Top Hip Hop Music of 2016
2016 was a great year for hip hop music. Check out our top picks for the best hip hop songs of 2016.
Introduction
The top hip hop songs of 2016 were a mix of party tracks, conscious anthems, and everything in between. Drake, Chance the Rapper, and Travis Scott dominated the charts with their unique styles, while Kanye West, Beyonce, and Frank Ocean released some of the best-received albums of the year. Whether it was Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble.” or Young Thug’s “Wyclef Jean,” there was no shortage of great music to choose from.
Best Hip Hop Songs of 2016
The year 2016 was a great year for hip hop music. We saw a lot of new artists debut and a lot of established artists release new music. There were a lot of great songs released this year and it was hard to narrow it down to just 10. However, we did manage to do it and here are our picks for the best hip hop songs of 2016.
“Formation” – Beyoncé
“Formation” is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was written by Beyoncé, Michael Lloyd, and Ashley Turner, and produced by Beyoncé, Lloyd, James Fauntleroy, Mike Will Made It, and Melo-X. A trap song with elements of R&B and rap, “Formation” lyrics are a mix of southern slang and Black Lives Matter.
The track unexpectedly premiered on February 6th on Tidal without any prior announcement or promotion from Beyoncé or her team. The following day, she released the song and its music video exclusively on Tidal before making it available for digital download a week later. Upon its release, “Formation” peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
“Hotline Bling” – Drake
“Hotline Bling” is a song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake, which serves as the lead single from his fourth studio album Views. The song interpolates the 2013 R&B hit “Roses” by British electronic duo Synth. It was released to rhythmic and contemporary hit radio on October 19, 2015, as the album’s fourth single. The song has peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Drake’s second highest-charting single in the United States to date.
A music video for “Hotline Bling” was directed by Canadian director Pascal Finkelstein and released on October 19, 2015. Upon its release, the music video was praised for its simple visual style and highlighted dance scenes; it has since been considered one of Drake’s best music videos. It became popular on YouTube, receiving millions of views in its first few days after release and was pivotal in propelling “Hotline Bling” to commercial success. The video inspired memes and parodies, including a Saturday Night Live sketch featuring host Jimmy Fallon dressed as Drake.
“All the Way Up” – Fat Joe and Remy Ma
“All the Way Up” is a song by American rappers Fat Joe and Remy Ma, featuring American rapper French Montana. It was released on February 5, 2016, as the first single from their collaborative album Plata O Plomo. The song peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
“No Problem” – Chance the Rapper
The sun-soaked, horn-driven anthem finds Chance playing the good guy—unlike on last year’s “Angels,” in which he was the cocky protagonist leading a band of merry miscreants on a joyride through the city. On “No Problem,” he cedes the spotlight to Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, who step in to confidently remind us that they remain two of the sharpest rappers alive. The result is one of the strongest tracks on an already excellent album.
“Panda” – Desiigner
“Panda” is a hip hop song by American rapper Desiigner. It was released on December 15, 2015, as his commercial debut single and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was produced by Menace.
Best Hip Hop Albums of 2016
It was a great year for hip hop music and there were a lot of great albums released. Here are the best hip hop albums of 2016.
“Lemonade” – Beyoncé
“Lemonade” is the sixth studio album by American singer Beyoncé, released on April 23, 2016 by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album’s conception was inspired by Beyoncé’s marital difficulties after the release of her previous album, with it addressing both infidelity and feminism. Upon its release, “Lemonade” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 485,000 copies in its first week ( Becoming Beyoncé’s sixth number-one album in the United States) and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A visual album with a accompanying film, it sold over 600,000 copies in the United States and received widespread critical acclaim.
“Views” – Drake
Drake’s fourth studio album, “Views,” spends its 13th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In spite of relatively meager sales — just 49,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Aug. 4, according to Nielsen Music — it keeps atop the list due to continued streaming activity. The set shifted 49,000 units in the most recent tracking frame (down 5 percent), with 87 percent of its total unit sum stemming from streams (equaling 43 million on-demand audio streams for the album’s songs in the frame). “Views” is now just nine weeks shy of matching Eminem’s 16-week run at No. 1 for his 2000 album “The Marshall Mathers LP.”
“Coloring Book” – Chance the Rapper
“Coloring Book” is the third mixtape by American rapper Chance the Rapper. It was produced by his group The Social Experiment, Lido, and Kaytranada, among others. Released on May 13, 2016, the mixtape was streaming exclusive on Apple Music before being made available for purchase on iTunes. A physical edition of the mixtape was released on December 23, 2016. The album became Chance’s first project to debut in the US Billboard 200 chart, where it peaked at number 8.
Critical reception for “Coloring Book” was extremely positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the mixtape received an average score of 94Based on 27 reviews. Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as 95 out of 100 based on 30 reviews. “Coloring Book” won Best Rap Album at the 59th Grammy Awards, becoming only the second streaming-only album to receive this honor after Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN..
In a five-star review from Pitchfork Media, “Coloring Book” was described as “one of the most immersive listens in recent memory” and “Chance’s most joyous work.” Rolling Stone ranked it as the third best album of 2016 and praised its lyrical themes and sonic diversity. HipHopDX called it a “instant classic” while also giving credit to its production values and features. AllMusic’s Greg Kot praised Chance for his confidence and maturity while also describing him as an optimistic voice for a new generation of hip hop fans.”
“Major Key” – DJ Khaled
“Major Key” is the ninth studio album by American record producer and DJ Khaled. It was released on July 29, 2016, by We the Best Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from a variety of artists, including Future, Drake, Rick Ross, Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, Betty Wright, Nas, J. Cole, Jeremih, Tory Lanez, Kodak Black and Bryson Tiller. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
“Blank Face LP” – Schoolboy Q
Schoolboy Q’s “Blank Face LP” is one of the best hip hop albums of 2016. The album features some of the biggest names in rap, including Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Travis Scott, and E-40. “Blank Face LP” is a masterfully crafted album that showcases Schoolboy Q’s versatility as an artist. From the hard-hitting bangers like “THat Part” and “Torch” to the more introspective tracks like “Kno Ya Wrong” and “Overtime,” this album has something for everyone. If you’re a fan of hip hop, or just looking for a great album to add to your collection, be sure to check out Schoolboy Q’s “Blank Face LP.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the top hip hop music of 2016 includes a variety of artists and songs. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what the best music is, but these tracks are definitely worth a listen. Whether you’re a fan of rap, R&B, or both, there’s something on this list for everyone. So put on your headphones and enjoy!
