from Havoc. |
| #34 We Never Believe Anybody | Double Life (L*Roneous x Gennessee) | Two emcees with distinctly different styles that unite to do something so dope…time and time again…favorite song off this year’s project. |
| #35 Green Screen | Copywrite (prod. by Evidence) | Lyricism you are accustomed to from Copy over the years and doing so over the freshest of beats from Ev. |
| #36 The Iron I Toss | The Bad Seed (ft. MIMS x Honey Dinero x Nam Nitty) (prod. by JR Swiftz) | You want a dope posse cut? I got you. 6th Man shit! JR Swiftz laces the production as each emcee shows and proves. |
| #37 Hour After Hour | Tek & Stu Bangas | “No success without sacrifice…life without music” Tek and Stu Bangas created something memorable in 2024 |
| #38 Gucci Gambinos | Mickey Diamond (ft. Pro Dillinger) | Umbrella over everything! Diamond and Dillinger over Big Ghost…you know it’s godly. Super tough. |
| #39 Mask On, Mask Off | Maze Overlay & Swab | Best song off of a great album from 2024. Maze and Swab give you some dope hip hop that knocks. |
| #40 Born Alone, Die Alone | Snak The Ripper | You want to hear the rock bottom of unhinged? Here we go! Snak delivers the darkness in the dopest way possible. |
| #41 Esoteric | Skyzoo | I said it before and I will say it again, Skyzoo is a PROFESSIONAL emcee. You can hear that on this excellent cut! |
| #42 Los Angeles | Blu & Evidence | From their city to yours! Blu and Ev bring a piece of California to your eardrums with their superlative tradecraft. |
| #43 Master Seminar | Eyeree Beats (ft. Jay Royale, Snotty, and Supreme Cerebral) | Producers getting their due on HHD. Beautiful production with right emcees to do the job! |
| #44 OMG | Philmore Green | One of the best albums of the year also has one of the best songs. Great lyricism, production, and scratches. |
| #45 Heat Wave | Murderers Row (Outerspace x King Syze x Reef The Lost Cause) | Really looking forward to this full project. So great to hear these guys deliver such heat on the same song. |
| #46 Money On The Line | Chuck N Lock (prod. by Oppenheimer) | The tandem never fails to deliver bars that make you rewind profusely. A style unto themslves. Genius. |
| #47 So Long | Paradime | Paradime can make some great songs! This one has you reminiscing and singing that chorus alongside him. |
| #48 Listen | V-Styles | Introspective and thought provoking music that will get you to do exactly that…Listen! |
| #49 Blood In, Blood Out | Bozack Morris (ft. Asun Eastwood x Lex Tallonis) | Some songs on this list are just filthy. This song fits that category. Morris unleashes the sinister on this one! |
| #50 The Summit | Kail Problems & DJ Hoppa | Another fiya beat from DJ Hoppa lends itself to another win with Kail Problems delivering bar after dope bar. |
O The Great – Cidade De Deus Pt. 2 (ft. Supreme Cerebral (Video)
O The Great is back with a new video single, Cidade De Deus Pt. 2, featuring long time collaborator, Supreme Cerebral. Here’s they are rocking over a production from appropriately titled producer, Isac No Beat. I say that because we have a drumless production which is either usually excellent, or something I will pass over quick. But since I posted it, you can imagine it is the former. The haunting vocal sample has more than enough charm to it as the emcees supply the artillery to make this joint pop.
Single You Out: Supreme Cerebral – Sins Of The Father (ft. Eloh Kush & O The Great) (prod. by Swab)
I was excited back in April when I heard that Supreme Cerebral and Swab were linking for a project, Son Of Hannibal. I knew this would be a great combination. But then I didn’t hear anything for months. And Supreme Cerebral was sharing music from other projects, and I just assumed it was tabled…but that’s what I get for assuming. With the release of the single, Sins Of The Father, we get another taste of what is possible…this beat by Swab is sensational. I love the vocal loop. And Cerebral, Eloh Kush, and O the Great drop scorching verses.
This album is going to be a sure shot. Dropping in January!
Single You Out: Supreme Cerebral – Build Or Destroy (ft. Alphabetic)
A new single from Supreme Cerebral produced by The Architect and with guest bars from Alphabetic. The production is subdued and presents a laid back canvas for the emcees for the emcees to Build Or Destroy.
This is cloth made by angel wings / I’m nice with words from A to Z / Amazingly I’m flavory / Yet wicked as some slavery / It pays to be pervasively aware / Over drum and snare…
Single You Out: Eyeree Beats – Master Seminar (Ft. Jay Royale, Snotty & Supreme Cerebral)
Again, not an “official” single but I really wanted to share and spotlight this track from Eyeree Beats project, .Wav Gawd. Master Seminar is another tough track this year with some serious hitters on the mic. Jay Royale, Snotty, and Supreme Cerebral, hop on some intoxicating production from Eyeree and leave those scorching sixteens. This joint is simply bulletproof and I hope you enjoy and cop the project.
Single You Out: Grime Lords – Polo Duffle (ft. Supreme Cerebral)

It’s that hardbody hip hop coming from a couple of the heaviest hitters in the Virginia hip hop scene. Born Unique and Pete Twist have been honing their craft and bring you that raw for years as the Grime Lords. Hard hitting drums, and a piano riff lead the way for Unique and west coast powerhouse Supreme Cerebral to lick shots over. This is a tough track and I would expect nothing less.
Single You Out: Supreme Cerebral – Never Let You Go (prod. by The Kurse)
Supreme Cerebral and The Kurse release a soulful steez for the track Never Let You Go. The initial feel from The Kurse’s production is that this going to be a laid back track, but Cerebral’s pen game is always the sharpest blade and prone to cutting the competition on any sound scape.
Supreme Cerebral & Swab – Grimy Life (ft. Big Twins) (Video)
Supreme Cerebral and Swab are linking up for a project called the Son Of Hannibal, and I am very excited for this one. I think the vicious flows of Cerebral make a great pairing with Swab’s production! You can hear it here with Big Twins linking up for the track, Grimy Life. That somber piano loop, those drums, and those grimy flows say it all! This is a highlight foe 2024.
50 Best Songs Of 2022
Lists of this magnitude are tough to do and I take a great deal of pride in crafting. I think the first ten to fifteen are easy to distinguish and then after, I think the places can be somewhat become interchangeable. All great tracks, where the pecking order becomes less discernible. So many artists could have been included multiple times on this list, but then we lose depth. Artists like Mickey Diamond and Jay Royale could have had multiple entries. As it stands only one emcee, Ransom, got two tracks selected for this list.
In the end, this is a testament to the strength of hip hop in 2022. We can agree to disagree on many points but maybe you will find something dope you hadn’t heard or a new artist to support. This is my hope.
Thanks for your time and readership!
-Stef aka thathiphopguy
| Song | Artist | Notes |
| #1 – Done | M-Dot & Apollo Brown | This is the track that sets the tone for the entire year and this is what M-Dot and Apollo Brown typify: Hard work and talent! |
| #2 – Unruly | Vandal & Nottz | A song that gets caught in the head and does not let go. It is a personal anthem. |
| #3 – Power Nap | Nicholas Craven & Boldy James | Boldy and Craven is a beautiful union and nobody makes me crave a little rest like this cut. Beautiful music. |
| #4 – A Most Dreadful Symphony | Ransom & V Don | This song’s whole vibe gives me chills. |
| #5 – Chain Gretzky | Mickey Diamond & Big Ghost | No song went harder than this in 2022. |
| #6 – War I Bring | Sherm LaRock & Midaz | No song went harder than this in 2022…except above |
| #7 – Area 57 (ft. Skyzoo) | J57 | Dope rhymes. Fluid flows. A Change Up. Perfect. |
| #8 – Qtna | Defcee & Boathouse | From the best album of 2022, you would expect a Top 10 song. |
| #9 – Highly Favored (ft. Bub Styles & Mickey Diamond) | Ty Farris & Slim One | It’s raw hip hop with a fantastic producer and three consummate emcees. |
| #10 – Linchpins (ft. Prince Po) | Guilty Simpson | The strings are glorious and the rhymes abound. |
| #11 – Everywhere I Go (ft. Muja Messiah, Guilty Simpson, and Copywrite) | Dub Sonata | The connections and cohesion on this joint are unparalleled. So clever! |
| #12 – Paint Pictures (J.Rocc Remix) | XP The Marxman | Hip-Hop holds true to it’s purest form on this joint. |
| #13 – The Most Exalted | IAMGAWD | Pen game is strong with this one. Glorious. |
| #14 – 3x | Madhattan & NV | Pied Piper type smooth. Follow the flute and dope flow. |
| #15 – Sal’s Pizza | 38 Spesh & Harry Fraud | Spesh and Fraud are an elite combination, and you can hear it here. |
| #16 – Why Bitch | Starvin B & DustyVibes | Starvin B is a regular on these lists and this year is no different. |
| #17 – No Time To Waste (ft. Jadakiss) | Apathy & Stu Bangas | If you love sick lyricism this is the joint for you. |
| #18 – Cancel Myself | Ren Thomas & Brutal Caesar | You make a mockery of hip hop so Thomas and Caesar make a mockery of you. |
| #19 – Immortals (ft. Casual) | Lunar Heights | Great track and the Casual cameo is spot on. |
| #20 – Keeper Of The Flame | Mooch & Oh Jay | Smooth track and crisp flow. |
| #21 – Gunsmithz (ft. Phat Kat, Asun Eastwood, Recognize Ali) | Ol’ Man 80zzz | Another track in 2022 that knocks harder than most. |
| #22 – Stuck In Our Ways (ft. Rigz, MAV, Mooch) | Real Bad Man | It’s Da Cloth!!! Flames! |
| #23 – Carlito & Kleinfeld | Jay Royale & Kool G Rap | It’s that certified street shit featuring a legend with one of today’s strongest. |
| #24 – Bone Tomahawk | Spit Gemz | This is an intro to Gemz project and packs a lot of heat in a minute’s time. |
| #25 – Fire Slingers (ft. Snak The Ripper) | N.B.S. | Yeah. This track stays true to the namesake. They are spitting flames on here. |
| #26 – Scud Missle | Planet Asia & Snowgoons | Legends unite to give you this heat rock. These guys are at the pinnacle of their craft. |
| #27 – Roar Of The Lions | El Gant | Another track that just “feels” like hip hop. It gets you hype to be a fan. |
| #28 – Slay | Johaz & Nottz | Nottz does it again this time taking you to church with Johaz. |
| #29 – Dis Could Be Bad | MAV | It could be bad, but MAV is oh so good. |
| #30 – Raekwon’s Table | Ullnevano & God Sense Beats | Not all are worthy to sit at Raekwon’s Table. But these artists show and prove. |
| #31 – Lo Pan | Teek Hall | Teek Hall is name you should know and when this song gets caught in your head, you’ll remember. |
| #32 – Hans Gruber (ft. Lil Fame) | Wais P & Pete Twist | Bruce Willis may not approve but the hip hop community agrees this is a banger. |
| #33 – Diamond Backs (ft. Daniel Son) | Maze Overlay | Northside and AZ link up over some Farma heat. |
| #34 – Compromised | Ransom | Ransom is too talented to not make this list twice. |
| #35 – Guerrero (ft. Westside Gunn) | Benny the Butcher | The power and talent of Griselda is undeniable. This joint feels like it was actually made in a lab. |
| #36 – Triple Threat (ft. RIM & Frankky Smaccz) | Eddie Kaine | Flamethrower bars over some production from the talented Hobgoblin. |
| #37 – Both Sides | The Tangiers | Every time this cut comes on, my head nods instantly. Drops heavy. |
| #38 – One Bridge (ft. Fashawn & K-Prez) | Snowgoons | The organ that drives this track is the perfect set up. And the emcees give such great energy! |
| #39 – Bars After Bars | Fatt Father & DJ Jewels Baby | The Wu-Tang flip is insane and the bars and flow speak for themselves. |
| #40 – Museum Piece (ft. Torae) | Napoleon Da Legend & Just Music Beats | This song has the necessary hype and talent equivalent to make the list. Lyricism for days. |
| #41 – Hamster Wheel | Locksmith | One of the most authentic artists in hip hop delivers a virtuoso performance. |
| #42 – Tyrant | Shabaam Sahdeeq & John Jigg$ | Two of my favorites link up for some lyrical gold here. |
| #43 – Dudesovadere (ft. Dro Pesci) | Mic Handz | This project is full of bangers and needs to be heard. This is just one of those harbody tracks. |
| #44 – Too Convinced | Nelson Dialect & BigBob | This joint is just so melodic. It honestly should be higher on this list but what’s done is done. Incredible track. |
| #45 – Queens Gambit | Shaz Illyork & Buon Anni | So good to hear Illyork over these banging beats from Buon Anni. |
| #46 – Big Coffins (ft. Mickey Diamond and Pro Dillinger) | Snotty | It’s The Umbrella posse cut that bodies the competition. |
| #47 – Bill and Fame (ft. Tone Spliff) | The Bad Seed | A tribute of sorts to M.O.P. and no one is more set to do it properly than Seed! |
| #48 – Riot | Daniel Son x Futurewave x 36 Cypher | Yes. This joint could easily cause a riot. Everything is intense on this cut. |
| #49 – It’s Like That (ft. DJ Grazzhoppa) | Supreme Cerebral | Supreme Cerebral slays tracks and he takes this rock infused beat and wreaks havoc. |
| #50 – Gawds Wrath Massacre (ft. Don Streat x Rico Blox x J Fliz x Jae Hussle x Street Da Villain) | Slik Jack & Kng Bondalero) | I needed to set off the list with this ill posse cut because this beat by Bondalero is an anthem. |

