Rap-Up.com || Rap-Up’s 10 Best Songs of 2011

Familiar faces, breakout stars, and Young Money dominated the charts in 2011. We scoured our playlists and Spotify when looking back on the past year in hip-hop and R&B, and finally narrowed it down to 10 songs that had us pushing play over and over again.

Drake ignited a plethora of remixes with “Marvin’s Room,” including a standout version from JoJo that rivaled the original. Nicki Minaj had everyone from Taylor Swift to eight-year-old British girls singing along to her Pink Friday hit “Super Bass.” Rihanna found love in a hopeless place and at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, Chris Brown made a triumphant return with “Look at Me Now,” and Jay-Z and Kanye West gave Paris a new anthem.

We count down our 10 favorite songs of the past year.

10. “Swim Good” – Frank Ocean
9. “Party” – Beyoncé feat. André 3000
8. “I’m on One” – DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross, & Lil Wayne
7. “Marvin’s Room” – Drake/JoJo
6. “Motivation” – Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne
5. “My Last” – Big Sean feat. Chris Brown
4. “Look at Me Now” – Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
3. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj
2. “We Found Love” – Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
1. “Ni**as in Paris” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

What were your favorite songs of 2011? Share your picks below.

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89 Comments

RealFirro
January 4th, 2012 at 7:30 am
“we found love” the best *o*

[Reply]
WatchTheThrone Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@RealFirro, nah imo it should be
10. Echoes of Silence- The Weeknd
9. XO/The Host- The Weeknd
8. Loft Music- The Weeknd
7. Trust Issues (Remix)- The Weeknd
6. Montreal- The Weeknd
5. Initiation- The Weeknd
4. The Fall- The Weeknd
3. High for This- The Weeknd
2. The Zone- The Weeknd
1. Wicked Games- The Weeknd

but i’m probably too much of a weeknd stan :P

[Reply]
RealFirro Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 4:45 am
@WatchTheThrone, jaja the weeknd overdose :X

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roman zolanski Reply:
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:47 am
@WatchTheThrone, that is mad ghetto

[Reply]
AEROL
January 4th, 2012 at 7:31 am
SUPERBASS= NO CREDIBILITY

[Reply]
Jordan Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 7:35 am
@AEROL, you = pressed

[Reply]
MikeJr_TM Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
@AEROL, Ahh shut the hell up you bum hoe.

[Reply]
callmemontana Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 10:57 am
@AEROL, +100

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roman zolanski Reply:
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:48 am
@AEROL, why you hating

[Reply]
Giamma
January 4th, 2012 at 7:32 am
I foresee meltdowns!

Loves it! lol

We found love on Rap-up!

[Reply]
Jordan
January 4th, 2012 at 7:34 am
Yessss for Superior Bass!

[Reply]
Natalia
January 4th, 2012 at 7:35 am
1,2,3,4,9 The Best!!!

[Reply]
roman zolanski Reply:
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:48 am
@Natalia, i agree

[Reply]
J
January 4th, 2012 at 7:39 am
Swim good shud b higher

[Reply]
Naia
January 4th, 2012 at 7:45 am
isn’t super bass from 2010 :O

[Reply]
Chris Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 8:02 am
@Naia, kind of, the album dropped late 2010 bt Superbass became a single in 2011

[Reply]
common
January 4th, 2012 at 7:52 am
mindless beh–mrs right
wale ft mguel- lotus fire bomb
miguel– sure thing
diggy ft jere– where did she go
kelly ft wayne– motivation
kanye&jay– ni**gas in paris
beyonce ft kanye n andre– party
big sean ft c.brown– my last
rihanna- man down
trey ft drake– unusual
Kanye ft rihanna,cudi,fergie, keys,e.john= all of the lights

[Reply]
brandon Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 9:24 am
@common, your list>>>>>>>

i definetely didnt relize how many were missing from rap-up’s list (sure thing, all of the lights, motivation, man down

but i wont bxtch about it like other ppl on this site

[Reply]
DEYSHUN Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@brandon, Motivation is on the list

[Reply]
my name is oo
January 4th, 2012 at 8:15 am
PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY ! BEYONCE IS THE BEST OF ALL TIME!

[Reply]
my name is oo Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 8:20 am
@my name is oo, My Favorite songs of 2011 are the songs on beyonce’s album 4 ;)

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barb of nicki minaj
January 4th, 2012 at 8:22 am
oh yes SUPER BASS < that needs to be no.1 !! and pink friday needs to be no.1 cuz nicki is DOPE and she is the best female rapper since missy in 04 !!! BELEDATTTTTTTT !!!

[Reply]
2tall
January 4th, 2012 at 8:40 am
Watch the Throne stay winning…#Dontbemad

[Reply]
coolio
January 4th, 2012 at 8:47 am
Another horrible list. Frank Ocean’s Songs for Women is song of the year!

[Reply]
Lauryn
January 4th, 2012 at 8:49 am
You Have NO Musical Taste Rap-Up. Rihanna, please tell me what musical-minded person will go back and listen to this Trick’s music!

[Reply]
staci Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 9:26 am
@Lauryn, the same PEOPLE that nominated it for album of the year, and best pop album but then again from your vocabulary “trick” im guessing you dont listen to a lot of things…

[Reply]
Ray Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 11:25 am
@staci, Haha Right LAURYN,

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Cranberry Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@Lauryn, I thought you were done with Rap Up after their video selections. Stay mad.

[Reply]
allen
January 4th, 2012 at 8:51 am
i agree with thi list.

[Reply]
LO
January 4th, 2012 at 9:09 am
KELLY ROWLANDS ALBUM HERE I AM!!!!

[Reply]
Drizzy
January 4th, 2012 at 9:13 am
Im on one – Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne

[Reply]
Anonymous
January 4th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Fuck yeah! #TeamJoJo all day!!

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Rozay
January 4th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Im on one by DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne is definitely the best song of the year by far.
1. Im on One
2.Ni**as in Paris
4.Superbass
5.Look at Me Know
6.Sleazy 2.0
7.Motivation
8. Marvin’s Room
9.Round of Applause
10. My Last

[Reply]
Higooo
January 4th, 2012 at 9:23 am
Look at Me Now is incredible

[Reply]
muni
January 4th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Motivation showld have been #1

[Reply]
Flocka
January 4th, 2012 at 9:25 am
1. Im on One
2.Ni**as in Paris
4.Superbass
5.Look at Me Know
6.Grove St. Party
7. Sleazy 2.0
8. Motivation
9. Marvin’s Room
10. Round of Applause

[Reply]
...
January 4th, 2012 at 9:32 am
10. Taio Cruz feat. Flo Rida – Hangover
09. Britney Spears – Till The World Ends
08. Jay-Z & Kanye West feat. Beyoncé – Lift Off
07. David Guetta feat. Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj – Where Them Girls At?
06. Rihanna – You Da One
05. David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj – Turn Me On
04. Avril Lavigne – What The Hell
03. Flo Rida feat. Sia – Wild Ones
02. Lady GaGa – Born This Way
01. Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris – We Found Love

[Reply]
Fan Of A Fan
January 4th, 2012 at 9:54 am
YESSSS!! Rihanna

[Reply]
Jayrican18
January 4th, 2012 at 10:02 am
We found love! Its been #1 for like 2 months right? #RihannaNavy

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coolio
January 4th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Ni**as in Paris is good, but it’s horrible compared to the rest of the tracks in WTT

[Reply]
frenchconnection
January 4th, 2012 at 10:07 am
LOOK AT ME NOW
LOOK AT ME NOW

but you forgot BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

[Reply]
New years Rezzo
January 4th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Look at me now

my last

Dats what I’m talking about babeee!!!

[Reply]
Kayla
January 4th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Chris made the list twice!!! So happy!

[Reply]
Brionna
January 4th, 2012 at 10:24 am
No Adele??

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Kayla
January 4th, 2012 at 10:26 am
SuperBass,Really?Rap-Up you need to do better.

[Reply]
nicki at the grammys Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
@Kayla, no u need to stop haten and find yourself, haters are just undercover fans thats are just mad because they life aint right so it make u hate on people that are doing good or what u wish u could be doing lmao u lame!

[Reply]
Selectah Snipa
January 4th, 2012 at 10:31 am
I honestly feel Meek Mill – “Ima Boss” should’ve had a spot.

[Reply]
GolfWang Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 11:00 am
@Selectah Snipa, real talk that track had everyone hyped

[Reply]
GolfWang
January 4th, 2012 at 11:01 am
NIGGAS IN PARIS

[Reply]
RUKiddingMe
January 4th, 2012 at 11:06 am
JoJo “Marvin’s Room” F*ck Yeah!!! That B*tch is a gangster. She straight up jacked Drake’s song and made it better and more popular. I LOVE IT! I LOVE HER!

[Reply]
Replay
January 4th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Agree but not with We Found Love… this Song is a fucking cheap song every house song sounds like this but this has just a hype cuz of rihanna

[Reply]
THIS IS REAL:
January 4th, 2012 at 11:20 am
10. Taio Cruz feat. Flo Rida – Hangover
09. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
08. Jay-Z & Kanye West feat. Beyoncé – Lift Off
07. David Guetta feat. Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj – Where Them Girls At?
06. Maroon 5 & C.Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger
05. Beyoncé – Love On Top
04. Jason Derulo – It Girl
03. Flo Rida – Good Feeling
02. Katy Perry Ft. Missy Elliott- Last Friday
01. Adele – Someone like you

[Reply]
Audrey Hepburn
January 4th, 2012 at 11:25 am
Congrats Rihanna! “We Found Love” was an awesome dance record, didn’t know that ppl considered it “hip-hop,” though.

[Reply]
>am so am so proud of you_
January 4th, 2012 at 11:29 am
i see you nicki,3 and 6 enough said.

[Reply]
curtis
January 4th, 2012 at 11:33 am
shady 2.0 any day!!

[Reply]
Q Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@curtis,at the lab

nobody messing with them niggas.

[Reply]
A Realist
January 4th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Lol @ #5. No.

[Reply]
DEYSHUN
January 4th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
What happened to Ima boss, Headlines, Novacane and Love on top

[Reply]
commanderofthedancefloor
January 4th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
1. Niggas in paris
2. Novacane
3. We found love
4. Rolling in the deep
5. Love on top
6. Black and yellow
7. Super bass
8. It will rain
9. Look at me now
10. Pumped up kicks

[Reply]
stfu
January 4th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
i knew this would be some bullsh!t when i saw minaj. I regret the 2 mins i took to read this

[Reply]
kendrick Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
@stfu, and the 2 mins. you took to comment? SMH at this loser.

[Reply]
nicki at the grammys Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
@stfu, u mad u mad u mad and i hope u not a lil kim fan i just hope because if u is go kill never mind i forgot no words for a loser 2012 we at the superbowl winning and still bored!

[Reply]
An0thrNight272
January 4th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
britney spears- till the world ends

[Reply]
Jon
January 4th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Pretty solid list. I would have picked something different off Take Care though.

[Reply]
Siera.
January 4th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
My Fav Not #1 But They Still Used Her Pic. WINNING!!!!!!!!! ^_^

[Reply]
nicki at the grammys
January 4th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
its no list in 2011 nicki was not on 2012 going to be even better i double dog dere anyone of u b##ches to come out!

[Reply]
nicegirl
January 4th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Well, i’m guessing this list is urban songs that made the greatest impact in 2011. If it’s based on quailty it should be:

10. Miguel- Sure Thing
9. Frank Ocean- Swim Good
8. Mary J Blige- Living Proof or Need Someone
7. Beyonce- Love On Top
6. J. Cole- Lost Ones
5. Don Trip ft. Cee Lo Green- Letter To My Son
4. Jay Z ft. Kanye West- Murder To Excellence
3. Kanye West- All Of The Lights
2. Beyonce- End Of Time
1. Jay Z ft. Kanye West- New Day

But, that’s just my list based on quality. Sure I listened to Dance A$$ a lot too, probably more than Murder To Excellence, but based on quality I had to pick these.

[Reply]
:l Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
@nicegirl,you are just a jay-z groopie simple as that,talking that sh-t about quality you don’t like the list say that simple as that.

[Reply]
nicegirl Reply:
January 6th, 2012 at 3:57 am
@:l, Well I think each person has their own fave songs. I’m just saying most of the songs on rap-up’s list were popular and released as singles.

The songs on my list are unique and most have meaning. And how can i be a jay-z groupie when I have Miguel, Frank Ocean, Mary J Blige, Don Trip and Cee Lo Green on the list?

I listen to a wide variety of music. I listen to some of Rihanna’s music (Watch n’ Learn). I also like some of Nicki Minaj’s songs (Moment 4 Life, Fly), The Weeknd, Jill Scott. I’m just saying that the songs I call my faves have great production, meaning to them and I feel are quite underrated songs. I mean New Day, Lost Ones and Letter to My Son are songs about fatherhood and have important messages or meaning, Murder to Excellence is about murder in the streets.
I am also not a Lil Wayne hater, neither Drake hater. She Will, Mirror and Headlines are some good songs from them, but they could make my list at no.30 or something like that.

[Reply]
brainfood.com Reply:
January 6th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
@nicegirl,

Well said. I like how you didn’t get offended and just clarified yourself.

nicegirl = the image of a true lady.

[Reply]
SMH
January 5th, 2012 at 4:24 am
Good list Rap-Up apart from:

Marvin’s Room = coma music
Look At Me Now = wack

Should have put Headlines by Drake and Mr. Wrong by Mary J instead of them.

[Reply]
Hugh
January 5th, 2012 at 4:28 am
Cool list.

Lighters is my #1 for the year

[Reply]
G-DJOBY
January 5th, 2012 at 6:58 am
LISTEN 2 50 CENT NEW MUSIC AND LISTEN TO WICK ROSS NEW MUSIC AND LISTEN TO WAKA FL NEW SOND AND DNT FOR GOT ABOUT LIL WAYNE AND THE GAME AND DNT FOR GOT ABOUT G- DJOBY BRING DAT MONEY UP NEW SONG…………….

[Reply]
latonya
January 5th, 2012 at 7:34 am
i think you guys got it on point, i loved superbass it was very fun and i was always singing it last year. but N**** in paris was the song of the year that whole album just slayed 2011 , i loved it, i was bopping my head to it, i would plug a couple of songs from the take care album too. and adele and natasha beningfeild,

[Reply]
Groove street
January 5th, 2012 at 7:40 am
Okay list. I like urban mainstream music a lot (lil Wayne, nicki minaj, waka flocka etc….) but they could have put more thought in the quality of the songs that made the list. For example super base and we found love r barely hip hop/r&b songs let alone do they send a message across. Here’s my list:

1. All of the lights – Kanye, Rihanna, kid cudi
2. Lost ones – j.Cole
3. Marvins room/buried alive interlude – drake, jojo, Kendrick lamar
4. New day – kanye, jay-z
5. Ambition – wale, meek mill, Ross
6. Look at me now – Chris brown, busta, Wayne
7. Intro interlude outro – Wayne, tech n9ne, Andre, bun b, nas, shyne, bust a
8. Nova cane – frank ocean
9. I’m on one – drake, ross, Wayne
10. My last – big Sean, Chris brown or pot of gold – game, Chris brown

So some of my favorite songs this year were mainstream but I put songs that I feel made an impact on hip hop in 2011

[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 10:37 am
@Groove street, Rihanna’s not even an urban artist by any means, she’s Pop. So I don’t know why she (and the impeccable We Found Love, which does, by the way, have a message) was in included in your tangent.

What message does Novacane and Look at Me Now convey that Super Bass and We Found Love doesn’t? x_x

[Reply]
:l Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
@Cranberry,that is the question what message,he was just trying to tear them down without making it look obvious simple as that,he just didn’t like who got them spot and felt the people he put on is list is more deserving that,s it.

[Reply]
Ben
January 5th, 2012 at 8:26 am
Go Chris he is on there twice. Congrats. To everyone

[Reply]
Andre
January 5th, 2012 at 10:19 am
We Found Love is definitly the best song of 2011!

Rihanna ROCKS!

[Reply]
Damn !
January 5th, 2012 at 11:54 am
I’m surprised Beyoncé isn’t here ! I mean Run The World ( Girls ) , End Of Time , Love On Top , Countdown , Schoolin’ Life & Party were all from my top 50 ! Same for Rihanna’s Man Down , Cheers , WFL , Where Have You Been & Cockiness !

[Reply]
$JMoney$
January 5th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Nicki needs to give Ester Some Credit :/

[Reply]
ATT Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
@$JMoney$, She did on the album it says, on the Pink Friday booklet. But Ester Dean says in an interview she doesn’t really want credit for any of the songs she writes she just likes writing good music.

[Reply]
:l Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
@$JMoney$,don’t say nicki needs to do anything she always shout out Ester don’t run on here and act like you don’t,just because you want to start shit,and nicki wright her part ester did the singing,so it,s a co.

[Reply]
DrunkenMinaj
January 5th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
And SUPERIOR Bass is Killin you haters, don’t get mad. Maybe one day your fave can make a Triple platinum record too. :D

[Reply]
JHP
January 5th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
The Throne stay winning, pretty good list as well

[Reply]
victoria Malloy
January 6th, 2012 at 9:02 am
hey nicki i love your song and i look like you to girl i want to meat you cause my badygirl love you and she is 15month

[Reply]
victoria Malloy
January 6th, 2012 at 9:07 am
but it i thing i love to rap to just like you to be i want to meat you that is my big wish to meat you some day nicki Awwww!!!!

[Reply]
Booo.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
So the only Beyoncé song is Party ? It’s a cool summer song , but she’s not Top 10 quality , Love On Top , Countdown , End Of Time , Run The World & Schoolin’ Life are though !!!! As for Rihanna WFL being number 2 you overdoing it ! 6-5 okay ! And i’m not even going on Nicki whom i love btw but 3 no way

[Reply]
Fury
May 25th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
10. Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
9.DJ Khaled – Im On One
8.Beyonce – Party
7.Kelly Rowland – Motivation
6.Adele – Someone Like You
5.Drake – Marvins Room
4.Chris Brown – Look At Me Now
3Jay-z & Kanye West – N***as In Paris
2.Big Sean -My Last
1. Drake – Headlines

[Reply]