10 Worst Songs of 2020 | Playlist 🎧

10. Luke Bryan, “One Margarita”

💿 Born Here Live Here Die Here • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020

“One margarita, two margarita, three margarita, shot / Don’t worry ‘bout tomorrow / Leave all your sorrow out here on the floatin’ dock.” Every genre of music has its fair share of cliches.  With country music, alcoholic consumption definitely tops the list of predictable themes – UNDERSTATEMENT.  Middle-aged country singer 🎙 Luke Bryan has never been a stranger to singing about or partaking in alcohol. On 🎵 “One Margarita” (💿 Born Here Live Here Die Here), he opts for margaritas as opposed to beer.  Such a contrast, Luke!

The silver lining is that the production is high budget.  Also, you can argue that Bryan has laid to rest that horrendous pop-crossover sound, embracing country.  Still, the sound of “One Margarita” isn’t the issue though – it’s the abysmal songwriting and utter corniness our ears are unfortunately subjected to. Bryan is true to self, thematically and vocally – NOT GOOD! His sound is heavy on twang, which might tickle some folks’ fancies, but personally, “It’s a NO for me dawg.” Basically, ole boy does nothing drastically different from anything he’s done in the past; the needle is not moved. This is your beached-out, spring break joint from a man approaching his mid-40s.  Yeah, I’ll definitely pass, particularly as you listen to the rest of the dumb chorus:

“One more barefoot round, one more last chance to say
Hey Señorita, don’t you think we need a salt and a Marley song?
One margarita, two margarita, three margarita
We’ll be gone
We’ll be gone.” 

🚨 Believe it or not, there’s actually a worse country song that graces this list!

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9. Future, “Life is Good”

Ft. Drake

💿 High Off Life • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2020

On 🎵 “Life is Good”, which appears on 💿 High Off Life, 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Future collaborates with his pal 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Drake… for the MILLIONTH FCKN TIME!  This time let’s just say the magic is NOT there for this pairing.  Drake handles the first part of this two-part record that is essentially divided by artist contributions – that’s a big part of the problem.  He begins by delivering a melodic, catchy chorus that finds him in the zone.  It’s okay – won’t fault him much for that.  He follows up with a verse that encompasses the come up, flexing, and haters.  Yep, been there, done that… YAWN.

Future then drops an interlude before unleashing the second part of the song – a complete 180. His backdrop is totally different, yet characteristic to his style.  Again, the cohesiveness – rather the lack of cohesiveness – is what derails “Life is Good.” On the chorus, Future flexes like a boss: “Yeah, hunnid thousand for the cheapest ring on a nigga finger, lil’ bitch, woo!” Totally enlightening there, Hendrix – NOT! Over two more verses, he raps, in his signature autotune style about what you’d expect: drip, drugs, and sex.  Ultimately, keeping it 💯, this 💩 is shallow as albeit.

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8. DJ Khaled, “POPSTAR”

Ft. Drake

🎵 “POPSTAR” • 🏷 OVO / We The Best / Epic • 📅 2020

🎵 “POPSTAR” is a banger, at least by design. It’s certainly built upon a formula to say the least.  Pretty much, this is your ‘by the book,’ bravado-heavy trap joint. And let me make it crystal clear that it totally S-U-C-K-S!  To give it some credit, the production by 🎙 DJ Khaled, 🎙 OZ, and 🎙 David & Eli is sound.  Even being sound, the production is NOT game changing.  Focusing on the “POPSTAR” himself, 🎙 Drake – his second of four consecutive appearances on this list –well, he’s locked-in to high flex mode.

Drizzy’s ‘high flex mode’ is clear when the chorus drops right after the brief intro:

“Bitches callin’ my phone like I’m locked up, nonstop
From the plane to the fuckin’ helicopter, yeah
Cops pullin’ up like I’m givin’ drugs out, nah, nah
I’m a popstar, not a doctor.”

Deep stuff – NOT! Even so, you could argue this as one of the selling points of “POPSTAR,” even with its utter lack of profundity in just about every way possible. Beyond the chorus, things definitely don’t ascend to higher heights as the rapper spends his time flexing about his tough, swagger-laden ‘pop star status’ which includes any girl he wants, anything he wants – etc., etc., etc.!  Hopefully, I’ve sufficiently emphasized that “POPSTAR” is an EPIC FAIL.  DJ Khaled has long lost his touch, and Drake seems to be going in the same direction, especially with something as empty and forgettable as this.

7. Drake, “Toosie Slide”

💿 Dark Lane Demo Tapes • 🏷 OVO • 📅 2020

“Don’t you wanna dance with me? No? / I could dance like Michael Jackson / I could give you thug passion / It’s a Thriller in the trap where we from.” To some extent, I feel like a total douche given the fact that 🎵 “Toosie Slide” earns 🎙 Drake, one of music’s most successful artists, yet another spot on 🎧 10 Worst Songs of 2020.  But then, I listen to the three songs, particularly this basic joint from 💿 Dark Lane Demo Tapes, and I’m able to easily justify his appearances on this stench fest.  Honestly, he should probably thank me for not including “Laugh Now Cry Later”, which still isn’t vintage Drake in my book.

Anyways, the record named after ATL choreographer Toosie managed to secure the no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.  How? I’m not exactly sure, to this day.  It’s one of the most basic performances I have ever heard from Drake, if I’m being honest. Yes, it’s smooth and arguably ‘a vibe,’ but there’s just very little to it.  Even the production work (🎙 OZ) is hypnotic as opposed to being bombastic.  At best, “Toosie Slide” is merely okay – I’ve heard worst.  But still, compare it to “God’s Plan,” “In My Feelings” or “Nice for What,” and it sure as hell fall short.

6. Lil Yachty & DaBaby, “Oprah’s Bank Account”

Ft. DaBaby

💿 Lil Boat 3 • 🏷 Quality Control Music • 📅 2020

Let me make this clear.  Yes, this is the fourth worst song of 2020 that 🎙 Drake has appeared on.  It was not intentional – I promise! This is more about 🎙 Lil Yachty! It’s been a bumpy ride for Yachty, who’s found himself on the wrong end of critical success more times than not.  Honestly, it’s incredibly difficult to get past a debut album as horrid as 💿 Teenage Emotions was back in 2017.  I mean, it’s late 2020 as I pen this, and I can still remember just how bad that album was. Anyways, the rebound for Lil Boat hasn’t exactly been smooth, and he managed another misstep with 🎵 “Oprah’s Bank Account”, which appeared on his 2020 project, 💿 Lil Boat 3.

So, some pros first! The production by 🎙 Earl on the Beat is respectable.  Lil Yachty does exhibit personality on his verse, Drake is drippy on his guest verse, while 🎙 DaBaby (the co-lead artist) is arguably the best fit of the three. The music video may possibly be the best thing about “Oprah’s Bank Account.” Still, none of that combats the horrendous-ness of the song.  Lil Boat drops ridiculous bars with no sense of profundity whatsoever.  DaBaby may indeed be the best fit, but there’s no transcendence with statements such as “My bitch ‘bout it, ‘bout, she need a tank” or “Now his bitch goin’ ‘Baby on Baby’.”  It’s so bad, I believe many folks forgot about this particular song.

5. Pharrell Williams & Jay-Z, “Black Entrepreneur”

🎵 “Black Entrepreneur” • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2020 

Let me start by saying that I greatly, GREATLY admire 🎙 Pharrell Williams.  As a musician who’s always loved to produce as a hobby, I’d consider Williams a big-time influence.  That said, even an icon can have their share of missteps.  Pharrell has a big one on the well-intentioned but totally mis-executed 🎵 “Black Entrepreneur” featuring 🎙 Jay-Z.  You’d think with Williams and HOV they couldn’t possibly miss.  Well, think again…

Williams has always been known for his quirky, left of center productions and “Entrepreneur” might top the list for being so otherworldly. It has some parallels to another polarizing production he helmed, 🎵 “the light is coming”, from 🎙 Ariana Grande, 💿 Sweetener in 2018.  Parallels to that number include the vocal loop and overall nontraditional sound.  “Black Entrepreneur” possesses an odd groove, with a colorful harmonic progression, and a mix of whispering and singing from Williams – it’s bizarre to say the least.  Again, Pharrell’s intentions are good, shown through socially conscious, woke lyrics.  JAY-Z supports him with a very pro-black verse, capped off with “Black nation, black builder, black entrepreneur / You in the presence of Black Excellence and I’m on the board.”  Still, the flaws definitely get in the way of these two giants.  Did “black man” really need to be repeated a bajillion times?  That’s a resounding HELL to the NO!

4. Corey Taylor, “CMFT Must Be Stopped”

💿 CMFT • 🏷 Roadrunner • 📅 2020 

“I don’t need nothin’ (Not a motherfuckin’ thing) / What’s my name (C-motherfuckin’-T).” OMFG! Like the song title, 🎵 “CMFT Must Be Stopped” 🎙 Corey Taylor does indeed need to be stopped – IMMEDIATELY.  Rap rock is always a risk by my estimations, and far too seldom does it yield rewards.  “CMFT Must Be Stopped” is a prime example where one loses brain cells while listening to total shit – just keeping it 💯.

Not even my man, the honorable 🎙 Tech N9ne can save this pathetic ‘low light’ from 💿 CMFT.  NO, I admittedly DIDN’T listen to CMFT, and honestly, I have no desire to, based upon hearing this! I’m no ageist, but still, don’t we expect better from a 46-year-old decorated and experienced musician like Taylor is? This ain’t it, bruh! YOU MUST BE FCKN STOPPED!

3. Florida Georgia Line, “I Love My Country”

💿 Life Rolls On • 🏷 Big Machine • 📅 2021 

I’m all about patriotism – I love ‘MERICA – but in the hands of 🎙 Florida Georgia Line, well, it stinks.  Even worse, it totally, TOTALLY reeks!  If you read the beginning of this list, remember I said there was actually a worse country song than 🎙 Luke Bryan’s dumb 🎵 “One Margarita”? I have no doubt that 🎙 Tyler Hubbard and 🎙 Brian Kelley do indeed love their country, but frankly, it just don’t hit on 🎵 “I Love My Country”! Honestly, I may be giving them too much credit by ranking this mess as just the third worst song of 2020.

Furthering my utter disgust for this godawful country record is the fact that these country bros are actually going through with keeping “I Love My Country” on the track list of their 2021 album, 💿 Life Rolls On. Sigh, I guess when one already commits a horrid sin, you just double down on it as opposed to repent. So, why exactly do I disapprove? (1) Total lyrical ineptitude (2) obnoxiously country and lacking inclusivity (3) a shitload of unnecessary twang 🎤💧. I LOVE MY COUNTRY, but I despise this song!

2. 6ix9ine, “GOOBA”

💿 TattleTales • 🏷 6ix9ine / Create Music Group • 📅 2020

🎙 6ix9ine already has the most unlikeable person award on 🔒.  He’s been called a snitch, which is never flattering, particularly when it comes to hip-hop.  Furthermore, he’s incredibly problematic, which is worse than snitching in my book.  But listen, I’m not here to excoriate him as a person, but I am here to excoriate his music and BABY – it’s a hot, HOT mess!

After subjecting myself to 💿 DUMMY BOY a few years back, I just couldn’t muster up the strength to hear the horrific scream-fest of 2020’s 💿 TattleTales.  Call me judgmental (IDGAF TBH), but after hearing 🎵 “GOOBA”, it just wasn’t going to happen.  6ix9ine screams TF out a song, and while he’s tough (“I tell a nigga don’t dick ride, don’t blick ride”), he doesn’t bring anything substantive. I mean, on the first verse, are we supposed to impressed with his cockiness (“Niggas always wanna chase clout, bitch, I am clout”).  Really Tekashi, really? Hmm.  Then, of course, he has to go and mention COVID-19: “They sick, been hot way before Coronavirus…” To quote Randy Jackson, “It’s a NO for me, dawg.” Actually, add a ‘Hell’ before the NO, and you’ve got my true feelings towards this joint.

1. Justin Bieber, “Yummy”

💿 Changes • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2020

“Yeah, you got that yummy-yum / That yummy-yum, that yummy-yummy.” Yeah, I’mma need to repent in advance for this total dumpster 🔥 of a list What the actual fizzuck 🎙 Justin Bieber? Admittedly, at the time when the atrocious 🎵 “Yummy” arrived, I overrated it, giving a Justin Bieber comeback far too much credit – 3 ½ stars out of 5, Brent, WTF were you thinking? It happens, and I repent of all my music blogger/music critic transgressions.  To his credit, he sings well, but was that ever really the problem with the former Canadian heartthrob?

To my credit, I was all-in on the sub-par quality of 💿 Changes, which a clearly inept Bieber wants to characterize as a R&B album – phew! Listen, I realize guys love to sing about sex and be specific about it, but did we really need to hear Bieber sing about the deliciousness of her privates like it’s a buffet?  Prepare to get even more pissed when you hear this song earned a Grammy nomination 🏆? Why, likely because of the name ‘Justin Bieber’ as opposed to the quality because this just should NEVER EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.  I have spoken.  🎤💧