50 Songs From The 2010s Ultimate Playlist

Black Beatles (feat. Gucci Man)

Listen:

Artist:

Rae Sremmurd

Album:

SremmLife 2

Description

Black Beatles is a song about making it big in the music game. The is about The Beatles, where Rae Sremmurd refers to themselves as equal counterparts.

Sicko Mode

Listen:

Artist:

Travis Scott

Album:

Astroworld

Description

Sicko Mode features a Drake verse with an abrupt transition into a new back-beat. This was due to the fact that Drake turned his verses in at 2am the day that Astroworld dropped.

God's Plan

Listen:

Artist:

Drake

Album:

Scorpion

Description

God’s Plan is a song about gratefulness and having faith in God. The music video had a budget of $996,631.90. However, Drake gave it all away to people in need.

Latch (feat. Sam Smith)

Listen:

Artist:

Disclosure

Album:

Settle

Description

Sam Smith Wrote this song with the brother duo Disclosure in just one day. Sam wrote the lyrics and Disclosure composed the dance beat to a 6/8 time scale.

One Kiss

Listen:

Artist:

Calvin Harris

Album:

One Kiss (Single)

Description

One Kiss is a homemade hit single for Calvin Harris. He wrote this song from his home without engeneering

Alright

Listen:

Artist:

Kendrick Lamar

Album:

To Pimp a Butterfly

Description

Alright was written by Kendrick Lamar with inspiration of his trip to South Africa in 2014. The opening lyric is a quote from the movie The Color Purple.

1-800-273-8255 (feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid)

Listen:

Artist:

Logic

Album:

Everybody

Description

Logic wrote this song to help spread awareness of suicide prevention. This song is a prime example of a great artist using their platform for a great cause.

Suit & Tie (Feat. JAY-Z)

Listen:

Artist:

Justin Timberlake

Album:

The 20/20 Experience

Description

This song was written off-the-cuff by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z. Movie director David Fincher directed the music video for this single shot in black and white.

Rap God

Listen:

Artist:

Eminem

Album:

The Marshall Mathers LP2

Description

Rap God holds the world record according to Guinness, for most words used in a hit single. Eminem raps a total of 1,560 words in the song.

What Do You Mean?

Listen:

Artist:

Justin Bieber

Album:

Purpose

Description

What Do You Mean is a song about a girl who can’t make up her mind. Justin Bieber asks the question every guy in a complicated relationship wants to ask.

Ain't It Fun

Listen:

Artist:

Paramore

Album:

Paramore

Description

Ain’t It Fun is a song written by Hayley Williams about moving to LA and being on her own for the first time. She shares her feelings in the lyrics.

Rolling in the Deep

Listen:

Artist:

Adele

Album:

21

Description

The song Rolling in the Deep is a break-up revenge song. Adele wrote this song with the inspiration she received from her past relationship.

There Goes My Baby

Listen:

Artist:

Usher

Album:

Raymond Vs. Raymond

Description

There Goes My Baby is a song about a true love connection. This song won a Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance in 2011.

Pumped Up Kicks

Listen:

Artist:

Foster The People

Album:

Foster The People EP

Description

The song Pumped Up Kicks was nominated for a Grammy in the year 2010. This song is about today’s youth feeling as though they have no place to run to.

24K Magic

Listen:

Artist:

Bruno Mars

Album:

24K Magic

Description

24K Magic was written as a party song for the 24K Magic album. In the song, Bruno Mars talks about the fun he is having with all that money he has.

Starboy (feat. Daft Punk)

Listen:

Artist:

The Weeknd

Album:

Starboy

Description

The Weeknd plays homage to the great David Bowie with his song Starboy. This song is about living lavishly while in the spotlight.

No Limit (feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B)

Listen:

Artist:

G-Eazy

Album:

The Beautiful & Damned

Description

No Limit is a song that features three of hip-hop’s newest stars. The three artists tell stories of fame while boasting about money.

Bodak Yellow

Listen:

Artist:

Cardi B

Album:

Invasion of Privacy

Description

Bodak Yellow is a song about making it. Cardi B was previously an exotic dancer and she references how she used to make money move because of her dancing abilities.

Rake It Up (feat. Nicki Minaj)

Listen:

Artist:

Yo Gotti

Album:

I Still Am

Description

Rake It Up is Yo Gottis 4th collaboration with Nicki Minaj. This song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard charts, making it Yo Gotti’s most successful song yet.

Wild Thoughts(feat. Rihanna)

Listen:

Artist:

DJ Khaled

Album:

Grateful

Description

Wild Thoughts uses the sample from the 1999 hit single Maria Maria by Santana. DJ Khaled said he worked on getting the right record ready for 8 years to collaborate with Rihanna.

Boo'd Up

Listen:

Artist:

Ella Mai

Album:

Ready-EP

Description

Joelle James originally wrote the song for herself in 2014. Mai and James described Boo’d Up as being completely consumed in a relationship and the sound of a heartbeat.

Adorn

Listen:

Artist:

Miguel

Album:

Kaleidoscope Dream

Description

Singer and songwriter Miguel wrote this song while being on a long trip away from his then-girlfriend, now wife, Nazanin Mandi.

Self Care

Listen:

Artist:

Mac Miller

Album:

Swimming

Description

Self Care was released on July 13th, 2018 but, it wasn’t until after Miller’s death on September 7th, 2018, that this single would reach #33 on Hot 100 Billboard Charts.

No Problem (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)

Listen:

Artist:

Chance the Rapper

Album:

Coloring Book

Description

No Problem is the second single Chance the Rappers 2016 Coloring Book album, which was first ever streaming-only album to win a Grammy.

Rule the World (feat. Ariana Grande)

Listen:

Artist:

2 Chainz

Album:

Rap or Go to the League

Description

After squashing accusations of Grande stealings material from his Spend It track and music video. 2Chainz brought her onto this 2019 track.

Circles

Listen:

Artist:

Post Malone

Album:

Hollywood's Bleeding

Description

The song Circles is about a relationship that is going nowhere. Post Malone shows his softer side in the love ballad. It hit #1 on the Billboard chart on 11-30-19.

Middle Child

Listen:

Artist:

J. Cole

Album:

Middle Child – Single

Description

Middle Child is about being between new rap and old school rap generations. Cole feels like a big brother and a little brother to his fellow artist but, will not be forgotten

All of Me

Listen:

Artist:

John Legend

Album:

Love in the Future

Description

A tribute to his wife Chrissy Teigen, Legend sang this song during their nuptials in Como, Italy. This song is about balance, even when you are giving up somethings, you are gaining so much.

thank u, next

Listen:

Artist:

Ariana Grande

Album:

thank u, next

Description

Released on November 3rd, following a clip of her ex-Pete Davidson joking of their broken engagement. This song is about her gratitude in past relationships and finding herself.

Taki Taki (feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B)

Listen:

Artist:

DJ Snake

Album:

Taki Taki

Description

An English- Spanish song about a wild night in a nightclub and seduction. Taki, Taki isn’t a word but, Ozuna says it reflects the clack-clack sound of a drum.

Bad and Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)

Listen:

Artist:

Migos

Album:

Culture

Description

This hip hop trap song went viral in 2016 with its raindrop..drop-top hook and celebrity shout outs, like Donald Glover.

Redbone

Listen:

Artist:

Childish Gambino

Album:

"Awaken, My Love!"

Description

Featured in the opening scenes of the film Get Out directed by Jordan Peele. The term Redbone is used to describe light-skinned African Americans.

Royals

Listen:

Artist:

Lorde

Album:

Royals

Description

Inspired by Kayne West, Jay-Z, and Lana Del Rays lyrical references to a luxuriously unrelatable lifestyle. When this reached #1, Lorde became the youngest solo artist to write and perform a Hot 100 chart-topper.

Señorita

Listen:

Artist:

Shawn Mendez & Camilla Cabello

Album:

Señorita – Single

Description

When producer Andrew Watt sent this song to Shawn Mendes, he suggested it be a duet. To which Mendes agreed, and said Camilla Cabello was the only artist he could do the song with

Wake Me Up

Listen:

Artist:

Avicii

Album:

True

Description

Featuring songwriter and soul singer Aloe Blacc, Wake Me Up as the first-ever song to reach 200 million streams on Spotify.

Bad Guy

Listen:

Artist:

Billie Eilish

Album:

When We All Fall Asleeep, Where Do We Go?

Description

Eilish says this song is meant to poke fun at people who try to portray themselves as rule-breakers. Bad Guy won Best Song at the 2019 MTV European Music Awards.

Thinking Out Loud

Listen:

Artist:

Ed Sheeran

Album:

X (Wembley Edition)

Description

Written singer-songwriter Amy Wadge, during a visit she picked up a guitar gifted to Sheeran from Harry Styles and she started strumming a few chords. They sat on his couch at 2 am and wrote it in 20 minutes.

Closer (feat. Halsey)

Listen:

Artist:

The Chainsmokers

Album:

Collage – EP

Description

This song was written about a couple reigniting their relationship after a 4-year absence. After the honeymoon stage ends, they realize why they broke up in the first place.

Happy (From “Despicable Me 2”)

Listen:

Artist:

Pharrell Williams

Album:

Girl

Description

Written, produced and performed by Pharrell Williams for the film Despicable Me 2. The song’s visual is the world’s first-ever 24-hour music video.

Radioactive

Listen:

Artist:

Imagine Dragons

Album:

Night Visions

Description

This Las Vegas native rock band wrote this song about embracing change. The video for Radioactive is on the top 100 most liked music videos on YouTube, with 1.1 billion views and 6.6 million likes.

Dark Horse (feat. Juicy J)

Listen:

Artist:

Katy Perry

Album:

PRISM

Description

Perry revealed that this song was inspired by the movie The Craft. She said it was about warning a guy if you’re going to fall in love with me, be sure because it’s going to be your last.

Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) [Remix]

Listen:

Artist:

Lil Nas X

Album:

7

Description

Lil Nas and Billy Ray Cyrus broke the record for the longest run at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart going for 19 weeks.

Runaway (feat. Pusha T)

Listen:

Artist:

Kanye West

Album:

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Description

The song Runaway was written by Kanye West in 2010. Runaway is about Kanye and his relationship with society. Sometimes he feels overwhelmed and wishes he could run from it all.

Drunk in Love (feat. JAY Z)

Listen:

Artist:

Beyoncé

Album:

Beyoncé

Description

This husband and wife duet is about female sexuality, lust, and love-making in a committed relationship. Beyonce uses several double entendres in a half-sung half-rapped style.

We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae)

Listen:

Artist:

Fun.

Album:

Some Nights

Description

We Are Young was the most listened to song on Facebook in 2012 and is a certified five-time platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)

Listen:

Artist:

Gotye

Album:

Making Mirrors

Description

Gotye made his US television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live on February 1, 2012. This song went on to win Record of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards

Shallow

Listen:

Artist:

Lady Gaga

Album:

A Star is Born Soundtrack

Description

The song title was inspired by the 2018 film A Star Is Born and its initial tragic ending. Shallow went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2019.

Location

Listen:

Artist:

Khalid

Album:

American Teen

Description

This El Paso natives debut single Location was released a couple of weeks before we was crowned prom king in high school.

Look At Me Now (feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)

Listen:

Artist:

Chris Brown

Album:

F.A.M.E.

Description

Off Brown’s 4th studio album F.A.M.E. standing for forgiving all my enemies. This track was the first new song of the 21st century’s second decade.

Jealous

Listen:

Artist:

Nick Jonas

Album:

Nick Jonas X2

Description

Jonas got inspiration for this song during his training to be a fighter on the show Kingdom. It expresses his feelings when other men would stare at his then-girlfriend, Olivia Culpo.