The year is only just starting, but there have already been some fantastic songs released, and many are singles foreshadowing albums to come later this year. Although there will probably be many more contenders by the end of the year, here are some of my favorite songs of 2026 so far.
‘Stars on The Roof’ by Larry June, Curren$y and The Alchemist
The production is fantastic and the verses are well-crafted. What more can you ask for? The first track off of the trio’s first collaborative album, “Spiral Staircases,” features Larry June and New Orleans native, Curren$y exchange, verses over my favorite Alchemist beat of the year. I could honestly showcase any track off the album, so give “Spiral Staircases” a listen if you haven’t already.
‘other side.’ by Brent Faiyaz
An essential voice in modern R&B, Faiyaz returned after a four-year studio album hiatus with “Icon.” Although the album lacked a lot of the “oomph” his past projects had, I found myself drawn to “other side.” The beat is so catchy and has a classic but timeless feel; it’s impossible to not bop your head the entire time.
‘God Was Showing Off’ by Bruno Mars
It wouldn’t be a list highlighting the best music moments of 2026 without mentioning Bruno Mars’ return with his latest album, “The Romantic,” this past Friday. There may have been some dull moments across the album, but “God Was Showing Off” is definitely not one of them. The chorus is electric and full of instrumentation that accompanies the romantic lyrics beautifully. It’s not a secret that Mars has one of the greatest voices of all time, and he flaunts it perfectly across this track.
‘I am not a Lyricist’ by Baby Keem
After releasing no new music at all since 2023, fans of Baby Keem were waiting for something worth the wait. Boy, did he deliver with “I am not a Lyricist” off of his new album, “Ca$ino.” I love the production on this song, which takes a step back from a lot of the trap-heavy tracklist across the rest of the album and feels inspired by the music of his second cousin, Kendrick Lamar. The lyricism is far more introspective and reflects on moments of trauma across his life — a choice I thought was a step in a positive direction for Baby Keem’s career.
‘Bunce Road Blues’ by J. Cole, Future and Tems
It’s hard to pick a standout track off of J. Cole’s latest project, “The Fall-Off,” although this is more so because it’s an hour and 41 minutes long rather than the quality of the music. I decided to go with “Bunce Road Blues” for two main reasons: the features and the production. The Alchemist makes his return to my list with his fantastic production on this hip-hop track. Future has a great verse as well, but Tems left me speechless. Just a completely meticulous song from start to finish.
‘She Knows Too Much by Thundercat and Mac Miller
To round off my list, I wanted to highlight a song with a posthumous feature, and a faithful one at that. I love Mac Miller, so it was an easy listen when I saw that he was featured on a new Thundercat song. The result? A super smooth, infectious track with the typical groove Thundercat brings to his songs. Full of guitar and funny lyricism, the collaboration is a good time and I’m eager to see what Thundercat can continue doing on his next album, “Distracted,” coming out in April.