Baller Alert’s Year in Review: Songs of 2021

It’s been proven that music can trigger feelings of happiness and is used for various forms of therapy. In 2021, we’ve dealt with a lot including the ongoing covid-19 crisis and all of its variants. Music had been an escape for people no matter the time or place. More now than ever, music fans spend more time streaming their favorite music. Among the many hits of 2021, these ten songs seem to have music lovers in a chokehold.

Silk Sonic —” Leave The Door Open”—  With its velvety vocals and relatable lyrics, “Leave The Door Open” is a glorious blast of classic old-school R&B. The dynamic duo that is Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, vocally fit like a glove as they eloquently toe the line between lust and flirtatiousness. This is Paak’s first comprehensive project since 2016 and 2019 and “Leave The Door Open” respectively augurs a groundbreaking return to the music scene.

Jazmine Sullivan Feat. H.E.R —” Girl Like Me”— Jazmine had the ladies ready to throw away the good girl lifestyle and hop on the “city girl” wave. The song appeared on her critically-acclaimed EP Heaux Tales. Released on Jan 8, 2021, Sullivan’s long-anticipated EP debut at No.1 on the R&B Charts and her single “Girl Like Me” snagged No. 10 on  Billboard’s Hot R&B Song charts.

Moneybagg Yo —”Wockesha”— The single became Billboard’s most-heard song in the week ending on August 22, according to MRC data. Some people claimed the song was a clever love song to the woman of his life but he revealed that it’s actually about a cup of lean. In the song, the Memphis hitmakers raps about his withdrawals and how the drug makes his mood better. “Wockesha” was easily one of the most unavoidable songs of 2021.

Megan The Stallion —Thot Shit— In true, real Hot Girl fashion, the concept for both the song and its visual represent an ode to feminism’s revenge. The three-time Grammy winner gave fans a banger that electrified the charts and screamed pride and sexuality.

Cardi B —Up— The catchy chorus alone had listeners singing the song repeatedly, even if heard once. Cardi B reasserted her “emotional gangster” comment when the power anthem was released on February 5, 2021. In the three-minute music video, Cardi flexes her sexual prowess, wealth, and success.

Polo G —Rapstar— The song became a big hit in a day gaining over 6 million views on Youtube and debuting at #1 on US Spotify with 2.91 million streams. In the song, Polo G sings about the success he has achieved so far in the music industry. The track is powered by a ukelele-inspired trap beat and gloomy melodic flow that people seemed to love this year.

Migos —Straightening— this song is a classic Migos song with triplet flows and ad-libs careening over booming bass, crisp percussion, and catchy chorus. The track also caught major attention when the group spoke on the Breakfast Club saying “sometimes people need a Lil bit of straightening” regarding the Justin Laboy situation.

Doja Cat Feat. SZA—Kiss Me More— This playful song reminds us of Doja’s hit single “Say So,” showcasing her sexy, fun side. Teaming up with SZA for the track, they fused together two unique sounds and found a flossy medium for them to deliver fans with an enjoyable, infectious song to brighten the mood.

Drake Feat. Travis Scott —Fair Trade-In the song Drizzy and Travis talk about tightening their circles as they move more cautiously, and even with friends dropping left and right, they don’t seem to mind when loyalty is the goal. The track became an anthem for those opting to exchange friendships for peace.

Saweetie Feat. Doja Cat —Best Friend — The track marks Saweetie and Doja Cat’s first collaboration. This song trended quickly after influencers took to TikTok to make videos with their best friend to the hit. The female rap collaboration broke the internet with the visually appealing video.