Music · 2016
The Year Music Stood Still and Rebuilt
In 2016, the music industry mourned legendary icons like David Bowie and Prince while pioneering artists reshaped album release culture through surprise streaming drops. From visual masterpieces to streaming-first mixtapes, the year redefined pop stardom, R&B, and hip-hop.
- April 2016 | Beyoncé | Pop/R&B
Lemonade
Beyoncé released a groundbreaking visual album on HBO exploring betrayal, identity, and Black womanhood, instantly resetting the cultural conversation.
- January 2016 | David Bowie | Art Rock
Blackstar
Released just two days before his death, David Bowie’s haunting final masterpiece turned his own mortality into an unforgettable artistic statement.
- August 2016 | Frank Ocean | R&B
Blonde
After four years of silence, Frank Ocean shattered expectations with an avant-garde, minimalist album that redefined modern R&B.
- April 2016 | Drake | Dancehall/Pop
One Dance
Drake dominated global charts for months with an irresistible dancehall-infused track that became Spotify's most-streamed song of the year.
- February 2016 | Kanye West | Hip-Hop
The Life of Pablo
Kanye West launched a living, continuously updated streaming album alongside a chaotic Madison Square Garden fashion event.
- April 2016 | Guns N' Roses | Rock Tour
Not in This Lifetime... Tour
Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan reunited on stage for the first time in over two decades, kicking off one of the highest-grossing rock tours ever.
- May 2016 | Chance the Rapper | Gospel Rap
Coloring Book
Chance the Rapper made history with a joyous, gospel-tinted mixtape that became the first streaming-only album to win a Grammy.
- July 2016 | The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
Closer
This ubiquitous EDM-pop anthem captured the zeitgeist of summer 2016, spending 12 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?