"Only commit crimes here." The acknowledgment from NPR Music's Song of the Year is at the core of many of the stories in these 100 tracks. Perhaps the "WAP" coronation of Cardi and Megan last year marked a dramatic change in transgression. Perhaps, after wearing the mask for 20 months, we want to expose ourselves again. Maybe we have hidden some truth in the deep water, so as not to appear frivolous (or savage) in a ruthless situation. But in the song... the loot is called. The muffins are buttered. Retaliation is considered. In other words, we can become human again, and it feels good to be back. We sincerely hope that you will feel the same way when you browse our 7-hour playlist of the 100 best songs of the year. If you find yourself losing motivation or feeling down or wondering when things will eventually get better, feel free to skip the rest of the "everything is fine" part. (Jk, Taylor!) (Oh, you can find our 50 best albums of 2021 here.)

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In the lead single of her third album, Camila Cabello leans towards her Latin pop roots in a way that sounds very familiar. This song is equipped with a flamenco guitar that flows through the center of the verse. The trembling maracas gives the pulse to the song. The complete horn part has the style of Cuban salsa. This song is in the direction of genre and style. Move smoothly. The best part of the repertoire must be the salsa intermission before the final chorus, where all these Latin musical themes converge. When it pays tribute to the different elements of Latin music, "Don't Go Yet" is indeed the most powerful. -Cat Sposato

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Berlin electronics producer Sofia Kourtesis created "La Perla" in memory of her late father, inspired by the sea trip they took when she visited her hometown of Peru. Centered on the uplifting drum sound, "La Perla" subtly expands outwards in the sparkling warm synth layer, soft percussion and dim, sad vocals, enveloping you in the sound like salty The salty waves hit the shore. —— Hazelnut Sears

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The iconic string of Juvenile's "Back That Azz Up" announces the arrival of "GYALIS", but Capella Grey's breakthrough single is definitely New York. With ballroom-like melody (Bronx-born singer and rapper with Jamaican tradition) and dynamic drums, it has the sultry rhythm of the New York summer, all the way to its theme. Not surprisingly, it has a firm foothold there first. Maybe it's the way Gray effortlessly meandered in and out of his rhythm, the boldness of his dressing up as a charming Rosario, or the way that one and a half minutes never seemed to be enough-"GYALIS" became the outside comeback and all The perfect soundtrack for pranks can be brought. --Brianna Young

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Larry June's slow and steady efforts will continue to pay dividends in 2021. As his music powers the movement, the Bay Area rapper’s iconic slogan and natural brand are everywhere on social media. "Iced Coffee" in his latest album "Orange Print" is one of the best albums in his extensive catalog. His leisurely tone and dialogue flow in the slap of this Jake One 808/boom-bap. --Bobby Carter

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2021 is a year of endless morning restarts. The pandemic has increased and decreased, and it has never completely subsided; the world is faltering due to man-made disasters; the path to any coherent future has never been clear. However, people stand up again every day. They are connected to each other through the ether, sometimes even in real life. Valerie June's hymn of resistance through interconnection, in this original version, becomes more sacred and earthy through the voice of Mavis Staples, a brave, necessary companion and tool for restarting action. ——Ann Bowers

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"Sacude" opens at the same time, accompanied by a clave and an irregular composite beat; each one represents where the music of Xenia Rubinos is and where it is developing. This is the slow sound of a machine that mixes organic and man-made parts. She sang slowly as it buzzed in life: "I'm carrying a heavy load for both of us/It's time to let go." "Sacude" got rid of with the next fascinating lyrics "Cuanto quisiera salir de esto ya" This burden. Halfway through, the song revolves around the choir "Sacude, sacude y Dios que me ayude", which is a concentrated call she created and responded to in the unrestricted soneos. It is a real despojo, a ritual that people seek after everything else has failed, to unearth a new self from the fragments of the rumba dance that it is broken and reunited. --Stephanie Fernandez

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Dawn Richard will kill it wherever he goes, but her home court advantage is unstoppable. Second Line is not only about New Orleans and family, especially her mother's narration for this album, it is also the pioneering of electronic music made by black women. "Bussifame" co-produced with Sam OB is a delightful statement work: Richard's rap muscles flexed and crushed velvet hip-hop beats, featuring a series of famous bragging songs. The winding grooves lightly decorated with neon electronic pop polka dots are the dream of any training team that needs full-body training, but will also make your feet work. -Lars Gottrich

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Reality is replaceable, time is variable, distance is relative, and the future is more ambiguous than ever. To be alive now is simply a journey. As we slowly connect to this point in our lives, everything is redrawn—perhaps not necessarily improved, but at least new. From a studio in Hamtrak, Michigan and a head full of the inestimable dance history of nearby Detroit, Tamirakis made this cautious rediscovery of the public case. The beat is a direct house, but diffused-a bit sneaky-and endowed with a shy soul through Lakkis' singing; a lovely, realistic reopening of the terms between her and her environment. So really, between us and us. --Andrew Flanagan

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It is not an exaggeration to call Amaarae a star. I mean stars. The appearance of this Afropop artist is strange; the unforgettable sweetness, almost whisper-like tone, impeccable ears to cross-genre beats, and sneaky storytelling mode encourage you to rationalize all the sins you have previously regretted. Amaarae's "SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY" and "Angels You Don't Know", which debuted in 2020, is a sampler of the bad things in the universe she summons: a short cruise, ignoring all interference rolls that do not involve banknotes or bodies. Thanks to the bilingual mixing with Kali Uchis, it proved to be the key for Amaarae to crack the Billboard global rankings. "I feel good, I don't have any obstacles," she sang-she was absolutely right. --Sidney Madden

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BIA's "WHOLE LOTTA MONEY" was already enjoying a steady slope in the stream in early summer, when the Queen Onika's voice, Maraj, broke through the track and ordered a regroup. Returning to her iconic Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape style, Nicki temporarily paused the beat so that the heat can be properly transferred. Adopting the same rhythm as BIA is easy work for Nicki. In the third quarter, the ladies playfully build on each other's extremely high standards, bar by bar, making it even more difficult for us to stick to it. --Sidney Madden

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"Akokán" is a Yoruba word in West Africa, meaning "from the heart." The big band named after this word used every note of its two albums to spread the gospel of Cuban music in the 19650s. The band is a product of Havana and Brooklyn. This song is from the album 16 Rayos, a version of a carnival parade in a series of folklore percussion, playing traditional conga from the eastern part of Cuba. The groove is very contagious, and if it doesn't make your foot pat, you may be dead. -Felix Contreras

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One does not listen to "Jackie", but is swallowed by it. From the initial feedback wailing to the final reverberation decay, this song is a battlefield of lovesickness and disharmony-the guitar takes turns playing and crying, and the drum sound remains crisp even when it hits. Yves Tumor looked for clues to life in the Holocaust, but did not get the answer. "These days are miserable. I didn't sleep and refused to eat," they sang in a kind of generous and cold voice, like gnawing painfully under an impenetrable cool surface. In moments of restraint and hustle and bustle, "Jackie Chan" is a deserved hymn for disastrous heartbreak. --Brianna Young

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If you take a closer look at our list of the 100 best songs of 2021, you will find that there are very few Gen X artists. This is understandable, because many of us listen to music to feel young. Who knows, maybe this year will represent a revolution when we look back at it in 5 to 10 years. Therefore, despite so many young people in their 20s singing slow songs outside their age, this year’s ballroom repertoire is composed of a millennial - Jamaican sexually active idol Spice - and two silver It's provided by Fox, which is a bit fascinating. Earlier this year, Spice released the first official album of her 18-year career, which caused a well-deserved sensation, but the X-rated single is still hers, um, sweet spot, "Go Down Deh" even if it is not the most important , And one of her greatest works. Hit. --Otis Hart

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Little Simz nodded, with simple beats and biting lines, to make sure you won’t be misinterpreted: “However, no woman is nothing.” The second track from the British rapper’s fourth album. It marks the slow-paced and fragile reflection of the artist through her works. The cool tones of her subtle musical instruments serve as the perfect background, calling out a dazzling call for a group of strong female characters. Pulling back the synthetic beat, letting the sincere singing float on the dreamy strings, Little Simz speaks in the hazy industry hustle and bustle, declaring that under her vigilant gaze, the color of the female expression will always shine with brilliance. -Anna Maria Sale

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In this sultry track, Leon Bridges' voice has an undulating groove curve. With seemingly simple production and lyrics, "Motorbike" reproduces the intimacy of walking through soft and rolling hills together. Bridges tempts us to ride together, and it is easy to succumb to the temptation of the soul caster reminding us, "When you feel good, you don't have to try."-Mitra Arthur

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The rich combination of Claire Cottrill’s piano/guitar combination and Jack Antonoff’s iconic production sensitivity reflects the self-centered self-centeredness, "Amoeba" is A song about Claire's becoming a star and the adjustments that followed. The superimposed background vocals resemble a self-critical Greek choir, and Claro strives to resolve and re-adjust her priorities, not only as a musician, but as a person. ——Sophie Hernandez-Simeonedis

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Even in a world of constant connections and an oversupply of dazzling music, it is rare for your two favorite artists to collaborate and truly achieve their hopes. Fortunately, a co-fan of Dua Saleh and Amaarae, "fitt" provided it. Each artist occupies so many different spaces. Saleh is non-dualistic, born in Sudan and living in Minneapolis. He experimented with dense, dark elements. Amaraae was born in New York, but now works in Accra, Ghana, and is known for her charming and lively African fusion style. In any case, everyone showed the amazing dexterity of the diaspora, and when they got together, their combined strength was unparalleled. The beat of "fitt" evolved over three minutes to suit the power of each artist's poetry, balancing the carnal drum with ethereal harp strings. Everyone has a place on the track that needs attention. The real beauty is that they share this attention equally. --Sidney Madden

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Joy Oladokun pointedly pointed out the painful details of the breakdown of trust in her songs over and over again-long ago, when she faced racism and homophobia in her faith communities and countries At that time, trust broke. Her singer-songwriter ballad soul number "Jordan" is one of the most moving examples so far. She expresses it with woolly intimacy, balancing its handmade quality and low-key pop appeal. She began to write hymns in the most open way, singing her determination to leave those who insisted that she needed spiritual purification, and to build lives with those who she wanted to be seen. ——Jewly Hight, WNXP

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BLACKSTARKIDS is a midwestern trio, located in the ever-expanding space between hip-hop, emo, and laptop pop music. In "JUNO", it achieves a kind of induced synesthesia, squeezing so many suburban summer atmospheres into it The sound of the bleached synthesizer and hiccuped guitar began to radiate its own light. As a song, it has nothing to do with the structure: trying to neatly combine the lines into 4 lines, and the contribution of each member-a heavy rap poem, a string of micro-melody full of bubbles, and a chorus full of throats, Respectively-it feels like an independent short story, sent out from LiveJournal's own corner. But as an atmosphere, the message it conveys couldn't be clearer: life is terrible, but maybe not today. —— Daoud Taylor-Amin

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Westside Gunn compares himself to Joe Pesci in Goodfellas because of his excellent speaking skills. But the truth is, Gunn is Scorsese—a visionary with a 35mm lens and uncompromising POV. To put it bluntly, Gunn’s art work honed his ears for film beats from the years he survived the opportunity and violence in Buffalo, New York, just like Denny LaFlare’s "Right Now" on HWH8: Sincerely Adolf, the first half of his 2021 Double LP. This song is co-starring Jadakiss and Stove God Cooks, who are often co-stars. This song found that they formed the most stark contrast in the story of trading cocaine. Gunn hides cracks in his "Versace paintings", while Jada stirs in "half brick in the pot, Dior gas mask". This is an acquired taste, especially for those who have sacrificed a lot in order to obtain it. -Rodney Carmichael

NPR 100 Best Songs of 2021 100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1