If you’ve been on Instagram currently, you’ve in all probability observed the world going all in on 2016 nostalgia. From common customers to stars like Ice Spice, everybody’s been reminiscing a few time when issues felt a lot easier—or a minimum of appeared that means.
That yr was additionally probably the most iconic in music. We have been getting traditional rap, pop, and R&B albums at an unimaginable price. Drake was the kingpin, together with his stimulus package deal placing artists on, whereas the SoundCloud period was simply starting to spill into the mainstream, with artists like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert have been solely beginning their rise.
With nostalgia at an all-time excessive, we thought it might be enjoyable to look again at rap music from that yr. Here’s a have a look at some artists’ greatest songs from 2016, primarily based on their Billboard chart efficiency.
Song: “Bad and Boujee” with Migos
Released: October 28, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 26
Lil Uzi was the breakout rapper of 2016 but his biggest hit didn’t come to the end of the year. Migos’ Metro Boomin-produced smash “Bad and Boujee” would eventually hit No. 1 at the top of January.
Song: “One Dance” Feat. WizKid & Kyla
Released: April 5, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 1
You know how they say the first million is the hardest? Same thing with No. 1 hits. It took Drake nearly 10 years to land his first No. 1 as a lead artist, which came with “One Dance.” After that, he couldn’t be stopped.
Song: “Broccoli” with D.R.A.M
Released: April 6, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 5
Lil Yachty has lived many lives since 2016. Back then, his persona and music have been driving oldheads loopy—and now, nicely, he’s nonetheless doing that. D.R.A.M.’s “Broccoli” marked the start of Lil Boat having the radio in a chokehold.
Song: “Pop Style” with Drake & Jay-Z
Released: April 5, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 16
Although 2016 was the yr The Life of Pablo took over, Kanye’s greatest mark on the charts got here with the Views reduce “Pop Style.” Ahh—again when instances have been easier.
Song: “Black Beatles” with Rae Sremmurd
Released: August 12, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 1
One of the largest cultural moments of 2016 was the Mannequin Challenge, backed by Rae Sremmurd and a just-home-from-the-feds Gucci Mane, who was very a lot not a clone.
Song: “Lockjaw” with French Montana
Released: May 27, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 73
In 2016, Kodak had been buzzing for a minute, however it was French Montana who helped push him into the mainstream with the minor hit “Lockjaw,” a music in regards to the joys of getting geeked out.
Song: “Pick Up The Phone” Feat. Young Thug and Quavo
Released: June 3, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 43
Maybe no music screams 2016 like “Pick Up the Phone,” which captures Travis Scott, Young Thug, and Quavo colliding proper as they’re on the verge of superstardom.
Song: “Don’t Wanna Know” with Maroon 5
Released: October 11, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 7
There was a time when Kendrick was embracing collaboration with pop stars. During a very busy stretch after To Pimp a Butterflyhe labored with Taylor Swift, SIA, Beyoncé, and even put out this mid, mailed-in effort with Maroon 5.
Song: “Sneakin’” with Drake
Released: October 29, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 28
The Drake and 21 Savage lengthy partnership started with “Sneakin’,” a standout from the playlist More Lifewith The Boy’s melodic supply enjoying off 21’s deadpan circulate.
Song: “Deja Vu”
Released: December 9, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 7
We bought a J. Cole album in 2016. 4 Your Eyez Onlythe comply with as much as 2014 Forest Hills Drivefeatured the standout“Deja Vu.” At the time the music was his greatest hit, being his first music to hit the highest 10.
Song: “Used To This” Feat. Drake
Released: November 3, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 14
Fresh off What a Time to Be Alivehis collaboration album with Drake, “Used To This” additional affirmed them as kindred spirits. This is certainly one of many extra underrated collaborations between the 2.
Song: “No Limit” with Usher
Released: June 9, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 32
In 2016, Usher had the nice sense to faucet in with probably the most attention-grabbing weirdos in rap, and Young Thug delivered. This sultry, trap-banger additionally serves as a tribute to Master P and No Limit. How are you able to go fallacious?
Song: “Deja Vu” Feat. Justin Bieber
Released: November 4, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 75
By 2017, “Congratulations,” which options Quavo, would grow to be Post Malone’s greatest hit on the time, a music that may finally go diamond. But in 2016, his highest-charting music was his catchy collaboration with JB.
Song: “Side To Side” with Ariana Grande
Released: August 30, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 4
Ariana and Nicki have all the time shared a particular chemistry. Their 2016 hit “Side To Side” was one in all their greatest collaborations and a real music of the summer season contender.
Song: “Sucker for Pain” with Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors
Released: June 24, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 32
This was an period when document labels have been nonetheless producing rap soundtracks. Suicide Squad had one by way of Atlantic, that includes this moody, Frankenstein of a posse monitor “Sucker for Pain,” which features a fairly good verse from Lil Wayne.
Song: “All In My Head (Flex)” with Fifth Harmony
Released: May 31, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 24
In 2016, Fetty nonetheless had the glow of his 2015 breakout throughout him, protecting him in demand for pop hits—together with this Fifth Harmony heater.
Song: “No Problem” Feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
Released: May 26, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 43
In 2016, Chance had the world in his arms. He, after all, performed an necessary position on The Life of Pablohowever he additionally launched his personal Grammy-winning album, Coloring Bookwhich dominated the yr. The posse reduce “No Problem” emerged because the album’s greatest hit.
Song: “All The Way Up” (Remix) with Remy Ma, Jay-Z, French Montana & InfaRed
Released: March 26, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 27
Fat Joe and Remy Ma reached late-career highs with “All The Way Up.” The music went to a different stage when Jay-Z jumped on the remix, due to Memphis Bleek. At least French lastly secured that publishing.
Song: “THat Part” Feat. Kanye West
Released: May 13, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 40
ScHoolboy Q scored one of many greatest hits of his profession, partly due to an explosive verse from Kanye.
Song: “Why You Always Hatin?” Feat. Drake & Kamaiyah
Released: May 21, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 62
Drake and YG tried to recreate the magic of “Who Do You Love?” by posing one other urgent query: “Why You Always Hatin?”