2016 Hip Hop Music Playlist: The Best of the Year
Looking for a great hip hop playlist to get you through the rest of 2016? Check out our picks for the best tracks of the year so far.
Best Hip Hop Songs of 2016
This year has been a great one for hip hop music. We’ve seen a lot of new faces, as well as some returning veterans, putting out some great music. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best hip hop songs of 2016.
“Formation” – Beyonce
“Formation” is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was released on February 6, 2016, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, as the lead single from the album. “Formation” was written by Beyoncé, Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Mike Will Made It, and Pluss. The song was produced by Mike Will Made It andBeyoncé. A hip hop and trap song with Southern hip hop influences, “Formation” contains samples of bounce music and brass band instrumentation. Lyrically, it features a unapologetic expression of Beyoncé’s southern heritage and discusses police brutality.
The accompanying music video for “Formation” was directed by Melina Matsoukas and shot in New Orleans. It revolves around Beyoncé dancing in front of various landmarks important to African-American culture in New Orleans while she is accompanied by a group of young black girls. Following its release, “Formation” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 10, making it Beyoncé’s highest-charting single as a solo artist on the chart. The song also topped Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eight consecutive weeks.
“No Problem” – Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz
“No Problem” is a song by American rapper Chance the Rapper featuring American rappers Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz. It was released on May 27, 2016, by independent record label Apple Music as the third single from Chance’s third mixtape, Coloring Book (2016). The artists co-wrote the song with its producers Monroe “1cent” Williams, Vyron Turner, and Christopher “Groove” Stewart; Mike Dean also served as a co-producer. A trap and hip hop song, its production incorporates hi-hats, sythesizers and a piano loop. The composition is anchored in bass-heavy percussion. Lyrically, it features Chance boasting about his successes while Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz contribute their own verses with each discussing their accomplishments in the music industry.
The track became a sleeper hit on streaming services; it peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Commercially, it has topped charts in Australia and New Zealand while reaching the top 10 in Canada and several European countries including Denmark, France, Norway and the United Kingdom. An accompanying music video for “No Problem” was directed by Austin Vesely which features cameo appearances from several celebrities including Young Thug, Jay Z, Hannibal Buress and Kyle.
“One Dance” – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla
“One Dance” is a song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake for his fourth studio album, Views (2016). The song features guest appearances from Nigerian Afrobeat artist Wizkid and British singer Kyla.
The song was released as the lead single from the album on April 5, 2016. “One Dance” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Drake’s first number one single as a lead artist and second overall following his featured spot on Rihanna’s “Work” earlier in the year. The song also became Drake’s first number one in the United Kingdom, and Wizkid’s first. In October 2016, the song was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“Panda” – Desiigner
“Panda” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Desiigner. It was released to iTunes on December 15, 2015, as his commercial debut single after being signed to GOOD Music earlier in the year. The song debuted at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number one, making it Desiigner’s first US number-one single. It also reached the top 10 in several other countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A remixed version featuring vocals from American rapper Kanye West was released on February 22, 2016.
“Work” – Rihanna featuring Drake
“Work” is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The song was released as the lead single from the album on January 27, 2016. A dancehall and trap song with an R&B Drake features as a guest artist on the track giving it a bouncy Island vibe that caught on quickly with fans. Lyrically, “Work” speaks to the value of putting in hard work in a relationship even when things are not going well. The song became Rihanna’s fourteenth number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and topped the charts in other fourteen countries including Canada, France and Switzerland.
Best Hip Hop Albums of 2016
As we head into the new year, it’s time to reflect on the best hip hop albums of 2016. This was a great year for hip hop, with many artists putting out great music. Here are our picks for the best hip hop albums of 2016.
“Lemonade” – Beyonce
On “Lemonade”, Beyonce unapologetically opens up about her marital struggles and infidelity, while also celebrating the black female experience. It’s an important album that has already had a lasting impact on music, culture, and society.
“Coloring Book” – Chance the Rapper
“Coloring Book,” the third mixtape by Chance the Rapper, was one of the most acclaimed albums of 2016. The album is a mix of gospel and hip hop, withChance rapping about his faith and personal struggles. The album was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, winning Best Rap Album.
“Views” – Drake
“Views” is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on April 29, 2016, through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. Recording sessions took place between 2015 and 2016, with both Canadian and American producers contributing to the project. The production on the album was primarily handled by Noah “40” Shebib, with additional contributions from frequent collaborator Boi-1da, as well asPARTYNEXTDOOR, Frank Dukes, Maneesh Bidaye and Kanye West among others.
The album’s release was preceded by five singles: “Hotline Bling”, “One Dance” featuring Wizkid & Kyla, “Work” featuring Rihanna, “Pop Style” featuring The Throne and “Controlla”. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with sales of one million units. It became Drake’s third consecutive number one album in Canada and sixth overall in his home country. Globally it debuted within the top two on fifteen different charts and reached number one in several of them. Critical reviews were mixed; some praised its expansive production while others found its lyrical content uninspired.
“The Life of Pablo” – Kanye West
“The Life of Pablo” is the seventh studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on February 14, 2016, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from André 3000, Chance the Rapper, Chris Brown, Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, The Dream, Post Malone, Rick Ross, Tyler the Creator and Young Thug. Production was handled by a variety of record producers including Mike Dean, Rick Rubin, Noah Goldstein and Kanye West himself.
The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with 327,000 equivalent album units earned in its first week. This became West’s seventh consecutive album to debut at number one on the chart and his ninth overall album to do so. As of June 2018[update], the album has sold over 1 million copies in the United States alone.
“Anti” – Rihanna
“Anti” is the eighth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on January 28, 2016, through Westbury Road and Roc Nation. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2014 and 2015, while production was handled by various record producers including Timbaland, DJ Mustard, Boi-1da, Hannibal Buress, Travi$ Scott and Travis Scott. “Work” was released as the lead single from “Anti” on January 27, 2016. The album features guest vocals from Drake, SZA and PartyNextDoor among others.
“Anti” debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200, selling 115,000 equivalent units in its first week; it is Rihanna’s lowest-peaking album in the country to date. The album also debuted at number two on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, behind only Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Upon its release, “Anti” received generally positive reviews from music critics. Commercially, it performed moderately well worldwide. The album peaked at number one in Canada and Australia; it also reached number three in France and the United Kingdom; while peaking within the top ten in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand. In June 2016, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced that “Anti” was one of the thirty best-selling albums of the first half of 2016 with 1.5 million copies sold worldwide (the fourth highest-selling album by a female artist).
Best Hip Hop Artists of 2016
The year 2016 was a great year for hip hop music. Many artists released new music that quickly became popular. Some old favorites returned with new music as well. This year was also a year of change for the hip hop industry. Let’s take a look at some of the best hip hop artists of 2016.
Beyonce
Beyoncé released Lemonade, her sixth studio album and arguably her most personal work to date. The album was a commercial and critical success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and earning Beyoncé her sixth consecutive Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Lemonade was also praised for its uncompromising portrayal of black womanhood, with many critics lauding Beyoncé for her honesty and vulnerability. Other standout tracks from the album include “Sorry” and “Formation.”
Chance the Rapper
Busta Rhymes once said, “There’s only two types of music: good and bad.” Chance the Rapper is good music. The Chicago native has been taking the hip hop world by storm ever since the release of his 2013 mixtape, Acid Rap. A true independent artist, Chance has topped year-end lists and garnered critical acclaim, all without signing to a label. His infectious positive attitude and innovative style have made him one of the most exciting artists in hip hop today.
Drake
Drake is one of the most popular hip hop artists of 2016. His album Views was one of the best-selling albums of the year. He has also had many hit singles, including “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling.”
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is one of the best hip hop artists of 2016. He is known for his unique style and ability to tell a story through his music. His album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was one of the most successful albums of the year and earned him critical acclaim. Kendrick Lamar is a skilled lyricist and has a gift for storytelling. He is one of the most talented rappers of our generation and is sure to continue to create amazing music in the years to come.
Kanye West
2016 was a big year for hip hop, with some of the biggest names in the genre dropping new albums and singles. Among them was Kanye West, who released his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo. The album was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also received five Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.
