Mid-Point: 31 Artists We Love So Far This Year
Halfway through the year, check out 2016's top artists.
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Our Half-Time Tally - 2016 has been the year artists have come to win – pushing boundaries with visuals, breaking records, going HAM on social, finishing a bid, shedding boy band skin, and super charged to make their comebacks. It’s been an intense year where legendary heavyweights were lost and released heavily anticipated projects, marking their territory as the future’s greatest. Check out our top artists for 2016...so far. – Jon Reyes(Photo: BET)
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31. Ghost Town DJs - These guys reappeared in the digital age thanks to the viral “Running Man Challenge” that happened to the tune of their '96 hit "My Boo," propelling the group back on the charts. Making moves without even really having to make them.(Photo: So So Def)
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30. Zayn Malik - Zayn’s chart dominance is a testament to the power of the boy band. Since leaving One Direction, Zayn’s single ("Pillowtalk") and album (Mind of Mine), heavily influenced by R&B, have made #1 debuts. Not bad.(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
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29. Kodak Black - Encounters with authorities aside (he’s up to two arrests this year) this Florida rapper is part of a new class of rappers that has embraced the old-school bravado and essence of the late '90s Southern rap movement. It’s leaving everyone hoping only for the best from this XXL Freshman Class student of the game.(Photo: Dollaz n Dealz Entertainment)
Photo By Photo: Dollaz n Dealz Entertainment
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28. Skepta - The U.K. Grime legend has been a bridged a major gap between the U.S. hip-hop game and grime by working with A$AP Nast and Pharrell on his latest album.(Photo: Gus Stewart/Redferns)
Photo By Photo: Gus Stewart/Redferns
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27. 2 Chainz - Over a decade of mixtapes and half a decade of major label albums, 2 Chainz has managed to make himself a mainstay with his latest Lil Wayne collaborative album, ColleGrove.(Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images for Samsung)
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26. Remy Ma - Since her 2014 prison release, Remy has been all about the comeback. This is the year it’s finally happen now that her joint album with Fat Joe, Plata O Plomo, is being released, armed with the New York anthem "All The Way Up."(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
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25. dvsn - This Drake co-signed act released their debut album under the OVO Sound imprint. Daniel Daley and producer, Nineteen85 forged ahead with an impressive R&B debut and are joining the ranks of artists from Canada infiltrating the U.S. market. We’re welcoming them with open arms.(Photo: DVSN via Instagram)
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24. KING - The L.A.-based group made a statement this year by releasing their independent debut We Are KING, letting us know that R&B music should be unapologetically romantic, floral, and whimsical.(Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)
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23. Ro James - This German born, U.S. bred artist has been setting 2016 to be a seminal year for himself with the release of his debut ELDORADO, making a #3 debut on the R&B charts. Things are looking up for this newcomer.(Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
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22. Maxwell - The neo-soul staple is making a comeback with the release of the second part to his blackSUMMERnight trilogy this July and we’re all in, especially with the release of "Lake By The Ocean."(Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
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21. Alicia Keys - With an impending comeback due later this year, Alicia’s latest releases “In Common” and “Hallelujah” are proof she’s still a music powerhouse 15 years after her 2001, Songs In A Minor debut.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Bacardi)
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20. Lil Uzi Vert - This Philly rapper is kicking in the door this year. As part of the XXL Freshmen Class the stakes are high for what Lil Uzi Vert will deliver but if it all points to projects like his mixtape Luv Is Rage, he’ll be able to deliver without breaking a sweat.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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19. French Montana - Even while we wait for Mac N Cheese 4 (set to be released on August 16th) French Montana's Wave Gods mixtape gave us goodies to hold us off until he appeared on the game-changing "All The Way Up." His film debut in The Perfect Match was just the icing on top, really.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIDAL)
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18. Brandy - With the release of her single, “Beggin’ and Pleadin’,” her upcoming reality show with her brother, and a world tour in the works, B Rocka is still out there making moves.(Photo: Nicholas Hunt/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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17. Gallant - Gallant is on his way to become one of this year’s major R&B breakout stars. With TV performances that are racking up interest and a debut album Ology that crosses Prince and Frank Ocean in a dream world, 2016 might just end up belonging to this guy.(Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella)
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16. Gucci Mane - It’s a hip-hop comeback story that tugs at the heartstrings and inspires at the same time. Upon his release from prison this year, it was an all-out celebration on social media. When he released his “First Day Out the Feds” it was another party. Let's also not forget La Flare's dramatic weight loss that had people thinking he was cloned.(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
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15. Kaytranada - From a couple of remixes to an album debut featuring the music industry’s best, producer and DJ Kaytranada has come a long way from Montreal and his early remix beginnings. Kaytranada is forging a path of his own.(Photo: Matt Cowan/Getty Images for Coachella)
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14. Wiz Khalifa - This past year Wiz has solidified himself in the hip-hop world with a full decade of albums and a continuance for marijuana advocacy. We’re still paying attention.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for AOL)
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13. Anderson .Paak - This southern California darling made his way into new ears when Beyoncé’s “Hot Sauce” playlist on TIDAL included Anderson’s song, “The Bird.” But Anderson is no stranger to legend love: he worked on Dr. Dre’s Compton album after all. With his latest release Malibu it’s clear that no other artist has walked the line between rapping and singing so elegantly in a good long while.(Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for Coachella)
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12. Fetty Wap - 2015 might have belonged to Fetty Wap but 2016 wasn’t going to fly by without him giving this year a run for its money. With five singles already released this year, Fetty’s coming, and it’s at full force.(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for iHeartRadio / Turner)
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11. Desiigner - Brooklyn’s newest star is blowing the world up with one famed single – "Panda." But with co-signs from Kanye West, a part in XXL’s Freshmen Class, and a debut mixtape titled New English, we’re watching closely. (Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
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10. Lin Manuel Miranda - Broadway’s shining star has crossed over to pop phenomenon. The writer and creator of the show, Hamilton, is everywhere – hanging out with artists, on late night TV, magazine covers, you name it. His effect on the world with his reimagining of Alexander Hamilton’s life has yet to be measured but as of right now, we can definitely feel it. Plus, he's got BARS.(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
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9. A$AP Ferg - One of NYC’s gems is proving himself as a heavyweight with his latest album release, Always Strive And Prosper. Ferg is showing the world he’s got more rap muscles to flex.(Photo: Sonia Recchia/Getty Images for Samsung)
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8. Chance the Rapper - Chance has taken the art of the mixtape to new levels with Coloring Book. Hopefully the GRAMMY's come around to acknowledge the true power of mixtapes next year.(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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7. Future - With his fourth solo album Evol debuting at #1, it’s all but apparent that Future’s style isn't a thing of the past, but the way of the future. Get it?(Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Power 105.1's Powerhouse 2015)
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6. Rihanna - With the surprise release of Rihanna's much-anticipated album, ANTI, being totally botched by the powers that be, you would think it would affect her whole empire. It hasn’t. With a world tour currently in effect and her record breaking simultaneous #1 album and single, Rihanna is proving that 11 years after her debut, she’s still an artist to watch.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for DirecTV)
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5. Kendrick Lamar - Kendrick’s in-your-face artistic expression made its way to this year’s GRAMMY awards with the most unbridled performance of the night. Fans all over devoured his compilation of demos and unreleased material, unreleased. unmastered., like it was a new album. The he did it again at the BET Awards, performing "Freedom" with Beyoncé. Only Kendrick.(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
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4. Kanye West - The Chicago rapper and producer is delivering on the promise he made to be one of the most influential artists there ever was. With the release of his latest The Life of Pablo, Kanye has birthed the “living breathing changing creative expression” in album form. By updating tracks with tweaks and changes, we’re getting a new way to consume albums in the digital age. Oh, yeah, and his Twitter rants make the news, as well as his visuals like the naked (pun intended) "Famous" video.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for DirecTV)
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3. Prince - The death of this music legend has been felt across the globe. Losing Prince this year was a massive hit to music, but his influence is still felt everywhere. However, without a doubt, we miss the Purple One terribly.(Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for NPG Records 2015)
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2. Drake - Canada’s very own released Views to a monster consumer reception. It’s been sitting on top of the charts for almost two full months with no signs of budging. As one of hip-hop’s greatest stars, Drake's effect on the world at large thanks to his music and overall star appeal proves his star will shine for a very long time.(Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)