As a huge fan of hip-hop and R&B music, 2016 was an amazing year for my playlist. New music seemed to be coming out all the time, with new hits online every weekend almost. Countless projects, mixtapes, albums, and singles were put out for us to enjoy, and from summer jams to songs that had us in our feelings, these are the 10 artists that surprised me in 2016.
1. Chance the Rapper
Everyone that knows me at all knows that I love Chance the Rapper. From his first mixtape, 10 Day, I have seen his creativity come through in each line. Chance's 2016 mixtape Coloring Book took up an enormous following. The gospel style rap tracks he created gave a one-of-a-kind experience to his listeners. Chance also dropped a Holiday themed project titled "Merry Christmas Lil Mama" with R&B artist Jeremih.
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2. Khalid
Pronounced Kuh-leed, the 18 year old star released "Location" in May, one of the best singles of the year. His message about teenage love and dedication resonated with teens everywhere. The vocals are smooth and organic, pairing perfectly with his beat and instrumentals. Khalid released a couple other singles this year, all of which were excellently performed. He recently announced a tour on social media which made everyone excited. Khalid's music is so refreshing, and to see it coming from the mind of someone my age is spectacular.
3. Kanye West
Although 'Ye has had some ups and downs this year, his most recent album, the Life of Pablo, had shocked millions at the time of it's release. Kanye brought back the classic feel that he showed us with Graduation and College Dropout. With fresh new beats and clever lyrics, this album was more than likeable.
4. Travis Scott
Known primarily for his breakout single "Antidote", Scott was heavily praised for his most recent album "Birds in the Trap Sing Mcknight". His album brought in several emotions, featuring versitle tracks such as "Goosbumps" and "Pick Up the Phone".
5. Migos
Migos has had mixed reviews since their rise in popularity. But after racking in over 65 million views since Halloween, their latest hit Bad & Boujee has everyone dancing in their seats.
6. Childish Gambino
One of the most long-awaited projects of the year, 'Bino surprised fans everywhere with this funk inspired mix. He gave us yet another set of impeccable vocals, beaming creativity, and a mix of energy, all while staying true to himself- regardless of what we expected.
7. Lil Dicky
While I wouldn't consider myself an avid listener to his recorded music, I am a big fan of Lil Dicky's freestyles. His flow is unique, and he proved to be one of the strongest contenders of the XXL Freshman rappers. Don't let his looks fool you though, this guy knows exactly what he's doing.
8. Big Sean
While I personally feel Big Sean is often underrated, his newest single, "Bounce Back" has proved him to the haters, while giving the fans another song to dance to.
9. Young M.A.
While this song came out in May of this year, it's stayed relevant through the winter time. This was named the summer anthem of 2016 thanks to M.A's flow, lyricism, and swagger.
10. The Weeknd
I often expect terrific vocals and solid production from Abel Tesfae due to past experience. Though the album was said to run on too much, I think that the Michael Jackson inspired vocals were truly inspiring.
