Top Hip Hop Music Videos of 2016

A look at the top hip hop music videos of 2016. These are the videos that dominated the charts and had everyone talking.

Introduction

There were a lot of great hip hop music videos released in 2016. Here are our picks for the top 10.

“Formation” by Beyoncé

“Formation” is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was released on February 6, 2016, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as the lead single from the album, accompanied by a music video. “Formation” debuted and peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Beyoncé’s highest-charting solo single since “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” in 2008. Additionally, it debuted at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, marking Beyoncé’s sixth consecutive number-one single on that particular chart and her ninth overall. “Formation” also became Beyoncé’s tenth top 40 entry on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 radio airplay chart. It was ranked as one of the best songs of 2016 by various publications.

The music video for “Formation” was directed by Melina Matsoukas and shot in New Orleans. Upon its release, it generated controversy over its references to police brutality and Hurricane Katrina.Beyoncé performed “Formation” live during The Formation World Tour (2016) as well as at the Super Bowl 50 halftime show (2016). Deeming it a trap anthem and calling it politically charged, critics praised its exploration of race relations in America; they also complimented its sound and Beyoncé’s assertive vocal performance.

“Hotline Bling” by Drake

Even though this song is almost three years old, Drake’s “Hotline Bling” video was only released in October of 2016, and it quickly became one of the most popular music videos of the year. The simple yet effective visuals, featuring Drake dancing in a brightly-lit room, were impossible to resist, and the video racked up over a million views in just a few days.

“Famous” by Kanye West

“Famous” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, taken from his seventh studio album The Life of Pablo. The song features vocals from Rihanna and was released on June 10, 2016, as the lead single from the album. It peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “Famous” was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. The music video for “Famous” was released on June 24, 2016.

“Work” by Rihanna ft. 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. “Work” is a dancehall and R&B song with a syncopated Island beat. Lyrically, the song is about not having time for relationships due to work obligations.

The song received mixed reviews from music critics. Some praised Rihanna’s vocal performance and the Island-inspired production, while others criticized the lyrical content for being too simplistic and unimaginative. However, “Work” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna’s fourteenth Billboard Hot 100 chart topper, and her ninth number one single from an album in the 2010s decade. It also became Drake’s second number-one hit on both charts as a lead artist, and his third overall after featured guest appearances on both Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” (2010) and DJ Khaled’s “I’m on One” (2011). In Canada, the song spent nine weeks at number one on the Canadian Hot 100 – marking Rihanna’s longest stay at number one in that country – while also becoming Drake’s fourth consecutive number-one single in Canada.

An accompanying music video for the song was shot in February 2016 in Toronto and debuted on Vevo on February 22, 2016; it was directed by Tim Erem. The video features numerous shots of Rihanna dancing in various outfits while Drake makes cameo appearances throughout.

“Never Forget You” by Zara Larsson ft. MNEK

“Never Forget You” is a song recorded by Swedish singer and songwriter Zara Larsson and British singer and songwriter MNEK. The song was released on 22 July 2015 in Sweden, as the third single from Larsson’s international debut studio album, So Good (2017). It peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their highest-charting single there.

“One Dance” by Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla

“One Dance” is a song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake for his fourth studio album, Views (2016). The song features guest vocals from Nigerian-British singer Wizkid and British singer Kyla. It was released to rhythmic contemporary radio on April 5, 2016, as the lead single from the album. “One Dance” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Drake’s first number-one single in the United States and Wizkid’s second. The song also became Kyla’s first US number one. It spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one in the UK, becoming both Drake’s and Wizkid’s longest-charting single in the UK; it also peaked at number four in Canada and number six in Australia. Internationally, “One Dance” topped charts in several other countries including Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands and New Zealand.

“Panda” by Desiigner

“Panda” is a single by American hip hop recording artist Desiigner. The song was produced by Richie Souf and appeared on his debut mixtape, New English (2016). The song was released to commercial radio on April 8, 2016, as his debut single. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s popularity continued to grow after it was featured in a commercial for the iPhone 7.

“Sorry” by Justin Bieber

The music video for “Sorry” was released on October 22, 2015, and features American dancer and model Lena Dunham. It is set in a warehouse where a number of dances are going on, with various people Solo dancing as well as in couples. The video features cameos from John Leguizamo, Moby and Tila Tequila.

“No Problem” by Chance the Rapper ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz

“No Problem” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz. It was released on May 27, 2016, as the third single from his third mixtape, Coloring Book (2016). The song peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Conclusion

After reviewing all the music videos that came out in 2016, we have compiled a list of what we believe to be the top 10 hip hop music videos.