The Best Hip Hop Music of 2016
A list of the best hip hop songs of 2016.
Best Hip Hop Albums of 2016
Last year was a big year for hip hop music. A lot of great albums were released, and it was hard to keep up with them all. But we’ve managed to narrow it down to our top 10 favorite hip hop albums of 2016.
Kendrick Lamar- DAMN.
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. was not only the best hip hop album of 2016, but one of the best albums of the year period. Kendrick is a master wordsmith, and his ability to tell stories and paint pictures with his lyrics is on full display on this album. The beats are hard-hitting and provide the perfect backdrop for Kendrick’s lyrical prowess. If you’re a fan of hip hop, or even just good music in general, DAMN. is an album that you need to check out.
J. Cole- 4 Your Eyez Only
On his fourth studio album and second of 2016, North Carolina rapper J. Cole explores heartbreak, fatherhood, and police brutality with the same honesty, vulnerability, and political consciousness that has defined his career. 4 Your Eyez Only is a marked improvement over its predecessor, the meandering and unfocused 2014 Forest Hills Drive, with better production and sharper songwriting throughout. Tracks like “Neighbors” and “She’s Mine Pt. 1” are among Cole’s best, period — the former a hard-hitting commentary on racial profiling that employs violins to add weight to its message, while the latter is a tender love song worthy of Marvin Gaye. There are also several nods to 2Pac throughout the record, most notably on “Change,” which has all the makings of a modern hip-hop classic. 4 Your Eyez Only is another strong entry in J. Cole’s catalog and further evidence that he’s one of the best rappers working today.
Chance the Rapper- Coloring Book
While many artists this year chose to address the social and political turmoil of 2016 head-on, Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper instead released an album that was all about hope, love, and positivity. The result was Coloring Book, one of the best hip hop albums of 2016, and a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Filled with joyous gospel-infused tracks like “Blessings” and “How Great,” Coloring Book is an ode to Chance’s daughter and to his hometown of Chicago. Featuring guest appearances from Kanye West, Justin Bieber, 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, and more, Coloring Book is also one of the most star-studded hip hop albums in recent memory.
With its mix of poignant storytelling, high-energy tracks, and beautiful production, it’s no wonder that Coloring Book was named one of the best hip hop albums of 2016 by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, XXL, and more.
Best Hip Hop Songs of 2016
It’s been an exciting year for hip hop, with a number of new artists emerging and established artists continuing to release great music. Here are some of the best hip hop songs of 2016.
“Humble” – Kendrick Lamar
“Humble” is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 30, 2017, as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Damn. The song entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number two, making it Lamar’s highest-charting single on the chart as a lead artist. The track also debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, giving Lamar his 13th number-one single on the chart and tying him with Drake for the most number-one singles (as a lead artist) on the chart.
“Bad and Boujee” – Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert
“Bad and Boujee” is a song by American hip hop group Migos featuring vocals from American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on October 28, 2016, by Quality Control Music, 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records as the lead single from their second studio album Culture. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Migos’ and Lil Uzi Vert’s first number-one single on the chart.
“No Problem” – Chance the Rapper ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
“No Problem” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Chance the Rapper. The song features guest appearances from fellow American rappers Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, with production handled by Mike Will Made It, PLK, and Twice as Nice.
The track was released to digital retailers on May 27, 2016, as the lead single from Chance’s third mixtape Coloring Book (2016). “No Problem” peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A commercial success, the song additionally attained top 40 placements in Australia and Canada. The song received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 59th Grammy Awards.
Best Hip Hop Artists of 2016
Hip Hop music has seen a resurgence in 2016 with artists such as Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, and J Cole releasing some of the best music in years. If you’re a fan of Hip Hop, then 2016 was a great year for you. Let’s take a look at the best Hip Hop artists of 2016.
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is one of the best hip hop artists of 2016. His album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was one of the most acclaimed albums of the year, and he has continued to tour and perform to sold-out crowds. Kendrick Lamar is a skilled lyricist and rapper, and his ability to tell stories through his music has made him one of the most popular hip hop artists in the world.
J. Cole
J. Cole’s fourth studio album, “4 Your Eyez Only,” was released in 2016 to critical acclaim. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making it J. Cole’s third consecutive album to do so. “4 Your Eyez Only” was also nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
Chance the Rapper
By now, it’s no secret that Chance the Rapper is one of the best hip hop artists of 2016. The Chicago native released his third mixtape, Coloring Book, in early May to critical acclaim, and it quickly became one of the most talked about releases of the year.
Coloring Book is a gospel-infused hip hop album that features contributions from some of the biggest names in music, including Kanye West, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, and Justin Bieber. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Chance’s highest-charting release to date.
Chance first gained mainstream attention with his 2013 mixtape Acid Rap, which was hailed by many as a modern classic. He followed that up with 2016’s Surf, a collaborative project with Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment.
With three stellar releases under his belt, Chance has cemented his place as one of the best hip hop artists of 2016. He’s an incredibly talented lyricist with a unique style that sets him apart from other rappers in his generation.
