Although there's nothing quite like a dope instrumental, lyricism is arguably the most important aspect of hip-hop, despite the fact that many contemporary artists are out of touch with the the craft.
To be clear, this list isn't all about Kendrick's Lamar's verse on Big Sean's "Control". Although it's most definitely been included, you'll find several tracks that dropped well before K.Dot's notorious taunt. Also, know that these aren't necessarily the best or most skillful verses of the year - they're the hottest, meaning they caused a stir above and beyond the norm, did big numbers and sparked new conversations in the game. We went with a one-verse-per-emcee rule as well, and remember, this is about the words, not the beat. That's what our upcoming "Hottest Singles Of 2013" list is for.
Although lyrical heavyweights such as Crooked I, Nas, R.A. The Rugged Man, Talib Kweli, Tech N9ne and Action Bronson have been omitted, y'all know what the result would be if we turned this feature into a good old fashioned cypher and added them to the mix.
Read on for our breakdown of ten of the biggest verses of the year.
Who do y'all feel spit the hottest fire in 2013?
