It’s time to recap a year of incredible music across genres. Below, you’ll find our list of the 50 best songs of 2023. Listen to our picks below and listen to all of the selections in our official playlist.

And stay tuned—later this week we’ll be running through the 50 best albums of 2023.

Notes:

The songs are listed in alpha order by artist
Selections were based on the taste of our curation and content teams
Your favorite song didn’t make the cut? Let us know on Twitter @audiomack.

Asake — "Lonely At The Top"

A breakout single from Asake’s second studio album Work of Art, “Lonely At The Top” took the continent by storm and became the biggest streaming song in Audiomack history.

Axel Merryl — "Kimi"

The Beninese influencer turned singer became an instant star in his native Benin with his compas anthem “Kimi.”

Bad Bunny — "MONACO"

“MONACO” proves why Bad Bunny was just crowned “The King of Pop.” The song is the perfect formula for a hit; combining the star’s unequivocal voice, catchy lyrics, and a captivating trap beat.

Beauty School Dropout — "dying to be you"

Drawing inspiration from personal struggles, “dying to be you” sees the rock trio exploring the futility of seeking escape as a solution to life’s difficulties.

BNXN, Seyi Vibes & Kizz Daniel — "GWAGWALADA"

Three Nigerian juggernauts enter from Abuja to let us know just how good life could be in Gwagwalada.

Brent Faiyaz & Coco Jones — "Moment of Your Life"

A year removed from WASTELAND, Brent Faiyaz returns to drop a masterclass in chemistry with breakout R&B songstress Coco Jones.

Busy Signal — "God Is Amazing"

Jamaican dancehall star Busy Signal pivots from his signature upbeat party anthems to offer heartfelt gratitude for God’s blessings on the introspective “God Is Amazing.”

Byron Messia — "Talibans"

Is it dancehall? The only thing we’re certain of is that the St. Kitts native’s grimy anthem was the Caribbean song of the summer.

Crayon and Ayra Starr — "Ngozi"

Crayon and Ayra Starr’s instant classic “Ngozi” was the centerpiece of the Nigerian star’s latest album Trench to Triumph.

Dax — "To Be A Man"

Canadian artist Dax's single "To Be a Man" dropped earlier this year, expressing his struggle to hide his true self while hoping to explain the complication of manhood.

Dave & Central Cee — "Sprinter"

Two of the hottest names in the UK trade verses about overseas trips, indigestion from too much good eating, and having too many girls to fit in one vehicle.

Davido & Musa Keys — "UNAVAILABLE"

A cross-continent collab between the Nigerian global star and versatile Amapiano riser Musa Keys, “UNAVAILABLE” was the biggest moment from Africa’s biggest event album of the year.

Dei V & Bryant Myers — "Narcotics"

“Narcotics” caused the public to no longer ask “Who Is Dei V?” and agree that he is on his way to becoming one of Musica Urbana’s next big global superstars.

Diamond Platnumz — "Yatapita"

The Tanzanian kingpin had another year filled with hits, but January’s “Yatapita,” a classic piece of Bongo Flava, was a standout anthem in 2023.

ELEMENT EleéeH, Bruce Melodie & Ross Kana — "FOU DE TOi"

Rwandan super producer turned artist ELEMENT EleéeH had a monster summer anthem in collaboration with Bruce Melodie and Ross Kana.

Gunna — "fukumean"

Following his triumphant homecoming, the chart-topping hit asserted Gunna’s dominance throughout the summer, solidifying his glorious comeback.

Hailey Whitters — "Everything She Ain’t"

Reclaiming girl power amid candid heartbreak, Whitters brings her signature relatability and empowerment in spades on the lively, pop-infused “Everything She Ain’t.”

Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj — "Princess Diana"

At this point, it’s obvious that everything Ice Spice touches turns to gold.

Johnny Drille — Believe Me

Nigeria’s Johnny Drille turns brill building pop into a rousing Afropop ode to love, which dominated the charts throughout the summer.

JZyNo — "Butta My Bread"

Few African songs this year impacted every corner of the continent like “Butta My Bread,” the bright love song from new Liberia trailblazer JZyNo.

Kamo Mphela, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison, Baby S.O.N — "Dalie"

This viral hit took over South Africa and secured Kamo Mphela as a quintessential voice in the Amapiano scene.

Karan Aujla & Ikky — "Softly"

A groovy progressive Punjabi track on the Making Memories album that took the world by storm and triggered a viral dance moment.

KAROL G — "MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO"

Colombian superstar Karol G has had an incredible year. Breaking various records and making history by becoming the first-ever Latin artist to sell out back-to-back shows at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium, the MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO standout is an anthem for better days.

Kcee — "Ojapiano"

The hypnotizing classic Igbo flute paired with the Amapiano beat make this a crossover between the two hottest scenes on the continent.

Khaid & Boy Spyce — "Carry Me Go"

Fusing Afropop and R&B, rising Nigerian stars Khaid and Boy Spyce’s infectious “Carry Me Go” glides on breezy melodies and rich harmonies as the pair croon a romantic invitation to whisk away a lover to paradise.

Lana Del Rey — "Say Yes to Heaven"

When “Say Yes to Heaven” leaked online over a decade after its original recording, fans begged for its official release. We’re glad Lana obliged as the single quickly became her biggest of the decade so far.

Landon Barker — "Friends With Your EX"

Delivering pop-punk angst with his debut single “Friends With Your EX,” Landon Barker delivers an earwormy anthem for a young, forbidden love.

Latto & Cardi B — "Put It On Da Floor Again"

It is the year of adding a big feature to a big song and making it even bigger. Few remixes went bigger than Latto’s Cardi B-assisted viral smash.

Lekan — "Need Somebody"

As long as we have R&B crooners like Lekan preserving the dirty mack legacy in R&B, we gon’ be alright.

Libianca, Ayra Starr & Omah Lay — "People (Remix)"

Libianca’s massive breakthrough hit got the Nigerian superstar remix treatment thanks to Ayra Starr and Omah Lay.

Lil Yachty — "Strike"

Lil Boat makes a splashy return to his rap roots, leaving behind the genre-bending voyage of his psychedelic rock album Let’s Start Here.

Malie Donn — "V6"

Hailing from the parish of St. Catherine, newcomer Malie Donn had the world chanting along to the catchy tune of “A V6 pon e toll road.”

Mercy Chinwo — "Wonder"

The Nigerian gospel artist released her highly anticipated single “Wonder,” inspiring listeners to face obstacles with faith and positivity.

Morgan Wallen — "Last Night"

Morgan Wallen smashed a nostalgic acoustic riff with a hip-hop beat to create one of the biggest country records of 2023.

Myke Towers — "LALA"

It only takes one time to listen to “LALA” to understand why it became an instant classic. The reggaeton/pop fusion rhythm will have you singing out loud even when you least expect it.

Nailah Blackman & Skinny Fabulous — "Come Home"

The joyful collaboration dominated the internet and served as the perfect soundtrack for Carnival 2023 celebrations.

olivetheboy — "Goodsin"

One of the best (and biggest) surprises of the year was the success of “Goodsin,” the breakthrough from Ghanaian newcomer olivetheboy that makes sinning sound heavenly.

Peso Pluma & Grupo Frontera — "TULUM"

The superstars joined forces on “TULUM,” the norteño-pop song that references Enrique Iglesias’ 2014 hit “Bailando,” propelling Musica Mexicana’s global success.

RajahWild — "Wild Out"

The buzzing with energy “Wild Out” marked RajahWild as a promising talent to watch in the dancehall scene for 2024.

Russ — "Fire"

Russ ventures into the realm of soft rock, showcasing his versatility and proving his storytelling skills know no genre bounds.

Rylo Rodriguez — "Equal Dirt"

With all the soulful gusto of the Deep South, the Mobile rapper puts his spin on an adage as old as the times: “If lovin’ you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.”

Sabi Bhinder — "Desi Hood"

Balancing rural Punjabi pride and hip-hop swagger, “Desi Hood” perfectly set the tone for Sabi Bhinder's album Walk in Victory.

Sexyy Red — "SkeeYee"

“If you see me and you tryna see what’s up (skeeyeeeee)”

Skepta — "Can't Play Myself (A Tribute To Amy)"

Skepta releases a touching tribute to Amy Winehouse with this soulful house record, exemplifying his foray into the dance world alongside his new label Mas Tiempo.

S.O.N. Music — "Darling Jesus"

The infectious and catchy gospel tune featuring Neeja gained momentum from a viral moment that brought well-deserved attention to the talented artists behind it.

Teejay — "Drift"

The Uptop Boss goes fast and furious with a song-dance combo that caused mayhem all summer.

Toosii — "Favorite Song"

You may have been living under a rock if this wasn’t your “Favorite Song” at least once this year.

Veeze — "Not A Drill"

“Not a Drill” boasts an infectious, detached coolness over energetic, drill-ready production.

Victoria Monét — "On My Mama"

Were you really outside this summer if you weren’t trying to get in on the viral “On My Mama” dance challenge?

Young Nudy & 21 Savage — "Peaches & Eggplants”

Two of Atlanta’s most menacing collaborators turn in a fruit-and-veggie-themed strip club anthem for the ages.

KCEE

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