The 15 Best Rage Rap Songs of All Time
From Playboi Carti and Ken Carson to Tana and Sofaygo, these are the best rage rap songs of all time.
Razor-sharp synths. Euphoric electronic leads. Chest-thumping 808s. Distorted vocals drenched in autotune. Welcome to the world of rage rap, a subgenre of hip-hop that’s had its moment thanks to the rise of rappers like Ken Carson, Yeat, and, of course, Playboi Carti.
Most recently, the genre became a topic of discussion after Kanye West claimed he “invented rage,” referencing his 2013 classic Yeezus—a claim Trippie Redd forcefully pushed back on. While Kanye did play a pivotal role in bringing autotune and synthetic, computer-driven production into mainstream rap—most notably with 2008’s 808s & Heartbreak, which became a blueprint for many modern artists—it’s a stretch to say he invented rage rap.
So who invented the subgenre? That’s where it gets tricky. “Rage” is a broad term, one that's been used by a wide range of rappers over the years—from Kid Cudi to Travis Scott to Lil Uzi Vert. And a term that is hated by certain underground rappers considered to be in the scene, like Ken Carson, But when people talk about “rage rap” specifically, they’re usually referring to the SoundCloud 2.0 scene that took off after the success of Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red.
The album not only hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 but is now widely recognized as the best rap album of the 2020s. And, despite its simple name, the subgenre’s DNA is more complex and can be described as a Frankenstein amalgamation of Internet music—hyperpop, cloud rap, EDM—that had been brewing on Soundcloud playlists for years.
Which is why traces of rage rap can be found in early projects by Uzi and Carti, from Die Lit to Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World, respectively. Their beats fused twinkly melodies and euphoric chord progressions with the hard-hitting 808s and rhythms of Atlanta trap. You can hear similar elements in the work of the Hyperpop.jp collective—which includes Gab3, Outtatown, Starboy, Losoe, and Art Dealer, among others.
Like we said, Whole Lotta Red was the moment where it changed. Part of its success came from Playboi Carti tapping with F1lthy, a member of the revolutionary Working on Dying producer collective. F1lthy—who had already worked with cloud-rap forefathers of rage like Ecco2k and Bladee—was the ideal choice to channel that chaotic, mosh-pit energy. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic, when pent-up youth energy had no concerts as an outlet, and the growling bass and aggressive vocal inflections of these songs became the perfect release.
Today, in many ways, rage has evolved into the sound of underground rap. Here are the top 15 rage rap tracks of all time.
15.OsamaSon — "Ik What You Did Last Summer" (2024)
Produced By: Wegonebeok
OsamaSon is a polarizing figure, largely due to his overt stylistic borrowings from Playboi Carti and Future. Still, he’s carved out a lane for himself by pushing the boundaries of minimalistic lyricism and maximizing bass-heavy production—often built by Wegonebeok, who has also collaborated extensively with Nettspend. On this track, OK’s chiptune-inspired beat loops frenetically beneath a distorted bassline, while OsamaSon’s thin, monotone vocals glide across the chaos.
14.Playboi Carti — "New Tank" (2020)
Produced by: F1LTHY & Jonah Abraham
“New Tank,” first previewed on Instagram Live in late 2020, has a beat so simple that countless bedroom producers have set FL Studio “records” by recreating it in seconds.
Still, F1lthy proves why he’s one of the genre’s leaders, turning ominous synths and blown-out bass into a rage-fueled, moshpit-ready soundscape for Carti.
13.KanKan — "Goin’ To Hell" (2023)
Produced by: artist (Lil Slatt)
Despite its simplicity, “Goin’ to Hell” has become an underground favorite. The beat opens with squeaky leads and an off-rhythm bassline. KanKan keeps it minimal, repeating the chorus once in a smoked-out flow that wraps up in under a minute. The rest of the track is handed off to Lil Slatt’s slimy-sounding production, which steals the show as it loops for the remainder of the runtime.
12.Lancey Foux — "25WAGG3DOU2" (2021)
Produced by: Jay Trench
We have to show love to Lancey Foux, a pioneer of the sound from across the pond. He recognized the potential of rage early on and put his own spin on it back in 2021. Even before that, he was sampling Carti’s “Foreign” on his track “India,” offering an early glimpse of his embrace of the rage aesthetic. “25WAGG3DOU2” carries an ethereal quality, driven by a hypnotic, repetitive beat that echoes beautifully through your headphones.
11.Tana Feat. Slump6s — "Antisocial" (2021)
Produced by: maajins and CGM Beats
The thumping, military-style drums at the start of “Antisocial” set the tone for the mosh pits during the show, as the then 14-year-old Tana delivers one of 2021’s best rage tracks. His punched-in autotune flows ride over an ominous instrumental, with warbling bass trailing the end of each phrase. The track then shifts into a drill-inspired rhyme pattern, and the constant ad-libs make it one of the most recognizable songs in the underground scene.
10.Homixide Gang — "Uzi Work" (2023)
Produced by: KP Beatz & ssort
Homixide Gang deserves a spot on this list as the newest talent on Carti’s Opium label. “Uzi Work” samples Parliament’s “Flashlight” and flips the ‘70s funk classic into a hyper aggressive track. With buzzing electric guitars and rattling bass, the song became one of their breakout hits.
9.Pi’erre Bourne — "IG (Instagram Hoes)" (2023)
Produced by: Pi’erre Bourne
“IG” was a longtime snippet, carefully pieced together by fans from leaks and Instagram Live clips, gaining millions of streams on Soundcloud. The song originates from when Pi’erre made the beat on IG live in 2018, showing how he played a crucial role in laying the seeds for the rage sound well before its 2020 breakthrough.
The instrumental sounds like Pi’erre’s own rendition of the PlayStation 2 startup screen, and something that SoFaygo or early Destroy Lonely could tackle. Nevertheless, Pi’erre raps on his own beat, creating an addictive chorus. The snippet reached “grail” status in Pi’erre’s fan community until he officially released it five years later in 2023.
8.Lil Uzi Vert — "x2" (2023)
Produced by: Ken Carson
“x2” is one of the more forward-thinking tracks on the polarizing Pink Tape. Surprisingly, Ken Carson returns to his producer roots to craft the bubbly arpeggios of the instrumental, over which Uzi flows with a flair reminiscent of his mixtape days. The cycling drums and Uzi’s staccato delivery show that, even as a pioneering SoundCloud figure, he’s still evolving the sound and staying tapped into the new artists pushing it forward.
7.Destroy Lonely — "NOSTYLIST"
Produced by: Cxdy & Chef9thegod
Destroy Lonely is one of the more enigmatic figures in rage, known for slowing down the tempo and bringing a calmer energy to his tracks. On “NOSTYLIST,” he floats over a melody that sounds ripped from a Mario 64 game—digital tones and looping chords that keep your head nodding. His approach is more subdued than what his label boss, Playboi Carti, delivered on Whole Lotta Red, but the rhythmic chorus here is just as captivating.
6.Travis Scott Feat. Playboi Carti — "FE!N" (2023)
Produced by: Travis Scott & Jahaan Sweet
Travis is obviously not part of the underground. But “FE!N” is a global smash, taking the energy from rage and pushing the genre to a wider audience. The grandiose, oscillating Juno-synth chords, the mainstream debut of Carti’s deeper vocal performance, and the catchy chorus make it a victory lap of sorts for the rage genre. The song’s energy is undeniable, and it makes sense why Travis played the track over a dozen times during his Barclays Center show.
5.Sofaygo — "Off The Map" (2020)
Produced by: Trenton Kyle
“Off the Map” dropped just eight days before Whole Lotta Red, earning a near-mythic status over time. Its EDM-rooted instrumental highlights SoFaygo’s sharp ear for production—he was riding the rage wave before many of his peers. The flow is melodic, minimalistic, and full of energy, making it a standout track that would go on to influence a wave of artists. The title feels prophetic too: SoFaygo has been largely silent in recent years. Hopefully, he resurfaces with new music soon.
4.Ken Carson — "Fighting My Demons" (2023)
Produced by: star boy, Outtatown, bart how, Warren Hunter & Lvis
“Fighting My Demons” features grand, ascending synth lines and distorted bass that pierce your ears on impact. The autotune and nonchalant flow over the grumbling beat—produced by Dutch rage experts Starboy and Outtatown—perfectly embody the genre. A Great Chaos was Ken’s ascension to the top of the rage movement, and this track serves as the perfect mosh pit anthem as Ken Carson screams the chorus on stage.
3.Playboi Carti — "Stop Breathing" (2020)
Produced by: F1LTHY, Lukrative and ssort
Still, no one has quite mastered Carti’s unique formula and “Stop Breathing” shows why. The song is one of those tracks that bridges both past and future. The song interpolates Gucci Mane’s “Shirt Off,” while F1LTHY’s futuristic and minimalist production sets the tone as Carti's screaming flows and repetitive volley of squeaky ad-libs fill the track. The music is rebellious.
2.Yeat — "Sorry Bout That" (2021)
Produced by: Trgc & Sharkboy
One of the biggest winners of the rage rap wave was Yeat—the unmistakable autocrooner whose otherworldly sound quickly set him apart. “Sorry Bout That” is one of those hypnotic tracks, where swirling electronic leads and sputtering drums, crafted by Trgc and Sharkboy, served as a blue-pill moment for many potential rage fans. Yeat layers in his eccentric ad-libs and autotuned falsetto harmonies, delivering one of the catchiest choruses of 2021.
1.Trippie Redd Feat. Playboi Carti — "Miss the Rage" (2021)
Produced by: Losoe
Regardless of who first invented rage, Playboi Carti and Trippie Redd were instrumental in popularizing the sound, prompting much of the underground rap scene to follow suit. The track, produced by Losoe—a member of the Hyperpop.jp collective—is skillfully crafted. Its ethereal, whining synths and booming bass create a hypnotic backdrop. Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti glide effortlessly over the beat, delivering what stands as the definitive rage anthem of our time—despite what Ye thinks.
