Music · 2018
Streaming Supremacy, Viral Anthems, and Global Breakthroughs
In 2018, hip-hop and streaming culture officially eclipsed traditional pop norms, fueled by viral music videos and record-breaking album drops. From historic festival performances to groundbreaking international chart-toppers, the year redefined global music culture.
- April 2018 | Live Performance | USA
Beychella: Beyoncé Headlines Coachella
Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to headline Coachella, delivering an iconic, marching-band-infused spectacle celebrating HBCU culture.
- May 2018 | Childish Gambino | Hip-Hop
This Is America
Donald Glover’s hard-hitting single and provocative music video captivated the world with its searing commentary on gun violence and Black culture in America.
- June 2018 | Drake | Hip-Hop/R&B
Scorpion
Drake's massive double album shattered streaming records worldwide and yielded massive culture-defining hits like 'God's Plan' and 'In My Feelings'.
- April 2018 | Cardi B | Hip-Hop
Invasion of Privacy
Cardi B released her critically acclaimed debut studio album, cementing her status as a global superstar and earning the Grammy for Best Rap Album.
- April 2018 | Kendrick Lamar | USA
Pulitzer Prize Awarded to Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar became the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to win the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music for his 2017 album 'DAMN.'
- May 2018 | BTS | K-Pop
Love Yourself: Tear
BTS became the first K-pop group to top the US Billboard 200 chart, marking a historic breakthrough for global music pop culture.
- August 2018 | Travis Scott | Hip-Hop
Astroworld
Travis Scott released his psychedelia-infused hip-hop masterpiece, spawning the unstoppable chart-topping anthem 'SICKO MODE'.
- November 2018 | Ariana Grande | Pop
Thank U, Next
Ariana Grande turned personal grief into pop perfection with her surprise single that broke streaming records and triggered an iconic music video phenomenon.
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