Since the 2010s are over, which year do you think the music of 2016 is closer to?

I would say a slight leaning towards 2013 because the biggest genre of 2016 is EDM, which 2013 has. While Trap rap was popular in 2016, it wasn’t dominating like 2019 was. 2019 was also when EDM was dead in the charts and artists like Billie Eilish and Lizzo jumped into the mainstream.

Definitely 2019.

Since the 2010s are over, which year do you think the music of 2016 is closer to?

I would say a slight leaning towards 2013 because the biggest genre of 2016 is EDM, which 2013 has. While Trap rap was popular in 2016, it wasn’t dominating like 2019 was. 2019 was also when EDM was dead in the charts and artists like Billie Eilish and Lizzo jumped into the mainstream.


I'm not sure if EDM was the biggest genre of 2013-2016, but I'm not sure what was because there was so much variety during this period, which I liked about it. There was trap like Future, DJ Khaled, Young Thug, Fetty Wap, etc. but it had a different sound compared to the 2017-present sound such as Migos, Cardi B, Travis Scott, Lil Nas X, Roddy Ricch, etc. Trap is clearly the dominant genre of this era, and there's a lot of Latin pop as well. In 2013-2016 there was a lot of alternative rap like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky. There was a lot of teen pop like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and Taylor Swift. There was even rock like Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots.

That being said I went with 2013, but barely. 2013 had a lot of music that was unique to just that year such as the retro disco sound like "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, or Blurred Lines, and also Macklemore. I don't see many similarities with 2019 either except maybe Post Malone and Billie Eilish.

I'm not sure if EDM was the biggest genre of 2013-2016, but I'm not sure what was because there was so much variety during this period, which I liked about it. There was trap like Future, DJ Khaled, Young Thug, Fetty Wap, etc. but it had a different sound compared to the 2017-present sound such as Migos, Cardi B, Travis Scott, Lil Nas X, Roddy Ricch, etc. Trap is clearly the dominant genre of this era, and there's a lot of Latin pop as well. In 2013-2016 there was a lot of alternative rap like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky. There was a lot of teen pop like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and Taylor Swift. There was even rock like Imagine Dragons and 21 Pilots.

That being said I went with 2013, but barely. 2013 had a lot of music that was unique to just that year such as the retro disco sound like "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, or Blurred Lines, and also Macklemore. I don't see many similarities with 2019 either except maybe Post Malone and Billie Eilish.

Yeah, 2016 doesn’t have strong connection with either years. Plus, 2013 had some electropop songs still big. I don’t think I’ve heard of Billie Eilish in 2016.

It's a bit closer to 2019. Trap continued its breakthrough in 2016 with massive hits like "Panda", "Broccoli",  "Juju on That Beat" and "Needed Me". 2013 had more variety in hip hop with pop-rap songs like "Thrift Shop" and "F**kin' Problems" and trap songs like "Harlem Shake", I think.

2019 for sure. In 2016 there were some EDM hits but 2013 was more dominant electro pop/EDM. Trap music and mumble rap also increased in popularity in 2016 which I think resembles correlation closer to 2019 than 2013. Hip hop, r&b and pop music in general seemed so different in 2016. I mean just listen to Drake’s 2013 “Hold on we’re going home” and compare that to his 2016’s “Controlla”. There was a major shift in culture in late 2015 to early 2016. 2016 was the year pop culture became more dark and edgy surrounding the politics during that time. 2013 had a  more care free and happy go lucky type vibe to it... Ariana Grande in 2013 sounds nothing like her work in 2016 either... Cardi B was already pretty big in 2016 considering she was a reality tv star and an instagram comedian before she was a rapper, however she already had nearly 2M followers in 2016.

Definitely 2019 considering it was almost 2 eras ahead of 2013. 2013 was still early 2010s, while 2016 was late 2010s just like 2019. I know the music was different in 2016 compared to 2019 given there was more EDM but it was still part of the late 2010s era. Mainstream EDM and dancehall both started in 2016 and these are late 2010s trends.

Absolutely 2013, both mid-2010s years. In 2016 still predated the Soundcloud trap revolution of the late 2010s, and at the same time was still mostly dominated by EDM and "Royals"-inspired pop.

I agree with Shruggie. 2016 is more like 2013 for the reasons he stated. Back in 2016, it was the year when seeds of Soundcloud Trap began to sprout but it didn't top the charts, the biggest Trap songs of the time were from Future, a Future clone, and Rae Sremmurd. Money Longer by Lil Uzi Vert barely reached the top 50 of the Hot 100. Plus, EDM still dominated with songs like Took a Pill In Ibiza, This Is What You Came For, Cold Water, Closer, and Don't Let Me Down. What makes 2016 even more dated is the fact that Flo Rida had a top 5 hit.

Absolutely 2013, both mid-2010s years. In 2016 still predated the Soundcloud trap revolution of the late 2010s, and at the same time was still mostly dominated by EDM and "Royals"-inspired pop.

What? So wrong. How is 2013 a mid 2010s in any way? And how is 2016 a mid 201s years when the late 2010s era started that year.

I agree with Shruggie. 2016 is more like 2013 for the reasons he stated. Back in 2016, it was the year when seeds of Soundcloud Trap began to sprout but it didn't top the charts, the biggest Trap songs of the time were from Future, a Future clone, and Rae Sremmurd. Money Longer by Lil Uzi Vert barely reached the top 50 of the Hot 100. Plus, EDM still dominated with songs like Took a Pill In Ibiza, This Is What You Came For, Cold Water, Closer, and Don't Let Me Down. What makes 2016 even more dated is the fact that Flo Rida had a top 5 hit.


Trap emerging more as a premier subgenre is one of the main reasons why I think 2016 is closer to 2019 than 2013. "Black Beatles", "Panda", "Needed Me", etc. were all hits and had trap elements. Trap in 2013 wasn't even as mainstream. You had "Harlem Shake", sure, but that was only an anomaly because of the meme.

I will agree that EDM was still a thing back in 2016, but it declined shortly thereafter.

Trap emerging more as a premier subgenre is one of the main reasons why I think 2016 is closer to 2019 than 2013. "Black Beatles", "Panda", "Needed Me", etc. were all hits and had trap elements. Trap in 2013 wasn't even as mainstream. You had "Harlem Shake", sure, but that was only an anomaly because of the meme.

I will agree that EDM was still a thing back in 2016, but it declined shortly thereafter.

EDM STARTED in 2016. Name one popular EDM song on the radio from 2015. I'll wait. You don't understand EDM is a LATE 2010S thing? It started in 2016 and only got more popular in 2017..

In fact I'll make it easier for you to see the major difference in the sound between 2015 and 2016. It's like night and day. Much more different than 2017 vs 2016.

Year End Charts 2015

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No late '10s style EDM in there at all... That trend started in 2016. Just a lot of teen pop and viral songs.


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Now look at 2016 LOTS of of EDM, lots of new artists, lots of dancehall, and lots of mumble trap.

It's just crazy you say 2016 is when EDM declined when it's the year it only began in the mainstream. There was more EDM in 2017 than there was in 2016.

EDM STARTED in 2016. Name one popular EDM song on the radio from 2015. I'll wait. You don't understand EDM is a LATE 2010S thing? It started in 2016 and only got more popular in 2017..


Lean On
Sorry
GDFR
Where Are U Now
Cheerleader
Hey Mama
Firestone
Ain't Nobody
Are You With Me
How Deep Is Your Love

EDM stands for ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC. The electropop wave that started in 2009 was a form of EDM.

EDM STARTED in 2016. Name one popular EDM song on the radio from 2015. I'll wait. You don't understand EDM is a LATE 2010S thing? It started in 2016 and only got more popular in 2017..

In fact I'll make it easier for you to see the major difference in the sound between 2015 and 2016. It's like night and day. Much more different than 2017 vs 2016.

Year End Charts 2015

raPzE-5xY-I

No late '10s style EDM in there at all... That trend started in 2016. Just a lot of teen pop and viral songs.


gTXlTt_bqBw

Now look at 2016 LOTS of of EDM, lots of new artists, lots of dancehall, and lots of mumble trap.

It's just crazy you say 2016 is when EDM declined when it's the year it only began in the mainstream. There was more EDM in 2017 than there was in 2016.

2015 hip-hop sounds so different from 2016 hip-hip. I can’t imagine something like “Trap Queen” coming out in 2016 let alone 2017.

Lean On
Sorry
GDFR
Where Are U Now
Cheerleader
Hey Mama
Firestone
Ain't Nobody
Are You With Me
How Deep Is Your Love

EDM stands for ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC. The electropop wave that started in 2009 was a form of EDM.


When I think of EDM, at least the popularity of it, I think of the early 2010's era such as Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, LMFAO, David Guetta, Sia, etc. Sure EDM has always been around, but it wasn't the dominant genre of the mid or even late 2010's. The mid 2010's had more variety: rap, R&B, pop, and even some rock. The late 2010's was when trap became dominant. Its like the crunk/glam rap was during the early-to-mid 2000's

Lean On
Sorry
GDFR
Where Are U Now
Cheerleader
Hey Mama
Firestone
Ain't Nobody
Are You With Me
How Deep Is Your Love

EDM stands for ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC. The electropop wave that started in 2009 was a form of EDM.

Exactly. I can also add in "Wake Me Up" and "Don't You Worry Child" as examples of early-mid 2010s EDM hits.

Exactly. I can also add in "Wake Me Up" and "Don't You Worry Child" as examples of early-mid 2010s EDM hits.

Correct. Even songs like Party Rock is considered an EDM song.

I'm fine with saying there was a transition in both 2015 and 2016 that led to the late 2010s and you can even extend it further past 2016 as changes are always happening. But putting 2016 in the same era as 2014, sorry I just don't see it personally... Way too different for me.

The late 2010s EDM style had its roots in late 2015 and 2016 when Justin Bieber released his album and the Chainsmokers started releasing hits after hit.

People confuse small little hits from the mid 2010s that use some EDM elements with the popular sound of EDM that blew up in 2016. It's not the same. Selfie by Chainsmokers was ONE song in 2014 that didn't even make the top 10 year end charts in a pool of ballads, teen pop songs, and early trap songs dominating the charts.

You can say EDM was popular all decade long especially if you associate electro pop with EDM. It is still electronic dance music and pop in the end of the day. But what I am talking about is that distinct EDM sound that dominated in 2016 and peaked in 2017. It has a distinct sound and I call that late 2010s style EDM. 2016 also introduced dancehall music which lasted only through 2017. You could say 2016 to early 2017 itself was like a little distinct era in music on it's own kinda like 2013. It was trying to find its sound and EDM was big at the time but then it just went the way it is now later on in late 2017.

Changes are always happening that's why it is difficult to divide eras and it can cause arguments. Sorry for taking it too far. Everyone's perspectives are different when it comes to this.

I'm fine with saying there was a transition in both 2015 and 2016 that led to the late 2010s and you can even extend it further as changes always happen but putting 2016 in the same era as 2014, sorry I just don't see it personally. Way too different.

Yeah, I agree, but 2015 wasn’t really transitional. It was more like 2016 and 2017.

Yeah, I agree, but 2015 wasn’t really transitional. It was more like 2016 and 2017.

I'd say 2015 felt a little different from 2016 for me at least. 2016 was the real transitional year.

Closer to 2019, definitely.

I'd say 2015 felt a little different from 2016 for me at least. 2016 was the real transitional year.

Oh no I meant like 2016 and 2017 were more transitional. Sorry, I should’ve worded that better.

When I think of EDM, at least the popularity of it, I think of the early 2010's era such as Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, LMFAO, David Guetta, Sia, etc. Sure EDM has always been around, but it wasn't the dominant genre of the mid or even late 2010's. The mid 2010's had more variety: rap, R&B, pop, and even some rock. The late 2010's was when trap became dominant. Its like the crunk/glam rap was during the early-to-mid 2000's


True that, but 2016 EDM is most certainly in the same instrumental style as 2013-2015 EDM, than it is to 2017-2019 EDM. The genre took more of a trap influenced/minimalist turn in mid 2017, which is when I'd start the current era of EDM. And people are citing Bieber's album Purpose like it pioneered some kind of revolutionary sound, but if anything it was the perfect encapsulation of the EDM/dancehall genre of the mid 2010s. EDM was to the (mid) 2010s what Disco was to the (late) 1970s.

Ok I'm sorry but I really can't see how some of y'all are arguing that 2016 was more like 2013. If anything, even 2014 was very different from 2016 music-wise. No music like this would be released in 2013.

PT2_F-1esPk
kOkQ4T5WO9E
euCqAq6BRa4

You would've never heard of these kinds of song remixes in 2013. But some songs from 2019 still had remixes that sounded like those.

True that, but 2016 EDM is most certainly in the same instrumental style as 2013-2015 EDM, than it is to 2017-2019 EDM. The genre took more of a trap influenced/minimalist turn in mid 2017, which is when I'd start the current era of EDM. And people are citing Bieber's album Purpose like it pioneered some kind of revolutionary sound, but if anything it was the perfect encapsulation of the EDM/dancehall genre of the mid 2010s. EDM was to the (mid) 2010s what Disco was to the (late) 1970s.


Rihanna’s 2016 “Needed Me” is an example of trap infused EDM which took over 2016-2019... Trap infused EDM definitely started in 2016.

Oh no I meant like 2016 and 2017 were more transitional. Sorry, I should’ve worded that better.

Oh I see what you're saying.

Ok I'm sorry but I really can't see how some of y'all are arguing that 2016 was more like 2013. If anything, even 2014 was very different from 2016 music-wise. No music like this would be released in 2013.

You would've never heard of these kinds of song remixes in 2013. But some songs from 2019 still had remixes that sounded like those.

I agree.

Ok I'm sorry but I really can't see how some of y'all are arguing that 2016 was more like 2013. If anything, even 2014 was very different from 2016 music-wise. No music like this would be released in 2013.

PT2_F-1esPk
kOkQ4T5WO9E
euCqAq6BRa4

You would've never heard of these kinds of song remixes in 2013. But some songs from 2019 still had remixes that sounded like those.


Those all sound stereotypical mid 2010s ;D. One thing I will say that makes 2016 seem closer to 2013 than 2019, is just the mere fact that much of the EDM from that year was more influenced by the dancehall trend of the mid 2010s, vs. the more trap influenced sound of now. These videos you just posted prove just that.


Rihanna’s 2016 “Needed Me” is an example of trap infused EDM which took over 2016-2019... Trap infused EDM definitely started in 2016.


I'll grant you that, but that's like one of the only songs that I can think of from that year that infused trap like that. In fact, much of the hip-hop in 2016 coincides with the early-mid 2010s, when trap was gaining steam, but prior to the era of 'Soundcloud rappers' that are prominent in the industry today. Even songs like 'Black Beatles' and 'Panda' seem to emit a different vibe, compared to the likes of songs like 'XO Tour Life' and 'Gucci Gang' debuting a mere year later, but I acknowledge that those songs were still 'building blocks' of sorts. Late 2012-Mid 2016 was a sort of 'mini-renaissance' for the hip-hop/rap genre, before disintegrating itself in the Late 2010s 8-P.

Zelda I haven't disagreed with you on anything more ever.

Zelda I haven't disagreed with you on anything more ever.

Don't worry, we both strongly disagree with him so you're not alone.  ;D

Zelda I haven't disagreed with you on anything more ever.


Welp it certainly ain’t the first time ;D.

I think 2016 was the last time EDM was substantially popular because 2017 gave way for reggaeton ("Despacito" and "Mi Gente"), and trap ("Bodak Yellow" and "XO Tour Llif3"). 2017 was also when the genre started to decline in the mainstream, although there were some songs like "Stay" and "Something Just Like This" that were popular. Here's an article that I've found about EDM's downturn: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/05/23/dj-edm-earnings-down/

I think 2016 was the last time EDM was substantially popular because 2017 gave way for reggaeton ("Despacito" and "Mi Gente"), and trap ("Bodak Yellow" and "XO Tour Llif3"). 2017 was also when the genre started to decline in the mainstream, although there were some songs like "Stay" and "Something Just Like This" that were popular. Here's an article that I've found about EDM's downturn: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/05/23/dj-edm-earnings-down/

2017 was the peak of EDM and 2016 was the start.

To all those who think EDM declined after 2016, here's the reality...

These songs were on constant replay on the radio all throughout 2017.

Paris - Chainsmokers
Something Just Like This - Coldplay and Chainsmokers
Stay - Alessia Cara Zedd
Swish Swish - Katy Perry
What Lovers Do - Maroon 5
What About Us - Pink

Let's not forget about these songs too (didn't have radio play but did have lots of streaming)...
Quit You - Lost Kings
Power - Little Mix
Touch - Little Mix

And more.


These songs were on the radio repeatedly in 2018...
Happier - Marshmellow
Like Me Better - Lauv
The Middle - Zedd

And many more. 2016 was only the start.

Exactly. I can also add in "Wake Me Up" and "Don't You Worry Child" as examples of early-mid 2010s EDM hits.

Both those songs had a different style than the trap-infused EDM that came in late 2015 and 2016. And those sorts of songs were still overshadowed by teen pop songs by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, etc. in the mid '10s.

To all those who think EDM declined after 2016, here's the reality...

These songs were on constant replay on the radio all throughout 2017.

Paris - Chainsmokers
Something Just Like This - Coldplay and Chainsmokers
Stay - Alessia Cara Zedd
Swish Swish - Katy Perry
What Lovers Do - Maroon 5
What About Us - Pink

Let's not forget about these songs too (didn't have radio play but did have lots of streaming)...
Quit You - Lost Kings
Power - Little Mix
Touch - Little Mix

And more.


These songs were on the radio repeatedly in 2018...
Happier - Marshmellow
Like Me Better - Lauv
The Middle - Zedd

And many more. 2016 was only the start.

When I think of EDM, I think of the ones from the early-mid 2010s, not these watered-down stuff.

2017 was the peak of EDM and 2016 was the start.


I usually agree with you on a lot, but I have to disagree with you on this one, EDM started around 2013-2014.  Chris Brown’s Loyal, Don’t Tell him by Jeremiah, Dark Horse Katy Perry, Na na Trey Songz, Summer Calvin Harris, Post to be  Chris Brown, Omarion and Jhenè Aiko and many more are all examples of pop/ hip hop infused edm songs.

I'll grant you that, but that's like one of the only songs that I can think of from that year that infused trap like that. In fact, much of the hip-hop in 2016 coincides with the early-mid 2010s, when trap was gaining steam, but prior to the era of 'Soundcloud rappers' that are prominent in the industry today. Even songs like 'Black Beatles' and 'Panda' seem to emit a different vibe, compared to the likes of songs like 'XO Tour Life' and 'Gucci Gang' debuting a mere year later, but I acknowledge that those songs were still 'building blocks' of sorts. Late 2012-Mid 2016 was a sort of 'mini-renaissance' for the hip-hop/rap genre, before disintegrating itself in the Late 2010s 8-P.


Are you kidding right now ? Hotline Bling and controlla by Drake, Oui by Jeramiah, impatient by Jeremiah, Best friend by Young thug, Moolah by Young greatness, Broccoli by Dram and Lil yachty, work by Rihanna, Antidote Travis Scott, etc. Where were you at in 2016 ? Hip hop in 2016 sounds nothing like Early 10’s hip hop and definitely had more trap inspired beats incorporated into them... Some of these songs were even released in late 2015.

I usually agree with you on a lot, but I have to disagree with you on this one, EDM started around 2013-2014.  Chris Brown’s Loyal, Don’t Tell him by Jeremiah, Dark Horse Katy Perry, Na na Trey Songz, Summer Calvin Harris, Post to be  Chris Brown, Omarion and Jhenè Aiko and many more are all examples of pop/ hip hop infused edm songs.


It looks like EDM was around the entire decade, just different variations of it. It's like synth pop of the 1980's. When I think of EDM what comes to mind is the David Guetta produced tracks of the early 2010's, like Titanium, or Yeah (3X) and Beautiful People by Chris Brown, or Without You by Usher.


Don't worry, we both strongly disagree with him so you're not alone.  ;D


Looks like me and Zelda are on Team 2016 Was Mid 2010's, while you, Slim, and DisneyRetro are on Team 2016 Was Late 2010's. Anyhow I forgot to list Demi Lovato as she was one of the big teen pop artists of the Mid 2010's. Taylor Swift was too but she was more strictly late 2014 and part of '15. I remember a thread awhile back (probably back around 2015) comparing the teen pop era of that time to the Y2K era, only they were seeing a 15 year parallel instead of 16. So 2015 was like 2000, 2014 was like 1999, and 2013 was like 1998 with the rise and decline of teen pop popularity. I always like to think that saying 2016 was no longer part of the Mid 10's era is like saying 2000 is no longer part of the Y2K era, but it seems like people here compare 2016 to 2001 more.

2017 was the peak of EDM and 2016 was the start.


Nah, I'll still put the year of 2012 as the start of EDM becoming huge. Calvin Harris had songs like "Let's Go" and "Sweet Nothing",  Usher had his R&B-styled EDM with "Scream", Nicki with "Pound the Alarm", "Disclosure" with Latch and Sam Smith, etc.

I even found another article that supports my argument: https://www.stereogum.com/1226011/the-top-30-edm-tracks-of-2012/franchises/list/

Looks like me and Zelda are on Team 2016 Was Mid 2010's, while you, Slim, and DisneyRetro are on Team 2016 Was Late 2010's.

Umm, when did I ever say 2016 was late 2010's? If anything, it was the last cultural mid-2010's year. You're not even making any sense. ???

Nah, I'll still put the year of 2012 as the start of EDM becoming huge. Calvin Harris had songs like "Let's Go" and "Sweet Nothing",  Usher had his R&B-styled EDM with "Scream", Nicki with "Pound the Alarm", "Disclosure" with Latch and Sam Smith, etc.

I even found another article that supports my argument: https://www.stereogum.com/1226011/the-top-30-edm-tracks-of-2012/franchises/list/

2011 was when EDM infused with pop music with songs like We Found Love, Titanium, Yeah 3x, On The Floor, Party Rick Anthem.

Umm, when did I ever say 2016 was late 2010's? If anything, it was the last cultural mid-2010's year. You're not even making any sense. ???


I must have misunderstood your post and your reasoning for disagreeing with Zelda, but the other two are always talking about 2016 like it's the same as 2019.

2011 was when EDM infused with pop music with songs like We Found Love, Titanium, Yeah 3x, On The Floor, Party Rick Anthem.

Oh, right. AND 2011 as well.

It looks like EDM was around the entire decade, just different variations of it. It's like synth pop of the 1980's. When I think of EDM what comes to mind is the David Guetta produced tracks of the early 2010's, like Titanium, or Yeah (3X) and Beautiful People by Chris Brown, or Without You by Usher.

Looks like me and Zelda are on Team 2016 Was Mid 2010's, while you, Slim, and DisneyRetro are on Team 2016 Was Late 2010's. Anyhow I forgot to list Demi Lovato as she was one of the big teen pop artists of the Mid 2010's. Taylor Swift was too but she was more strictly late 2014 and part of '15. I remember a thread awhile back (probably back around 2015) comparing the teen pop era of that time to the Y2K era, only they were seeing a 15 year parallel instead of 16. So 2015 was like 2000, 2014 was like 1999, and 2013 was like 1998 with the rise and decline of teen pop popularity. I always like to think that saying 2016 was no longer part of the Mid 10's era is like saying 2000 is no longer part of the Y2K era, but it seems like people here compare 2016 to 2001 more.


2016 was different than the rest of the decade. The elections/politics of that time were super depressing. Music became more edgy and dark. The aesthetic of music videos were more dark as well. The early to mid 2010’s were brighter and more happy go lucky. The elections sparked so much controversy that it was hard to watch. Everything that came out of Donald Trump’s mouth was racist and inappropriate. It started all of this “woke” and pc culture we have today which was not much of a thing pre 2016. Now I can’t go watch a movie without it having some type of message towards politics such as feminism, race, inequality, etc targeted at the audience to “stay woke”. 2010- mid 2015 was more chill and relaxed in my opinion.

I must have misunderstood your post and your reasoning for disagreeing with Zelda, but the other two are always talking about 2016 like it's the same as 2019.

For me it is part of the late 2010s.

I must have misunderstood your post and your reasoning for disagreeing with Zelda, but the other two are always talking about 2016 like it's the same as 2019.


Yeah the question was if 2016 leaned more towards 2013 or 2019 musically, not if 2016 was either mid 2010s or late 2010s musical-like year. Almost everybody in this thread seems to accept that 2016 is mid 2010s, but I guess the difference in asking which year it relates more to is based on if one were to examine purely based on the trends that got big in 2016 or purely based on the trends that continued to be relatively strong in 2016.

I'll get into this one in a little bit, stay tuned  ;)

NOTE: I am not completely accurate, some of the things I say could be wrong, so take my opinions with a grain of salt.

Yeah the question was if 2016 leaned more towards 2013 or 2019 musically, not if 2016 was either mid 2010s or late 2010s musical-like year. Almost everybody in this thread seems to accept that 2016 is mid 2010s, but I guess the difference in asking which year it relates more to is based on if one were to examine purely based on the trends that got big in 2016 or purely based on the trends that continued to be relatively strong in 2016.

How is 2016 mid 2010s? Who says that? Who accepts 2016 is mid 2010s on here? Give me names. Because so far only a couple people agree with that.

How is 2016 mid 2010s? Who says that? Who accepts 2016 is mid 2010s on here? Give me names. Because so far only a couple people agree with that.

Uhh, mc98? Is it ok if you can explain the factors that make 2016 part of the Mid 2010s? I didnt mean to force you but I think you're better than me with explanations...

This is a way to settle the debate, here below were the top Billboard Hot 100 hits for the mid sections of each of these years (2013, 2016, & 2019). I picked the last week of June for each of these years, acting as a good halfway point. Along with the Year-End Top 100 songs from each respected year:


June 2013
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2013-06-29

Year-End 2013
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-100-songs
eW_iNOaUBwU




June 2016
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2016-07-02

Year-End 2016
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-100-songs
gTXlTt_bqBw




June 2019
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2019-06-29

Year-End 2019
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-100-songs
7I8E0swNo_U

How is 2016 mid 2010s? Who says that? Who accepts 2016 is mid 2010s on here? Give me names. Because so far only a couple people agree with that.


Like.....practically everybody ;D.


Uhh, mc98? Is it ok if you can explain the factors that make 2016 part of the Mid 2010s? I didnt mean to force you but I think you're better than me with explanations...


Yeah please, someone explain this to him. I would, but I feel like we've had this conversation with Slim countless times already. I just don't have it in me right now for this...

2016 and 2019 sound way more similar than that 2013 one. The culture changed in 2016. And it's finally starting to change again now too. Changes happen gradually, I know that. But that still doesn't mean 2016 isn't a cultural late 2010s year. Pokemon Go, Trump running for president, EDM, trap, all late 2010s trends. You didn't have those things for 2014 and a good part of 2015.

I think 2016 was the last time EDM was substantially popular because 2017 gave way for reggaeton ("Despacito" and "Mi Gente"), and trap ("Bodak Yellow" and "XO Tour Llif3"). 2017 was also when the genre started to decline in the mainstream, although there were some songs like "Stay" and "Something Just Like This" that were popular. Here's an article that I've found about EDM's downturn: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/05/23/dj-edm-earnings-down/


THIS. Being in college in the mid-late 2010s, I can assure you that the EDM scene certainly began to die down after 2016. If anything, trap/reggaeton started getting blasted more at parties and music festivals in the Summer of 2017, vs. EDM. This is what I meant by EDM 'changing' in 2017, the genre had to adapt with the changing musical tides, so you started to see the genre integrate itself with elements of reggaeton and Trap. The result? The genre's appeal began to diminish even further.

In fact, this is from the article you posted:

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ims-report-top-paid-djs.jpg

Slim, I would like you to please respond to this. This isn't our opinion on the matter, this is just a pure fact of reality.

Uhh, mc98? Is it ok if you can explain the factors that make 2016 part of the Mid 2010s? I didnt mean to force you but I think you're better than me with explanations...

Ok, I would give an argument on why 2016 is more mid 2010s.

Even though SoundCloud rap had its origins in 2016, it wasn’t the popular sound of hip hop in 2016. Songs like Panda and Low Life were the biggest Trap songs of the time giving off the classic Atlanta sound.

EDM songs like Let Me Love You sounds exactly the same as Lean On. This Is What You Came For sounds more like his How Deep Is Your Love in 2015 than Slide in 2017. Don’t Let Me Down is an EDM-trap fusion that would be big in 2014.

Can’t Stop The Feeling sounds like something that would come out in 2013. A lot of Lorde inspired pop was still big in 2016 such as Daya, Alessia Cara, and Halsey. Cake By The Ocean sounds almost like Uptown Funk. Artists like Chainsmokers and 21 Pilots are extremely Millennial-oriented groups whose lyrics are very relatable to 20 something’s at the time. Work From Home sounds like a DJ Mustard song.

The reason why people put 2016 as late 2010s because some of the sounds bleed into 2017 while simply they are just mid 2010s leftovers.

Ok, I would give an argument on why 2016 is more mid 2010s.

Even though SoundCloud rap had its origins in 2016, it wasn’t the popular sound of hip hop in 2016. Songs like Panda and Low Life were the biggest Trap songs of the time giving off the classic Atlanta sound.

EDM songs like Let Me Love You sounds exactly the same as Lean On. This Is What You Came For sounds more like his How Deep Is Your Love in 2015 than Slide in 2017. Don’t Let Me Down is an EDM-trap fusion that would be big in 2014.

Can’t Stop The Feeling sounds like something that would come out in 2013. A lot of Lorde inspired pop was still big in 2016 such as Daya, Alessia Cara, and Halsey. Cake By The Ocean sounds almost like Uptown Funk. Artists like Chainsmokers and 21 Pilots are extremely Millennial-oriented groups whose lyrics are very relatable to 20 something’s at the time. Work From Home sounds like a DJ Mustard song.

The reason why people put 2016 as late 2010s because some of the sounds bleed into 2017 while simply they are just mid 2010s leftovers.

Thanks mc! Yeah, I was in 6th grade during this time, and I can tell you that 2016 has a strong Mid-2010s vibe. I only noticed some differences in late 2016 following Trumps election, darker music and new shows like Stranger things but even then, there were lots of Mid-2010s trends that lasted up until 2018...

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3jubL6n0dwHpwVPTjofkEu?si=5lt7LgQyRJSy1GvL38nL3Q

If anyone has spotify I suggest you guys listen to this playlist. All mainstream songs of 2016. Sounds more similar to today and completely different than what was released in 2013 minus the few edm songs that were produced that year in which sound more different than what was released in 2013. I agree with slim. I was in college during this time, this was officially the year in which late 2010’s culture began. By the peak of the year (summer) Trap was already dominating the charts in which progressed into the fall/ winter of 2016 going into 2017. EDM was still apart of pop culture in 2016-2017 however was starting to be more influenced by trap by 2017-2018... 2016 was the starting ground/the root of it all tho. The vibe of that year politically, technologically and culturally did not feel like 2013-2015 imo. It became dark...

Literally anyone who's payed attention to music in the 2010's knows that 2016 was nothing like 2013. Far from it actually. The hip-hop and pop of 2013 vs. 2016 is like worlds apart compared to 2016 vs. 2019. Something like "Don't Let Me Down" is not something you'd hear in 2013. It fits way more into 2019 than it does 2013. I could still see something like "Señorita" still being released in 2016.

The only proof you need is to listen to songs from each year and compare them.

2016 was different than the rest of the decade. The elections/politics of that time were super depressing. Music became more edgy and dark. The aesthetic of music videos were more dark as well. The early to mid 2010’s were brighter and more happy go lucky. The elections sparked so much controversy that it was hard to watch. Everything that came out of Donald Trump’s mouth was racist and inappropriate. It started all of this “woke” and pc culture we have today which was not much of a thing pre 2016. Now I can’t go watch a movie without it having some type of message towards politics such as feminism, race, inequality, etc targeted at the audience to “stay woke”. 2010- mid 2015 was more chill and relaxed in my opinion.

2016 really was the cultural turning point of the decade. I genuinely felt the shift to the PC/woke/SJW culture at the time. Trap got even more popular and became the de facto pop genre of the late 2010s.

Even though 2016 is mid 2010s, I do agree that the late 2010s sound evolved from that year.

Even though 2016 is mid 2010s, I do agree that the late 2010s sound evolved from that year.


Numerically it’s mid but culturally i’d say it’s late, or at least mid-late 2010’s. The beginning of 2016 already felt super different from the year prior. It was the start of Gen Z culture in my opinion. In 2016 Cardi B was starting to make a name for herself with her mixtape and being on reality tv while making a name for herself as an Instagram comedian. In 2016 you had a mixture of trap and edm, however they weren’t fused together as of yet. But you also had the dreadful politics and the release of the iphone 7 which I say is more apart of late 2010’s culture or at least the root of it all.

Even though 2016 is mid 2010s, I do agree that the late 2010s sound evolved from that year.

Numerically it is late 2010s. Culturally too.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3jubL6n0dwHpwVPTjofkEu?si=5lt7LgQyRJSy1GvL38nL3Q

If anyone has spotify I suggest you guys listen to this playlist. All mainstream songs of 2016. Sounds more similar to today and completely different than what was released in 2013 minus the few edm songs that were produced that year in which sound more different than what was released in 2013. I agree with slim. I was in college during this time, this was officially the year in which late 2010’s culture began. By the peak of the year (summer) Trap was already dominating the charts in which progressed into the fall/ winter of 2016 going into 2017. EDM was still apart of pop culture in 2016-2017 however was starting to be more influenced by trap by 2017-2018... 2016 was the starting ground/the root of it all tho. The vibe of that year politically, technologically and culturally did not feel like 2013-2015 imo. It became dark...


Why would anyone listen to your playlist when I already posted the top songs from all three years based off of Billboard ??? A reliable source I might add.



Literally anyone who's payed attention to music in the 2010's knows that 2016 was nothing like 2013. Far from it actually. The hip-hop and pop of 2013 vs. 2016 is like worlds apart compared to 2016 vs. 2019. Something like "Don't Let Me Down" is not something you'd hear in 2013. It fits way more into 2019 than it does 2013. I could still see something like "Señorita" still being released in 2016.

The only proof you need is to listen to songs from each year and compare them.


But I can make that same argument about much of the songs that came out in 2019, in relation to how different it was to 2016. Honestly, 2019 had little to no EDM music in the airwaves, at least as much as it did back in 2013 and (especially) 2016. I don't see how a song like 'Bad Guy' or 'Old Town Road' would be popular in a year that produced hits like 'Cheap Thrills' and 'I Took A Pill in Ibiza'. There was still something of a somewhat optimistic and 'millennial-istic' vibe in much of the music back then, which was emblematic of;

a) The genres that were popular in 2016; EDM, early elements of trap (but prior to the 'Soundcloud' takeover), alternative/indie music, 'mid 2010s' era teen-pop

and

b) The contextual era in time that 2016 took place in; the last full year of Obama's presidency, a revitalized economy but lacking the bombastic 'Trump effect' in the confidence of it which suggested a sense of 'malaise', among other things. Hence why I see the historic parallels between the mid 2010s with EDM and the Late 1970s with Disco, but I digress.

Overall, much much of the pop culture of 2016, and much of the mid 2010s mind you, sort of represented a 'last hurrah' moment for Millennial youth culture, and music was a BIG component to it. In contrast, there is very little of that same ambiance in much of the music stemming from 2019, which is safe to say, the first true Gen Z pop culture year, music (especially) notwithstanding. IDK, I guess maybe because I am older and wasn't really paying attention to much of the trap scene back then, not to mention much of it today, is what's maybe making me think that 2016 is closer to 2013, I could be wrong. I will still stand that 2016 leans more towards 2013 culturally than it does with 2019 (in most cultural facets), but even if you disagree, I think it's a mistake to assume that 2016 overall leaned more towards 2019. I feel like a lot more changed on a fundamental level in between 2016 and 2019 vs. 2013 and 2016. That's the angle I am looking at it at.



Numerically it’s mid but culturally i’d say it’s late, or at least mid-late 2010’s. The beginning of 2016 already felt super different from the year prior. It was the start of Gen Z culture in my opinion. In 2016 Cardi B was starting to make a name for herself with her mixtape and being on reality tv while making a name for herself as an Instagram comedian. In 2016 you had a mixture of trap and edm, however they weren’t fused together as of yet. But you also had the dreadful politics and the release of the iphone 7 which I say is more apart of late 2010’s culture or at least the root of it all.


Now you're just straight up obfuscating ;D. "In 2016 Cardi B was starting to make a name for herself with her mixtape and being on reality tv while making a name for herself as an Instagram comedian. In 2016 you had a mixture of trap and edm, however they weren’t fused together as of yet. But you also had the dreadful politics and the release of the iphone 7 which I say is more apart of late 2010’s culture or at least the root of it all."

Dude what are you even talking about ;D. Cardi B. didn't become a household name until Mid 2017 with 'Bodack Yellow'. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY had ever heard of her before she came onto the hip hop scene. I am also from the Tri-State area where Cardi B is also from, and I can surely attest to you this. You're straight up just lying right now, because you have no argument. Also, I just posted a video above about the most popular songs that came out in the three respected years, and in the 2016 video almost all of the EDM from that year did not have any trap infused with it. Are you denying reality on purpose? Also, that iPhone 7 comment is so milquetoast dude. You know what was even more revolutionary in the context of the history of the iPhone, especially in it's rich 10 year history? It certainly was not the iPhone 7. It was the much more allotted praise from the iPhone X. You want to talk about a shift in technology, which may suggest a rather big cultural shift, that would be it (very-little bezzels, FaceID, Portrait mode, etc. etc.), not to mention the phone coming out on the original revolutionary iPhone's tenth anniversary. Just give it up, there's only a couple on this forum that can actually troll well, you're certainly not one of them ;D.


Numerically it is late 2010s. Culturally too.


Slim, you're objectively wrong on both fronts. The mid 2010s mathematically began in May of 2013 and ended in September of 2016. Culturally, it began about Mid-Late 2013 and ended in about Winter of 2016/2017. I am on the record of saying that things began to transition between Mid 2010s and Late 2010s in 2016, I won't discard that (Brexit and Trump alone prove that). But that doesn't negate the fact that it was still predominately mid 2010s culturally and objectively mid 2010s mathematically. Are you seriously waging a war against math now Slim? I love you dude, but this schtick is honestly starting to get very old......

Why would anyone listen to your playlist when I already posted the top songs from all three years based off of Billboard ??? A reliable source I might add.


But I can make that same argument about much of the songs that came out in 2019, in relation to how different it was to 2016. Honestly, 2019 had little to no EDM music in the airwaves, at least as much as it did back in 2013 and (especially) 2016. I don't see how a song like 'Bad Guy' or 'Old Town Road' would be popular in a year that produced hits like 'Cheap Thrills' and 'I Took A Pill in Ibiza'. There was still something of a somewhat optimistic and 'millennial-istic' vibe in much of the music back then, which was emblematic of;

a) The genres that were popular in 2016; EDM, early elements of trap (but prior to the 'Soundcloud' takeover), alternative/indie music, 'mid 2010s' era teen-pop

and

b) The contextual era in time that 2016 took place in; the last full year of Obama's presidency, a revitalized economy but lacking the bombastic 'Trump effect' in the confidence of it which suggested a sense of 'malaise', among other things. Hence why I see the historic parallels between the mid 2010s with EDM and the Late 1970s with Disco, but I digress.

Overall, much much of the pop culture of 2016, and much of the mid 2010s mind you, sort of represented a 'last hurrah' moment for Millennial youth culture, and music was a BIG component to it. In contrast, there is very little of that same ambiance in much of the music stemming from 2019, which is safe to say, the first true Gen Z pop culture year, music (especially) notwithstanding. IDK, I guess maybe because I am older and wasn't really paying attention to much of the trap scene back then, not to mention much of it today, is what's maybe making me think that 2016 is closer to 2013, I could be wrong. I will still stand that 2016 leans more towards 2013 culturally than it does with 2019 (in most cultural facets), but even if you disagree, I think it's a mistake to assume that 2016 overall leaned more towards 2019. I feel like a lot more changed on a fundamental level in between 2016 and 2019 vs. 2013 and 2016. That's the angle I am looking at it at.


Now you're just straight up obfuscating ;D.
Dude what are you even talking about ;D. Cardi B. didn't become a household name until Mid 2017 with 'Bodack Yellow'. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY had ever heard of her before she came onto the hip hop scene. I am also from the Tri-State area where Cardi B is also from, and I can surely attest to you this. You're straight up just lying right now, because you have no argument. Also, I just posted a video above about the most popular songs that came out in the three respected years, and in the 2016 video almost all of the EDM from that year did not have any trap infused with it. Are you denying reality on purpose? Also, that iPhone 7 comment is so milquetoast dude. You know what was even more revolutionary in the context of the history of the iPhone, especially in it's rich 10 year history? It certainly was not the iPhone 7. It was the much more allotted praise from the iPhone X. You want to talk about a shift in technology, which may suggest a rather big cultural shift, that would be it (very-little bezzels, FaceID, Portrait mode, etc. etc.), not to mention the phone coming out on the original revolutionary iPhone's tenth anniversary. Just give it up, there's only a couple on this forum that can actually troll well, you're certainly not one of them ;D.

Slim, you're objectively wrong on both fronts. The mid 2010s mathematically began in May of 2013 and ended in September of 2016. Culturally, it began about Mid-Late 2013 and ended in about Winter of 2016/2017. I am on the record of saying that things began to transition between Mid 2010s and Late 2010s in 2016, I won't discard that (Brexit and Trump alone prove that). But that doesn't negate the fact that it was still predominately mid 2010s culturally and objectively mid 2010s mathematically. Are you seriously waging a war against math now Slim? I love you dude, but this schtick is honestly starting to get very old......


Lol just goes to show you how uncultured you are lmao. Cardi B was on Love and Hip Hop in 2015-2016 and and had 3M followers on Instagram before she was a rapper... She released her mixtape in 2016 a long with another one in 2017 with bodak yellow. In fact she was still on the show when she released Bodak Yellow. Do you not remember all of her memes from the show that went viral ? Get your facts right lol. What would I need to lie for ? -cCv7RzA3qw

Also all of those songs from the playlist were on the top hot 100’s of 2016 but the trap infused songs were literally in the top 10 lmao. And not only that but it showed absolutely no hip hop. What about the charts for hip hop and r&b. It’s easy to nit pick what you want when you’re trying to prove a point I understand, but the fact of the matter is you were pretty ignorant as to what was coming out of 2016 and it’s clear to see lmao. I mean I’m sure everyone in this thread knows Cardi was already pretty popular before her rap career lol to say she was NEVER heard of before that was a bold ass statement which leads me to believe you were uncultured all of 2016... You pulled up the hits of Jan- June of 2016 which doesn’t really encompass the entire year considering a majority of the  songs that hit the charts in Jan- June were released in late 2015- early 2016...The playlist I shared literally encompasses songs on the top 10’s list of the billboard charts which displays a more accurate look into what was popular in 2016....I also don’t know why you are getting so butt hurt about this 😂😂 I’m starting to question your age at this point lmao.

Ok, so this is my opinion, and it is hard to talk about...

So during this time, some Late 2000s/Early 2010s artists made it this far. You got Rihanna, Drake, Jason Derulo, Pink, and Adele making it during this time, while Katy Perry, Beyonce, and a few others were either taking a break, or just simply stopped being popular. Rihanna, had huge hits like Kiss It Better, Needed Me, and the notorious "Work" 8-P And also, Drake made songs like One Dance, Controlla, and Too Good, all of which are Dancehall, pretty exclusive to 2016-2017, which Ed Sheeran took cues from with 2017's Shape of you and 2019's I dont care. Jason Derulo however, sticks close to his Mid-2010s sound with Get Ugly, something that a lot of Viners and Musical.ly users used In their songs back in the day. Pink on the other hand had a song named Just Like Fire, which is something that could in theory, be a song that will chart in 2013, it's like somewhere in between Blow Me and Just Give me a reason. Adele, on the other hand simply made Ballads like Hello, When We were young, and Send My Love, which maybe took inspiration from Ed Sheeran's 2014 and 2015 songs, despite there having ballads in 2018. I'd say it is 30% 2019 here and 70% 2013.

Ok, so onto the more modern stuff, we have mostly the same artists from 2014-15. Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor, etc. Shawn Mendes' song Treat You Better practically sounds identical to stitches, released in 2015, which sounds different from Cant Have you in 2019, or Theres nothing holding me back from 2017. The Weeknd has an interesting turn here. His song In the night sounds like something that came out in 2015, a song that has a scare vibe to it, until he came out with Starboy which sounds similar but has a darker vibe to it in late 2016, and was further amplified with I feel it coming in 2017. That's a hard one to decide, but I'd go for 2013 for that one because in 2019, he released Blinding Lights and Heartless which doesnt sound like his other albums. Ariana Grande in 2013/14 was all pop, same could be said for 2016. Dangerous woman is one unique exception, sounds like a synth-R&B/Pop song, but Into You sounds more 2013 because it has a very bright pop feel to it, unlike her darker Pop-trap songs like 7 rings released in 2019. Meghan Trainor has that bubblegum sound that pretty much defined her career. No, and Me too are both bubblegum pop, which other artists took inspiration from, like Sucker from the Jonas Brothers. Still, Bubblegum pop was more prevalent in 2014-2016 than in 2019, but sounds different from the 2013 songs like I dont care from Icona Pop. I'd say this one is in a gray area, but one thing to note is that she isnt as relevant as before. I'd say this is 60% 2013 and 40% 2019, but theres lots of factors that make 2014-2016 distinct from both 2013 and 19.

For artists like Daya and Alessia Cara, they also have a Minimalist-pop sound in their songs, taking inspiration from Lorde. This ones easy, stamp it 2013. Billie Eilish may have took cues from the minimalist pop sound although in a much darker, depressing form..

One thing that should be mentioned is EDM. In 2016, Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, and other EDM artists were topping the charts, and this was the peak year of EDM. The chainsmokers had songs like Roses which again, has the minimalist sound inspired by Lorde, and has aggressive synths but not as aggressive as Electropop EDM. Dont let me down is a Trap-EDM song that sounds very similar to Iggy Azalea's Work, so Chainsmokers is more 2013 than 2019, and they're also not as popular anymore. Calvin Harris is in a gray area however, while hes not popular anymore, it also doesnt sound like his 2011-2014 sounds. This is what you came for sounds very similar to How deep is your love, and One Kiss takes cues from it, 2018. DJ Snake on the other hand, is more on the 2013 side. Yes, he isn't as big as he was in 2015-2018, but he started his sound that would later become very popular starting with Turn Down for what. So then, lots of songs from 2016 like Let Me Love You and Cold Water were big hits. This is a very tough one because lots of EDM songs from 2013 sound different from 2015-2018, but EDM isnt popular anymore since 2019, but I'll say 2013 because none of these songs would chart today. Same could be said for 2013 but lots of trends from 2016 were born out of 2013/14.

Hip hop is an easy one. The first part of 2016 was still Fetty Wap, Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, etc. Until around June 2016 when Desiigner came into the mainstream with Panda. It was further amplified later on with Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, DRAM, etc. I'd round this to 2019.

Lastly, let's talk about 2019 music in general. It was dark and depressing, while the majority of 2016 was bright and colorful. Alt/Indie Pop was still underground in 2016, only popularized in 2018/19 with Billie Eilish. 2016 was the last year that Pop and EDM dominated the charts, while 2019 is mostly Trap dominated. Trap music is a little darker in 2019 as well, Emo rap, first popularized by XXXTentacion in 2017, wasnt mainstream in 2016. I'd round this off to 2013 because 2013 had a colorful vibe to it, same with 2016, let alone 2019.

This was a hard one but I'd say it's 60% 2013, and 40% 2019. Trap music became dominant in late 2016, which still is true today. However, lots of trends from 2016 like EDM songs could hardly chart in 2019. Keep in mind that lots of trends from 2016 were born In 2013. Lots of trends from 2016 are distinct from 2013 and 2019, which makes it even harder to compare. This is a hard one, so I'll just stop here.

Once again, my opinions could be wrong, so just take this with a grain of salt.

Ok, so this is my opinion, and it is hard to talk about...

So during this time, some Late 2000s/Early 2010s artists made it this far. You got Rihanna, Drake, Jason Derulo, Pink, and Adele making it during this time, while Katy Perry, Beyonce, and a few others were either taking a break, or just simply stopped being popular. Rihanna, had huge hits like Kiss It Better, Needed Me, and the notorious "Work" 8-P And also, Drake made songs like One Dance, Controlla, and Too Good, all of which are Dancehall, pretty exclusive to 2016-2017, which Ed Sheeran took cues from with 2017's Shape of you and 2019's I dont care. Jason Derulo however, sticks close to his Mid-2010s sound with Get Ugly, something that a lot of Viners and Musical.ly users used In their songs back in the day. Pink on the other hand had a song named Just Like Fire, which is something that could in theory, be a song that will chart in 2013, it's like somewhere in between Blow Me and Just Give me a reason. Adele, on the other hand simply made Ballads like Hello, When We were young, and Send My Love, which maybe took inspiration from Ed Sheeran's 2014 and 2015 songs, despite there having ballads in 2018. I'd say it is 30% 2019 here and 70% 2013.

Ok, so onto the more modern stuff, we have mostly the same artists from 2014-15. Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor, etc. Shawn Mendes' song Treat You Better practically sounds identical to stitches, released in 2015, which sounds different from Cant Have you in 2019, or Theres nothing holding me back from 2017. The Weeknd has an interesting turn here. His song In the night sounds like something that came out in 2015, a song that has a scare vibe to it, until he came out with Starboy which sounds similar but has a darker vibe to it in late 2016, and was further amplified with I feel it coming in 2017. That's a hard one to decide, but I'd go for 2013 for that one because in 2019, he released Blinding Lights and Heartless which doesnt sound like his other albums. Ariana Grande in 2013/14 was all pop, same could be said for 2016. Dangerous woman is one unique exception, sounds like a synth-R&B/Pop song, but Into You sounds more 2013 because it has a very bright pop feel to it, unlike her darker Pop-trap songs like 7 rings released in 2019. Meghan Trainor has that bubblegum sound that pretty much defined her career. No, and Me too are both bubblegum pop, which other artists took inspiration from, like Sucker from the Jonas Brothers. Still, Bubblegum pop was more prevalent in 2014-2016 than in 2019, but sounds different from the 2013 songs like I dont care from Icona Pop. I'd say this one is in a gray area, but one thing to note is that she isnt as relevant as before. I'd say this is 60% 2013 and 40% 2019, but theres lots of factors that make 2014-2016 distinct from both 2013 and 19.

For artists like Daya and Alessia Cara, they also have a Minimalist-pop sound in their songs, taking inspiration from Lorde. This ones easy, stamp it 2013. Billie Eilish may have took cues from the minimalist pop sound although in a much darker, depressing form..

One thing that should be mentioned is EDM. In 2016, Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, and other EDM artists were topping the charts, and this was the peak year of EDM. The chainsmokers had songs like Roses which again, has the minimalist sound inspired by Lorde, and has aggressive synths but not as aggressive as Electropop EDM. Dont let me down is a Trap-EDM song that sounds very similar to Iggy Azalea's Work, so Chainsmokers is more 2013 than 2019, and they're also not as popular anymore. Calvin Harris is in a gray area however, while hes not popular anymore, it also doesnt sound like his 2011-2014 sounds. This is what you came for sounds very similar to How deep is your love, and One Kiss takes cues from it, 2018. DJ Snake on the other hand, is more on the 2013 side. Yes, he isn't as big as he was in 2015-2018, but he started his sound that would later become very popular starting with Turn Down for what. So then, lots of songs from 2016 like Let Me Love You and Cold Water were big hits. This is a very tough one because lots of EDM songs from 2013 sound different from 2015-2018, but EDM isnt popular anymore since 2019, but I'll say 2013 because none of these songs would chart today. Same could be said for 2013 but lots of trends from 2016 were born out of 2013/14.

Hip hop is an easy one. The first part of 2016 was still Fetty Wap, Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, etc. Until around June 2016 when Desiigner came into the mainstream with Panda. It was further amplified later on with Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, DRAM, etc. I'd round this to 2019.

Lastly, let's talk about 2019 music in general. It was dark and depressing, while the majority of 2016 was bright and colorful. Alt/Indie Pop was still underground in 2016, only popularized in 2018/19 with Billie Eilish. 2016 was the last year that Pop and EDM dominated the charts, while 2019 is mostly Trap dominated. Trap music is a little darker in 2019 as well, Emo rap, first popularized by XXXTentacion in 2017, wasnt mainstream in 2016. I'd round this off to 2013 because 2013 had a colorful vibe to it, same with 2016, let alone 2019.

This was a hard one but I'd say it's 60% 2013, and 40% 2019. Trap music became dominant in late 2016, which still is true today. However, lots of trends from 2016 like EDM songs could hardly chart in 2019. Keep in mind that lots of trends from 2016 were born In 2013. Lots of trends from 2016 are distinct from 2013 and 2019, which makes it even harder to compare. This is a hard one, so I'll just stop here.

Once again, my opinions could be wrong, so just take this with a grain of salt.

Once again, great details! You nailed the analysis of the comparison with years 2013 and 2019 to 2016. I won’t lie that 2016 was the year that we had a first taste of late 2010s culture but there were still plenty of things that originated in 2013 still bleeding into 2016.

Once again, great details! You nailed the analysis of the comparison with years 2013 and 2019 to 2016. I won’t lie that 2016 was the year that we had a first taste of late 2010s culture but there were still plenty of things that originated in 2013 still bleeding into 2016.
Thanks! I appreciate the positive feedback!

The same also kinda happened in 1996 but from dark to bright, at first you had Grunge, Hip Hop R&B, Gangsta rap, etc. But at the end of 1996, Teen pop, Post-Grunge, and a little bit of Shiny suit rap were introduced.

Lol just goes to show you how uncultured you are lmao. Cardi B was on Love and Hip Hop in 2015-2016 and and had 3M followers on Instagram before she was a rapper... She released her mixtape in 2016 a long with another one in 2017 with bodak yellow. In fact she was still on the show when she released Bodak Yellow. Do you not remember all of her memes from the show that went viral ? Get your facts right lol. What would I need to lie for ? -cCv7RzA3qw


But I am saying that she was not a household name at the time. You mentioned how she was on Love and Hip Hop back in 2015-2016, did you not? Both 2015 and 2016 right? So are you going to say on the record that 2015 was culturally Late 2010s because of Cardi B being on Love & Hip Hop? Exactly, you're not going to say that ;D. She blew up on the music scene in 2017, that is more culturally indicative to the Late 2010s then her being on a reality tv show. It's not to suggest that she wasn't in the music scene before 2017, but rather her only form of fame back then was for the reality tv, while 2017 onwards it was mainly for her music career.

Also, that weak ass 'uncultured' insult, don't make me laugh bro ;D. I'm an avid fan of rap/hip hop and have never watched a second of an episode of Love and Hip Hop in my life. Sorry, but fake ass drama infested 'Reality Television' ain't for me man, I'll stick to actually listening to the music. I do like me some Cardi 8).


Also all of those songs from the playlist were on the top 10’s to hot 100’s of 2016. You pulled up the hits of June 2016 which doesn’t really encompass the entire year considering many songs that went number 1 or hit the charts in June were released in early 2016.... Practically all the songs you showed I don’t even remember them being number 1 in 2016 lmao. Drake and Rihanna were not even on the video which was like the highlight of that year..

I posted both June of 2016 and Year-End 2016, just to provide context. June of 2016, because (like the other 'Junes' of the other years) it was the literal center of the year mathematically and culturally. Year-End 2016 to provide the broadest context to the musical trends that emerged and were popular throughout. It's not a hard contextual distinction to grasp ;D.

Also, the video does have Rihanna and Drake featured, where did you get that notion from ???. Seems to me that you didn't watch the video. If you were to actually watch that video, what would you see a lot of? EDM. Would you see a lot of that type of music in 2019 (especially in its mid 2010s stylistic form)? Exactly, you would not. But in all honestly, I was really posting those three videos, three mid-section Billboard lists, and three year-end Billboard lists, just to provide more context to the debate, not to necessarily sway one's opinion.


I also don’t know why you are getting so butt hurt about this 😂😂 I’m starting to question your age at this point lmao.


I think you got that backwards there buddy ;D. My arguments are just that much better ;).

Ok, now I have unfortunately seen well over 30 seconds of Love & Hip Hop from that clip DisneyRetro has posted, and that show is sooooooooooo effin' fake, it's not even funny. Like they don't even at least provide the facade of any sense of reality, you can just tell on how polished everything looks and the god-awful acting ;D. I'm never getting those 30 seconds back, never......

This was one of the comments from the video:

Yea this is definitely super scripted and fake. I mean who in their right mind would actually let another chick there trying to cheat with hold their phone? i mean thats just volunteering to get exposed

So @Disney, if this is what you're going to die on a hill for? If this is your argument, as to why 2016 was culturally Late 2010s? A fake ass reality-tv show that makes Cardi B look like a complete fool........ then I am lost for words.

Thanks! I appreciate the positive feedback!

The same also kinda happened in 1996 but from dark to bright, at first you had Grunge, Hip Hop R&B, Gangsta rap, etc. But at the end of 1996, Teen pop, Post-Grunge, and a little bit of Shiny suit rap were introduced.


Yeah, the comparisons between 1996 & 2016 are pretty staggering actually :o.

But I am saying that she was not a household name at the time. You mentioned how she was on Love and Hip Hop back in 2015-2016, did you not? Both 2015 and 2016 right? So are you going to say on the record that 2015 was culturally Late 2010s because of Cardi B being on Love & Hip Hop? Exactly, you're not going to say that ;D. She blew up on the music scene in 2017, that is more culturally indicative to the Late 2010s then her being on a reality tv show. It's not to suggest that she wasn't in the music scene before 2017, but rather her only form of fame back then was for the reality tv, while 2017 onwards it was mainly for her music career.

Also, that weak ass 'uncultured' insult, don't make me laugh bro ;D. I'm an avid fan of rap/hip hop and have never watched a second of an episode of Love and Hip Hop in my life. Sorry, but fake ass drama infested 'Reality Television' ain't for me man, I'll stick to actually listening to the music. I do like me some Cardi 8).


I posted both June of 2016 and Year-End 2016, just to provide context. June of 2016, because (like the other 'Junes' of the other years) it was the literal center of the year mathematically and culturally. Year-End 2016 to provide the broadest context to the musical trends that emerged and were popular throughout. It's not a hard contextual distinction to grasp ;D.

Also, the video does have Rihanna and Drake featured, where did you get that notion from ???. Seems to me that you didn't watch the video. If you were to actually watch that video, what would you see a lot of? EDM. Would you see a lot of that type of music in 2019 (especially in its mid 2010s stylistic form)? Exactly, you would not. But in all honestly, I was really posting those three videos, three mid-section Billboard lists, and three year-end Billboard lists, just to provide more context to the debate, not to necessarily sway one's opinion.



I think you got that backwards there buddy ;D. My arguments are just that much better ;).


No your arguments are making you look even more culturally unaware lol. Cardi was introduced to LHH in late 2015. She became an ig comedian in 2016 when she gained 3M followers. She def was a household name in the social media field and she was definitely known. Your original statement was that no one knew of her in 2016 before her rap career right ? And how you grew up near her right ? But then tried to flip your argument and manipulate my wording to fit your narrative when I proved you wrong right ? Ok...  You didn’t have to watch Love and hip hop to know that Cardi was a social media influencer during 2016. If it wasn’t for her starting off on instagram and lhh she would not be the rapper you know of today so yes you were slightly uncultured in that aspect considering you tried to speak for EVERYONE in your hometown about not knowing who Cardi is and then calling me a damn liar out of ignorance. That’s an insult within its own right. That is the definition of uncultured lmfao.

The peak of a year is always the summer. That is usually when a year begins to develop an identity for itself, so that when we look back on retrospect we remember that year for a certain accomplishment. Using the top 100’s from January- June is literally insignificant considering songs from Late 2015 spilled over into early 2016 and made the top 100’s. Of course early 2016 was gonna have its similarities to the prev year.

Also Rihanna and Drake were literally  closer to number 1 of that entire video which proves my case that trap infused music was becoming and already mainstream in 2016 and that was only in June so.....Your video doesn’t even capture hip hop songs of 2016 which definitely made the top 100’s towards the end of 2016. Rap songs like “Black Beatle” (mannequin challenge) which is definitely trap music/mainstream in 2016 was not on that list. The Hills by the weekend which is trapped inspired, where was that ? Down in the dm by yo gotti ? Chill Bill by Rob Stone ? X by 21 savage feat future ? Bad and Bougie by lil uzi vert and migos ? These are all trap songs of 2016 that made the top 100’s. There’s literally 20 more I can post if you’d like that made the top 100’s. Like I said your argument has literally proven nothing and your video was biased. It literally takes nothing to cherry pick as I mentioned before... Those rap songs that I listed sound nothing like the hip hop/rap songs of the mid 2010’s sorry..

Ok, now I have unfortunately seen well over 30 seconds of Love & Hip Hop from that clip DisneyRetro has posted, and that show is sooooooooooo effin' fake, it's not even funny. Like they don't even at least provide the facade of any sense of reality, you can just tell on how polished everything looks and the god-awful acting ;D. I'm never getting those 30 seconds back, never......

This was one of the comments from the video:

So @Disney, if this is what you're going to die on a hill for? If this is your argument, as to why 2016 was culturally Late 2010s? A fake ass reality-tv show that makes Cardi B look like a complete fool........ then I am lost for words.


No and please stay on track with your arguments. I said Cardi was already making a name for herself in 2016 on a reality tv show and as a social media influencer and promoted herself at clubs all over the globe. Her career literally started in 2014. I was only elaborating the fact that you said no one knew of her before she became a rapper which was false. Where did I say that her being in a reality show started the late 2010’s ?  Her being on a fake reality show has nothing to do with the fact that she was still popular and well known in 2016. Once again don’t manipulate my points in order to make yourself sound good.

C1XTgG0dVJ8

This was literally her instagram content that made her famous during that time...

No and please stay on track with your arguments. I said Cardi was already making a name for herself in 2016 on a reality tv show and as a social media influencer and promoted herself at clubs all over the globe. Her career literally started in 2014. I was only elaborating the fact that you said no one knew of her before she became a rapper which was false. Where did I say that her being in a reality show started the late 2010’s ?  Her being on a fake reality show has nothing to do with the fact that she was still popular and well known in 2016. Once again don’t manipulate my points in order to make yourself sound good.

C1XTgG0dVJ8

This was literally her instagram content that made her famous during that time...

I pretty much agree with you. Even though she was less known back then than she is now, she was definitely still popular back in 2016, and you could tell she was going to get even more popular in the future. (I personally didn't hear of Cardi B until 2017, but I don't watch reality TV shows ;D)

Here's one song that came out in 2016.

uEJuoEs1UxY

Just that sound at the very beginning of this song makes it WAY more like 2019 music than 2013 music. Literally no 2013 music had that common "noise" that you hear at the very beginning.

I hope y'all know what I mean by that "sound" remix thing that is usually at the beginning of songs cause idk how to explain it  ;D

Here's one song that came out in 2016.

uEJuoEs1UxY

Just that sound at the very beginning of this song makes it WAY more like 2019 music than 2013 music. Literally no 2013 music had that common "noise" that you hear at the very beginning.

I hope y'all know what I mean by that "sound" remix thing that is usually at the beginning of songs cause idk how to explain it  ;D


I agree with you. The deep bass, percussion, and synths sound very close to 2019's general pop. I checked on Wikipedia, and the genre the song's under is tropical house. I believe the tropical house wave was from 2014 up to 2016 with songs like Cheerleader, Sugar, Perfect Strangers, and What Do You Mean? being hits.

Imo, this song represents 2013 EDM culture to a T, and I don't think it would've been any popular in 2019:

gCYcHz2k5x0

No your arguments are making you look even more culturally unaware lol. Cardi was introduced to LHH in late 2015. She became an ig comedian in 2016 when she gained 3M followers. She def was a household name in the social media field and she was definitely known. Your original statement was that no one knew of her in 2016 before her rap career right ? And how you grew up near her right ? But then tried to flip your argument and manipulate my wording to fit your narrative when I proved you wrong right ? Ok...  You didn’t have to watch Love and hip hop to know that Cardi was a social media influencer during 2016. If it wasn’t for her starting off on instagram and lhh she would not be the rapper you know of today so yes you were slightly uncultured in that aspect considering you tried to speak for EVERYONE in your hometown about not knowing who Cardi is and then calling me a damn liar out of ignorance. That’s an insult within its own right. That is the definition of uncultured lmfao.

The peak of a year is always the summer. That is usually when a year begins to develop an identity for itself, so that when we look back on retrospect we remember that year for a certain accomplishment. Using the top 100’s from January- June is literally insignificant considering songs from Late 2015 spilled over into early 2016 and made the top 100’s. Of course early 2016 was gonna have its similarities to the prev year.

Also Rihanna and Drake were literally  closer to number 1 of that entire video which proves my case that trap infused music was becoming and already mainstream in 2016 and that was only in June so.....Your video doesn’t even capture hip hop songs of 2016 which definitely made the top 100’s towards the end of 2016. Rap songs like “Black Beatle” (mannequin challenge) which is definitely trap music/mainstream in 2016 was not on that list. The Hills by the weekend which is trapped inspired, where was that ? Down in the dm by yo gotti ? Chill Bill by Rob Stone ? X by 21 savage feat future ? Bad and Bougie by lil uzi vert and migos ? These are all trap songs of 2016 that made the top 100’s. There’s literally 20 more I can post if you’d like that made the top 100’s. Like I said your argument has literally proven nothing and your video was biased. It literally takes nothing to cherry pick as I mentioned before... Those rap songs that I listed sound nothing like the hip hop/rap songs of the mid 2010’s sorry..


She was not a household name. It's not about being cultured or uncultured, it's just an objective fact of reality. Her only call for fame back then was for being on a sh!tty reality tv show, while in 2017 it was for her music. Do you see the difference? Also...... I've gone over this before, June of 2016 was the peak of 2016. If you want, you could also include July of 2016 in that category as well. So June/July of 2016 is the peak of 2016, so I included the Hot 100 list from Late June of each respected year to showcase the music that was popular at the mathematical and cultural epicenter of the three respected years. But I decided to also include Year-End as well to show case songs that were popular on a wider scale, in case they may had premiered late into the year, such as 'Star Boy' or '24K Magic'. The problem is that you and others are placing WAY too much credence on the musical trends that debuted in the later months of 2016, and are completely ignoring the many trends that continued well into 2016, relatively strongly. You're bringing up trends that debuted Late in 2016, like 'Black Beatles' and it's subsequent 'Mannequin Challenge' to act like it's some sort of 'gotcha', but then completely ignoring the EDM, Indie Rock, Teen Pop, and other musical elements that made 2016 a cultural Mid 2010s year.

I'm sorry to say, but it's making you seem desperate. I already posted the video above of the Most Popular Billboard Hot 100 Songs of 2016, and you're displeased because of the lack in trap rap posted the video, in which mind you, making an outlandish claim before about how "Drake and Rihanna WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO!!!!", in which I correctly pointed out, "Yes, they did". It couldn't be that maybe, just maybe, my argument holds stronger weight? That I am correct in the assertion that trap was not a major factor in pop music in 2016, in the same way that it would become in 2017-onwards? If anything, it just seems like you're trying to fit reality into this subjective mold of based on what you're own pre-subscribed beliefs are.

If you want to make the argument that Drake's album Views and Rihanna's album Anti were closer in musical instrumentation to trap/hip hop of today vs. hip hop of much of the early-mid 2010s, then that is one thing (although I would still disagree, for reasons I will list later). But to suggest that was some kind of proof that 2016 as a whole was culturally Late 2010s, that to me just seems like a major leap in logic. And in all honesty, you cite these two albums as somewhat of a cultural watermark, which I am not discarding, but whereas I can also to point you to some other hit albums in 2016 that would sound much more out of place in 2019 than in 2013; Kanye's The Life of Pablo, Bieber's Purpose, Future's Evol, Drake & Future's What a Time to Be Alive Chance's Coloring Book DJ Snake's Encore, I could go on and on. I understand Drake and Rihanna are big names in music, but are you going to ignore the fact, despite pioneering these new sounds, that;

a) Drake has since moved on from that musical style. And even this neo-Reaggaeton flow in trap music/party music you're citing has not been relevant for at least two years now, right around the time that the neo-Latino wave in music began to get big in 2017 with 'Despacito'. So even if you're using this as an argument as to either suggest that, 2016 was more like 2019 or worse, 2016 was culturally Late 2010s, it doesn't make much sense because just because it appeared to be a new trend, does not make that new trend a a culturally indicative trend of the Late 2010s or let alone one to suggest it dramatically altered the stage in music in a fundamentally new way. There's an argument to be made with some trap that got big in 2016, like 'Panda' and 'Black Beatles', because those trends actually survived well into the Late 2010s and are much more culturally aligned to the Late 2010s, in which that would be the parameters of this debate in which I would be willing to have a discussion about 'Late 2010s influences started popping up in 2016', but not anything that came out of Drake from this year (Views, What a Time to Be Alive) Finally;

That you also have the fact that, and this brings me no pleasure in saying this, especially as witnessing her rise to fame since the mid 2000s, but nonetheless it has to be said that

b) Rihanna is not musically relevant anymore. Her last studio album was Anti. She has been VERY low key for the last four years, which is unheard of for her since she has been making music consistently since the mid 2000s. So taking account everything I had to say in the first point, then once again, why would you place Rihanna's album Anti on the level of some cultural phenomenon akin to like MJ's Thriller, when the sound that she allegedly pioneered with she herself have not been active in? If you have 20 examples of 'trap getting big', I can give you double, no triple, of varying other musical trends that suggested otherwise. You really want to play that game? By all means, be my guest.

I understand that we are passionate about this type of discussion but please take it down a notch. We don't want a flame war in this type of thread. This is just for fun.

Here's one song that came out in 2016.

uEJuoEs1UxY

Just that sound at the very beginning of this song makes it WAY more like 2019 music than 2013 music. Literally no 2013 music had that common "noise" that you hear at the very beginning.

I hope y'all know what I mean by that "sound" remix thing that is usually at the beginning of songs cause idk how to explain it  ;D


Rainbowz, that song came out in October of 2016, the music video on January 6, 2017, and it didn't even hit the Billboard Hot 100 until January 21, 2017. I don't think that this song is necessarily representative of the 2016 EDM sound, especially when much of the popularity of this song came after 2016.



I agree with you. The deep bass, percussion, and synths sound very close to 2019's general pop. I checked on Wikipedia, and the genre the song's under is tropical house. I believe the tropical house wave was from 2014 up to 2016 with songs like Cheerleader, Sugar, Perfect Strangers, and What Do You Mean? being hits.

Imo, this song represents 2013 EDM culture to a T, and I don't think it would've been any popular in 2019:

gCYcHz2k5x0


I'm not sure I would necessarily call that tropical house, but what do I know ;D. Still though, if we're talking about EDM styles that are more aligned to how 2016, and the mid 2010s in general, really were, this is a much better Bebe Rexha example to use:

bSfpSOBD30U

This was a song that you actually heard played on the radio, at parties, and at clubs. Me being into the scene back in 2016, I can attest you that. In fairness, it doesn't sound like something it would belong in with 2013, but neither does it with 2019. This is just one of those gems that are rather distinct to the Mid 2010s.

I understand that we are passionate about this type of discussion but please take it down a notch. We don't want a flame war in this type of thread. This is just for fun.


I understand, but there are a couple of people on this forum that are straight up making up illogical fallacies. It's insulting. So I respond to these false points accordingly. Most of the people on this thread I am cool with, even if they have a different opinion about the underlying question of this thread, that's NOT who I am referencing in this.

I understand, but there are a couple of people on this forum that are straight up making up illogical fallacies. It's insulting. So I respond to these false points accordingly. Most of the people on this thread I am cool with, even if they have a different opinion about the underlying question of this thread, that's NOT who I am referencing in this.

I kinda do agree that Cardi B wasn't heard of by the majority of people in 2016. Many people began to notice her when Bodak Yellow came out. She was more of a reality TV star/Instagram comedian in 2016 rather than as a serious A-list rapper. Some people ignore the early parts of 2016 because most of the songs were just 2015 leftovers but they made an impact on 2016 nonetheless. Drake and Rihanna were very influential in 2016. Drake abandoned his Dancehall influence to a more Trap/Bounce sound in 2018 so that makes 2019 distant from 2016. Honestly, I think both 2013 and 2019 feel distant from 2016.

I kinda do agree that Cardi B wasn't heard of by the majority of people in 2016. Many people began to notice her when Bodak Yellow came out. She was more of a reality TV star/Instagram comedian in 2016 rather than as a serious A-list rapper. Some people ignore the early parts of 2016 because most of the songs were just 2015 leftovers but they made an impact on 2016 nonetheless. Drake and Rihanna were very influential in 2016. Drake abandoned his Dancehall influence to a more Trap/Bounce sound in 2018 so that makes 2019 distant from 2016. Honestly, I think both 2013 and 2019 feel distant from 2016.


Exactly. And even a lot of stuff that debuted well into 2016, much of it does not even fit in the mold of what was the cultural Late 2010s either. I just feel like people are just purposefully trying to ignore what 2016 actually was to fit some kind of narrative. Why? That's anybody's guess.

Rainbowz, that song came out in October of 2016, the music video on January 6, 2017, and it didn't even hit the Billboard Hot 100 until January 21, 2017. I don't think that this song is necessarily representative of the 2016 EDM sound, especially when much of the popularity of this song came after 2016.
The song was recorded at some point in 2016, so yes, it does technically count as a 2016 song.

If you want to make the argument that Drake's album Views and Rihanna's album Anti were closer in musical instrumentation to trap/hip hop of today vs. hip hop of much of the early-mid 2010s, then that is one thing (although I would still disagree, for reasons I will list later).

Those two albums sound NOTHING like mid-2010's hip-hop. If you're a hip-hop fan you'd know that a song like "One Dance" sounds very different from something like "Trap Queen" or "679". Just listen for yourself.


2014-2015 hip-hop:
Pzz4Z-O7710
i_kF4zLNKio
v0Gu_Yh_keE

2016 hip-hop:
K44j-sb1SRY
iAbnEUA0wpA
HL1UzIK-flA


Two completely different vibes. The 2014-2015 hip-hop is more "electro-influenced" the 2016 hip-hop has more trap influence.

Exactly. And even a lot of stuff that debuted well into 2016, much of it does not even fit in the mold of what was the cultural Late 2010s either. I just feel like people are just purposefully trying to ignore what 2016 actually was to fit some kind of narrative. Why? That's anybody's guess.

21 Pilots and the Chainsmokers are both extremely Millennial-oriented groups, they don't fit in with the 2019 zeitgeist where Gen Z began to reign supreme. The Shawn Mendes song Treat You Better has more in common with his 2015 song Stitches than his 2017 song There's Nothing Holdin Me Back. I understand when people say that 2016 was the first year where late 2010s trends became noticeable but it's definitely not a late 2010s year.

ZeldaFan2020, I would agree with you if you said that 2015 music has more in common with 2012 music than 2018 music, but 2016 really was a transitional year when it comes to music. Even the hip-hop from 2015 vs. 2016 sound completely different. Just two different vibes.

I do agree that 2016 was a transitional year for hip hop though:

TF78EzhDZBo

The song was recorded at some point in 2016, so yes, it does technically count as a 2016 song.


Rainbowz, I am fully aware of that. There are a lot of trends that don't see the light of day until months, heck even years, until these musical techniques are released in their song format. Whereas the Bebe Rexha song that I listed, while yes was recorded in 2015, still had much more cultural impact to 2016 than the recorded 2016 Bebe Rexha song that you mentioned, which didn't even reach Billboard until 2017. Here is some quotes from the Wikipedia article in reference to 'Me, Myself, and I';

"The original version of "Me, Myself and I" was written by Bebe Rexha, Lauren Christy, and TMS in early 2015 with the title "I Don't Need Anything". The song was intended to be part of Rexha's debut album, but her label wasn't convinced it fit the style of her upcoming record. She asked a friend to put her in contact with rapper G-Eazy, because she wanted to do the song with him. Rexha and G-Eazy met three days later and she played the track on piano for him. He loved the track and asked for the song to be on his album. Rexha accepted and began immediately working on the track with Michael Keenan, G-Eazy's producer. Rexha and Keenan re-produced the beat and decided to keep the chorus, post-chorus, and bridge of the original song and put G-Eazy's rap on the verses, while changing the title to "Me, Myself & I". She performed the acoustic of the original version of the song on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on March 16, 2016."


"The song debuted at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number seven, becoming G-Eazy's first top 10 single and Rexha's second after David Guetta's "Hey Mama". It was also G-Eazy and Rexha's highest-charting single, until "Meant To Be" peaked at number two and "No Limit" peaked at number four, as well as the first number one song for both artists on the US Hot Rap Songs chart. As of December, 2018, it has sold 4,000,000 copies in the United States."

"G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha have performed the song at Jimmy Kimmel Live on December 3, 2015, at Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on January 25, 2016 and at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 3, 2016.

On August 28, 2016, Britney Spears performed the song with G-Eazy at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, along with their song "Make Me...". The mashup with Britney Spears was also performed at the IHeartRadio Music Festival 2016 in Las Vegas on September 25, 2016 and live at Britney Spears' Las Vegas Residency Britney: Piece of Me at The AXIS Theatre at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on October 21, 2016.

The song is also featured on the soundtrack to the basketball video game, NBA 2K17."


Compared to the Bebe Rexha song you're referencing, 'I Got You', in which based off of some quotes from this Wikipedia article;

""I Got You" officially served as the lead single and was released on October 28, 2016. The music video debuted on January 6, 2017 and has accumulated a total of 290 million views as of August 27, 2019. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 94 on the issue dated January 21, 2017. It has since peaked at number 43."

Not to mention the sibling single for the album, 'F.F.F';

"premiered on Entertainment Weekly's website on March 9, 2017. "Bad Bitch" was temporarily added to prominent playlists on Spotify and Apple Music."

With the album's tour being;

"aired in North America, Asia, and Europe, which began on March 1, 2017, and was lasted until May 18, 2017."

If you want to say it pioneered a new sound, then ok. But the sound that you're referencing made more cultural impact in 2017, than it did in 2016. Once again, that is the fundamental difference.

Those two albums sound NOTHING like mid-2010's hip-hop. If you're a hip-hop fan you'd know that a song like "One Dance" sounds very different from something like "Trap Queen" or "679". Just listen for yourself.


2014-2015 hip-hop:
Pzz4Z-O7710
i_kF4zLNKio
v0Gu_Yh_keE

2016 hip-hop:
K44j-sb1SRY
iAbnEUA0wpA
HL1UzIK-flA


Two completely different vibes. The 2014-2015 hip-hop is more "electro-influenced" the 2016 hip-hop has more trap influence.

Here is some more 2016 hip hop for you to digest:


DVkkYlQNmbc

Lq2TmRzg19k

gE1Gbwn-LU0


Not to mention 2015 songs that continued well into 2016 on the top charts, including:

3TsYIQv0sX8

yzTuBuRdAyA

d7cVLE4SaN0



Among others.

These all were songs that were popping off the charts in 2016. Do you genuinely believe that they would not be out of place in 2019? That's what I mean. I am not discarding the rise in Trap in 2016, nor discarding how 2016 was rather transitional in the hip hop genre. But I am also not asserting that meant that things automatically changed overnight either, there was still enough of the 'status quo' of the sound that was prominent. And this, along with the countless other musical trends that were still big in 2016 (EDM, indie rock, teen pop, the more 'Millennial-istic' sound in general) suggest that to be true.



I do agree that 2016 was a transitional year for hip hop though:

TF78EzhDZBo


Good video. But like I said, was trap the dominant genre in 2016? It was not. Hence why I disagree with 2016 being more similar to 2019, let alone 2016 being culturally dubbed a Late 2010s year. However, I am not discarding elements of trap that began to make headway in 2016 either, I guess the difference between my analysis and someone else's is the amount of credence you put into that.

Good video. But like I said, was trap the dominant genre in 2016? It was not. Hence why I disagree with 2016 being more similar to 2019, let alone 2016 being culturally dubbed a Late 2010s year. However, I am not discarding elements of trap that began to make headway in 2016 either, I guess the difference between my analysis and someone else's is the amount of credence you put into that.

I know it wasn't the dominant genre of 2016 but it did influence the sound of late 2010s hip hop in general.

Some more hip hop songs from 2016:

-59jGD4WrmE

icTkYFiSfJc

3w0yqAdJ1iY

SFLSOIufuhM

She was not a household name. It's not about being cultured or uncultured, it's just an objective fact of reality. Her only call for fame back then was for being on a sh!tty reality tv show, while in 2017 it was for her music. Do you see the difference? Also...... I've gone over this before, June of 2016 was the peak of 2016. If you want, you could also include July of 2016 in that category as well. So June/July of 2016 is the peak of 2016, so I included the Hot 100 list from Late June of each respected year to showcase the music that was popular at the mathematical and cultural epicenter of the three respected years. But I decided to also include Year-End as well to show case songs that were popular on a wider scale, in case they may had premiered late into the year, such as 'Star Boy' or '24K Magic'. The problem is that you and others are placing WAY too much credence on the musical trends that debuted in the later months of 2016, and are completely ignoring the many trends that continued well into 2016, relatively strongly. You're bringing up trends that debuted Late in 2016, like 'Black Beatles' and it's subsequent 'Mannequin Challenge' to act like it's some sort of 'gotcha', but then completely ignoring the EDM, Indie Rock, Teen Pop, and other musical elements that made 2016 a cultural Mid 2010s year.

I'm sorry to say, but it's making you seem desperate. I already posted the video above of the Most Popular Billboard Hot 100 Songs of 2016, and you're displeased because of the lack in trap rap posted the video, in which mind you, making an outlandish claim before about how "Drake and Rihanna WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO!!!!", in which I correctly pointed out, "Yes, they did". It couldn't be that maybe, just maybe, my argument holds stronger weight? That I am correct in the assertion that trap was not a major factor in pop music in 2016, in the same way that it would become in 2017-onwards? If anything, it just seems like you're trying to fit reality into this subjective mold of based on what you're own pre-subscribed beliefs are.

If you want to make the argument that Drake's album Views and Rihanna's album Anti were closer in musical instrumentation to trap/hip hop of today vs. hip hop of much of the early-mid 2010s, then that is one thing (although I would still disagree, for reasons I will list later). But to suggest that was some kind of proof that 2016 as a whole was culturally Late 2010s, that to me just seems like a major leap in logic. And in all honesty, you cite these two albums as somewhat of a cultural watermark, which I am not discarding, but whereas I can also to point you to some other hit albums in 2016 that would sound much more out of place in 2019 than in 2013; Kanye's The Life of Pablo, Bieber's Purpose, Future's Evol, Drake & Future's What a Time to Be Alive Chance's Coloring Book DJ Snake's Encore, I could go on and on. I understand Drake and Rihanna are big names in music, but are you going to ignore the fact, despite pioneering these new sounds, that;

a) Drake has since moved on from that musical style. And even this neo-Reaggaeton flow in trap music/party music you're citing has not been relevant for at least two years now, right around the time that the neo-Latino wave in music began to get big in 2017 with 'Despacito'. So even if you're using this as an argument as to either suggest that, 2016 was more like 2019 or worse, 2016 was culturally Late 2010s, it doesn't make much sense because just because it appeared to be a new trend, does not make that new trend a a culturally indicative trend of the Late 2010s or let alone one to suggest it dramatically altered the stage in music in a fundamentally new way. There's an argument to be made with some trap that got big in 2016, like 'Panda' and 'Black Beatles', because those trends actually survived well into the Late 2010s and are much more culturally aligned to the Late 2010s, in which that would be the parameters of this debate in which I would be willing to have a discussion about 'Late 2010s influences started popping up in 2016', but not anything that came out of Drake from this year (Views, What a Time to Be Alive) Finally;

That you also have the fact that, and this brings me no pleasure in saying this, especially as witnessing her rise to fame since the mid 2000s, but nonetheless it has to be said that

b) Rihanna is not musically relevant anymore. Her last studio album was Anti. She has been VERY low key for the last four years, which is unheard of for her since she has been making music consistently since the mid 2000s. So taking account everything I had to say in the first point, then once again, why would you place Rihanna's album Anti on the level of some cultural phenomenon akin to like MJ's Thriller, when the sound that she allegedly pioneered with she herself have not been active in? If you have 20 examples of 'trap getting big', I can give you double, no triple, of varying other musical trends that suggested otherwise. You really want to play that game? By all means, be my guest.


You have a hard time at comprehending mainly bc you want to be right and it’s making you look worse. You said that no one knew who Cardi B was and that I was Lying about her fame in 2016, now you’re trying to correct your argument by saying she was not a household name which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she was already a social media influencer before her music career. Just because she wasn’t as big as she is now (which is reasonable since the music industry is bigger than social media) doesn’t mean she was not known in 2016. Her mixtape in 2016 received well review. The song “Foreva” is actually what put her name out their. It was influenced by a fist fight she had on lhh where she told the girl she would have beef with her “foreva”. I’m just stating facts about this women. Has nothing to do with my personal opinion of her.

Also you only brought up Drake and Rihanna while completely dismissing all the other rap songs and rappers I included that made the Hot 100’s. It’s not about reggae infusion or what Drake changed in his music style. It’s about what was popular at the time. I  brought up Drake and Rihanna because well they were closer to number 1 on the video you provided and were the two artists that had trap inspired synths/beats. I really don’t understand what Rihanna not making music now has anything to do with the fact that she had trap inspired beats and songs in one of the highest streaming albums of 2016 ? Is that the only justification you can come up with ? I can give you nearly 100 songs of 2016 where trap was huge and sounds similar to today however you aren’t willing to listen because you are afraid to be wrong in this scenario (in which you are). Also not just Panda and Black Beatles, don’t  dismiss the music I have concluded my argument with because they all made the hot 100’s all throughout mid to late 2016.

Here are some trap songs that made it to the hot 100’s in the spring/summer of 2016 yet oddly enough were not in your video 🤔

Lil Uzi-Money Longer (2016)
1eoSanFCU-M

Kyle feat Lil Yachty (2016)
5XK4v2fgMPU

MadeinTYO feat 2 chamiz- I want (2016)
gSLz5uYMHRw

DJ Esco feat Future, Lil Uzi Vert- Too much sauce (2016)
Ekqu_Ku7nuY

Aminè- Caroline (2016)
3j8ecF8Wt4E

And no if you embody a year of music you should capture the hot 100’s during the end of the year, that way it captures what was released mid-late year when 2016 already made an identity for itself. This was also the year that gen z weirdly made Danielle bregholi famous with her infamous “cash me outside how bout dat” saying on Dr. Phil. She went by “bhadbhabie” on instagram which made a brand name for herself and jump started her rap career in 2017. 2016 again was the start of late 2010’s culture...

Some more hip hop songs from 2016:

-59jGD4WrmE

icTkYFiSfJc

3w0yqAdJ1iY

SFLSOIufuhM


All of these beats are literally saturated in trap inspired synths. You essentially chose artists who aren’t apart of trap music to fit your narrative at that. I can choose some rappers of today who don’t have trap inspired beats if you’d like ? Like I said it’s nothing to cherry pick.

You have a hard time at comprehending mainly bc you want to be right and it’s making you look worse. You said that no one knew who Cardi B was and that I was Lying about her fame in 2016, now you’re trying to correct your argument by saying she was not a household name which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she was already a social media influencer before her music career. Just because she wasn’t as big as she is now (which is reasonable since the music industry is bigger than social media) doesn’t mean she was not known in 2016. Her mixtape in 2016 received well review. The song “Foreva” is actually what put her name out their. It was influenced by a fist fight she had on lhh where she told the girl she would have beef with her “foreva”. I’m just stating facts about this women. Has nothing to do with my personal opinion of her.

Also you only brought up Drake and Rihanna while completely dismissing all the other rap songs and rappers I included that made the Hot 100’s. It’s not about reggae infusion or what Drake changed in his music style. It’s about what was popular at the time. I  brought up Drake and Rihanna because well they were closer to number 1 on the video you provided and were the two artists that had trap inspired synths/beats. I really don’t understand what Rihanna not making music now has anything to do with the fact that she had trap inspired beats and songs in one of the highest streaming albums of 2016 ? Is that the only justification you can come up with ? I can give you nearly 100 songs of 2016 where trap was huge and sounds similar to today however you aren’t willing to listen because you are afraid to be wrong in this scenario (in which you are). Also not just Panda and Black Beatles, don’t  dismiss the music I have concluded my argument with because they all made the hot 100’s all throughout mid to late 2016.

And no if you embody a year of music you should capture the hot 100’s during the end of the year, that way it captures what was released mid-late year when 2016 already made an identity for itself. This was also the year that gen z weirdly made Danielle bregholi famous with her infamous “cash me outside how bout dat” saying on Dr. Phil. She went by “bhadbhabie” on instagram which made a brand name for herself and jump started her rap career in 2017. 2016 again was the start of late 2010’s culture...

I mean, you shouldn't disregard songs that were popular in early-mid 2016. 21 Pilots and The Chainsmokers were more popular than these songs you listed. Some of these songs charted lower than the top 50 and some didn't even chart at all. Caroline and iSpy are an exception but they were more popular at the end of 2016. If you look at the 2016 year end in the United Kingdom, you'll see that Trap wasn't the most popular genre besides Panda by Desiigner:
https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20160108/37501/

If you look at the Billboard Hot 100 Year End 2016, you'll notice that it was dominated by EDM and Pop. Yes, there are popular Trap songs there but they're not the majority:
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-100-songs

In conclusion, 2016 is more mid 2010s culturally.

I mean, you shouldn't disregard songs that were popular in early-mid 2016. 21 Pilots and The Chainsmokers were more popular than these songs you listed. If you look at the 2016 year end in the United Kingdom, you'll see that Trap wasn't the most popular genre besides Panda by Desiigner:
https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20160108/37501/

If you look at the Billboard Hot 100 Year End 2016, you'll notice that it was dominated by EDM and Pop. Yes, there are popular Trap songs there but they're not the majority:
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-100-songs

Plus, iSpy was more of a 2017 hit.


It still doesn't take away the fact that Trap in deed became a prevalent and “household” hip hop genre for hiphop during this time

The hot 100’s by the end of 2016 had more trap inspired songs closer to number 1.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_2016

A couple songs by chainsmokers and 1 song by 21 piolots which wasn't even an edm hit does not prove anything tho. There was a mixture of edm and trap, but even artists like the weekend had went down the trap road lol, The hills sounds more trap inspired than some of his prev work. They scored close to number 1 but that doesn’t compensate for all of the trap songs that made that list which became even more prevalent in 2017. These points you guys are making keep proving my original argument..The pop songs on that list were mostly edm but you can’t negate the fact that every single hip hop song in that list was trap.

It still doesn't take away the fact that Trap in deed became a prevalent and “household” hip hop genre for hiphop during this time

The hot 100’s by the end of 2016 had more trap inspired songs closer to number 1.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_2016

Edm was barely a thing minus a couple songs by chainsmokers and 1 song by 21 piolots which wasn't even an edm hit. They scored close to number 1 but that doesn’t compensate for all of the trap songs that made that list which became even more prevalent in 2017. These points you guys are making keep proving my original argument..lol

I didn't say 21 Pilots were an EDM group. I'm just pointing out the fact that the GROUPS The Chainsmokers and 21 Pilots, I didn't mention genres. I showed you the UK Singles Year End 2016 where the majority of the songs are EDM, Pop, and Indie. There were only 2 Trap songs in the Hot 100 year end 2016 top 20, Needed Me has a production that couldn't fit in 2019, it sounds almost like electro. Panda was mostly popular because people thought he was Future. Songs like Black Beatles and Caroline made it to the 2017 year end because they peaked around Nov-Dec 2016. Hip Hop wasn't the most popular genre of 2016. It's effect went on to the late 2010s. I will say that most of the 2016 hip hop is closer to 2019 but the rest of the genres of pop and EDM are in the mid 2010s territory. It's fine to say that 2016 songs can't be hits in 2013 but saying that 2016, as a whole, is late 2010s culturally is an overstatement.

I didn't say 21 Pilots were an EDM group. I'm just pointing out the fact that the GROUPS The Chainsmokers and 21 Pilots, I didn't mention genres. I showed you the UK Singles Year End 2016 where the majority of the songs are EDM, Pop, and Indie. There were only 2 Trap songs in the Hot 100 year end 2016 top 20, Needed Me has a production that couldn't fit in 2019, it sounds almost like electro. Panda was mostly popular because people thought he was Future. Songs like Black Beatles and Caroline made it to the 2017 year end because they peaked around Nov-Dec 2016. Hip Hop wasn't the most popular genre of 2016. It's effect went on to the late 2010s. I will say that most of the 2016 hip hop is closer to 2019 but the rest of the genres of pop and EDM are in the mid 2010s territory. It's fine to say that 2016 songs can't be hits in 2013 but saying that 2016, as a whole, is late 2010s culturally is an overstatement.


That explains why. Im in the US so geographically its a lot different with trends and what not. It’s subjective considering in the US trap was already dominant by 2016 and the charts conclude that. This is why we cannot generalize culture and trends.

I didn't say 21 Pilots were an EDM group. I'm just pointing out the fact that the GROUPS The Chainsmokers and 21 Pilots, I didn't mention genres. I showed you the UK Singles Year End 2016 where the majority of the songs are EDM, Pop, and Indie. There were only 2 Trap songs in the Hot 100 year end 2016 top 20, Needed Me has a production that couldn't fit in 2019, it sounds almost like electro. Panda was mostly popular because people thought he was Future. Songs like Black Beatles and Caroline made it to the 2017 year end because they peaked around Nov-Dec 2016. Hip Hop wasn't the most popular genre of 2016. It's effect went on to the late 2010s. I will say that most of the 2016 hip hop is closer to 2019 but the rest of the genres of pop and EDM are in the mid 2010s territory. It's fine to say that 2016 songs can't be hits in 2013 but saying that 2016, as a whole, is late 2010s culturally is an overstatement.


I'd like to think 2016 as a mostly mid-2010s year with emerging late 2010s elements (PC/woke culture, trap music, ear-r*pe memes, etc).

I'd like to think 2016 as a mostly mid-2010s year with emerging late 2010s elements (PC/woke culture, trap music, ear-r*pe memes, etc).

That's accurate.

What? So wrong. How is 2013 a mid 2010s in any way? And how is 2016 a mid 201s years when the late 2010s era started that year.
2013 is mid simply because the electropop sound iconic of the early 2010s collapsed that year with major flops from Kesha and Lady Gaga, and stars like Rihanna and Jason Derulo moving away from it, not the mention the retro revival (Get Lucky, Blurred Lies), songs charting entirely on memes/challenges (Harlem Shake), hipster/starbucks indie and Lorde starting the slow pop thing all being the main things of '13.

2016 was only late in that Trump was elected that year (late into the year and not even in office yet), otherwise it was hardly a huge change from 2015 when it comes to music specifically. Trap was already popular in '15 with only its quantity of hits increasing in '16.

That explains why. Im in the US so geographically its a lot different with trends and what not. It’s subjective considering in the US trap was already dominant by 2016 and the charts conclude that. This is why we cannot generalize culture and trends.


@Disney, you're driving me and everybody on this thread completely insane. How many times do we have to go over this with you? Trap was not dominant in 2016. Period.

You're getting too caught up in your feelings with this sh!t. The fact of the matter is when you look at the Hot 100 for Billboard (be it Year-End, or the chart I provided from Late June of 2016) there was very little trap in the top charts, especially in comparison to how the genre would evolve in the Late 2010s. mc98 has provided sources, Sman has provided sources, I have provided sources. What have you provided to this conversation? Exactly, not much but you ranting and raving about Cardi B's mixtape. I said that she was not a household name, and I stand by that because, simply put, she was not a household name. You keep bringing up Drake and Rihanna's works from 2016 as it pioneered a new sound, I agree. But that new sound wasn't necessarily indicative of the Late 2010s culturally, as I already outlined before. I can go on and on, but this conversation is seriously becoming too effin' toxic.

We all acknowledge that trap grew in popularity in 2016, but once again you're placing WAY too much credence on just trap, when there were stil other musical genres, trends, and even instrumentation styles within hip hop, that were different enough to suggest that culturally it was still predominately mid 2010s. If you choose to remain ignorant, that is on you.

@Disney, you're driving me and everybody on this thread completely insane. How many times do we have to go over this with you? Trap was not dominant in 2016. Period.

You're getting too caught up in your feelings with this sh!t. The fact of the matter is when you look at the Hot 100 for Billboard (be it Year-End, or the chart I provided from Late June of 2016) there was very little trap in the top charts, especially in comparison to how the genre would evolve in the Late 2010s. mc98 has provided sources, Sman has provided sources, I have provided sources. What have you provided to this conversation? Exactly, not much but you ranting and raving about Cardi B's mixtape. I said that she was not a household name, and I stand by that because, simply put, she was not a household name. You keep bringing up Drake and Rihanna's works from 2016 as it pioneered a new sound, I agree. But that new sound wasn't necessarily indicative of the Late 2010s culturally, as I already outlined before. I can go on and on, but this conversation is seriously becoming too effin' toxic.

We all acknowledge that trap grew in popularity in 2016, but once again you're placing WAY too much credence on just trap, when there were stil other musical genres, trends, and even instrumentation styles within hip hop, that were different enough to suggest that culturally it was still predominately mid 2010s. If you choose to remain ignorant, that is on you.


Whoa, now, can't we all just agree to disagree?  :(

Whoa, now, can't we all just agree to disagree?  :(


There's agreeing to disagreeing, and then there's banging your head up against the wall ;D. Most of the conversations with people on this thread are in the former category, it's only a couple of people on here in which it's unfortunately the latter. It is what it is lol.

Back to the original question at hand, I remember in 2015 thinking to myself "music hasn't changed at all since 2013. Everything sounds the same". Then around February of 2016, I was hearing songs with that constant repetitive effect in the chorus of songs that were very EDM-heavy and something I have not heard before. It felt like a new sound and it was reminiscent of early 2010s electro pop yet different. And different than the usual teen pop songs we were hearing and ballads. If you were really paying attention you would have noticed this earlier in 2015. These EDM pop hits started consistently being on the radio in 2016 like Don't Let me Down by the Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, and other songs with EDM artists putting them out. This was the start of late 2010s EDM. You heard this explode later during the year with the song "Closer" by the Chainsmokers which I think broke records for  being the longest number 1 song. Of course at the same time you heard mumble rap being more popular as well as dancehall music being trendy too. It felt like we entered in a different era of music. This is why I say 2016 was part of the cultural late 2010s. You heard a difference and I even remember people on this thread mentioning they heard that too. I didn't like that direction of music but it was going into the EDM direction and you can see it was starting to be popular in the mainstream even though prior to that it was always popular in thr underground or in the mainstream through other styles sometimes. Then in 2017 this EDM trend peaked. Then slowly it started to decline starting in late 2017. Even in 2018 it didn't go away with Marshemello's song Happier and it lingered into 2019 too. Even today it isn't totally non-existent but it is past its prime. And this is all about the late 2010s culture. And how you noticed these changes in late 2015 and early 2016. Now that it is declining this is a sign of us heading into the early 2020s.... Unfortunstrly most people think this is leaving the mid 2010s but that's because they didn't pay attention to pop culture they just took one year and put it part of the mid 2010s just because even though the mid 2010s culture zeitgeist got formed long before that in 2014. Now we're hearing into early 2020s culture and you saw these signs earlier even in 2018 with Billie Eilish coming into the scene and stuff and this is really early 2020s culture being formed right now as we speak. And yeah it will be remembered for trap rap as well in the future. All these new artists and styles are being formed as part of the early 2020s cultural era.

"Whoa, now, can't we all just agree to disagree?  :("


"There's agreeing to disagreeing, and then there's banging your head up against the wall ;D. Most of the conversations with people on this thread are in the former category, it's only a couple of people on here in which it's unfortunately the latter. It is what it is lol."


Back to the original question at hand, I remember in 2015 thinking to myself "music hasn't changed at all since 2013. Everything sounds the same". Then around February of 2016, I was hearing songs with that constant repetitive effect in the chorus of songs that were very EDM-heavy and something I have not heard before. It felt like a new sound and it was reminiscent of early 2010s electro pop yet different. And different than the usual teen pop songs we were hearing and ballads. If you were really paying attention you would have noticed this earlier in 2015. These EDM pop hits started consistently being on the radio in 2016 like Don't Let me Down by the Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, and other songs with EDM artists putting them out. This was the start of late 2010s EDM. You heard this explode later during the year with the song "Closer" by the Chainsmokers which I think broke records for  being the longest number 1 song. Of course at the same time you heard mumble rap being more popular as well as dancehall music being trendy too. It felt like we entered in a different era of music. This is why I say 2016 was part of the cultural late 2010s. You heard a difference and I even remember people on this thread mentioning they heard that too. I didn't like that direction of music but it was going into the EDM direction and you can see it was starting to be popular in the mainstream even though prior to that it was always popular in thr underground or in the mainstream through other styles sometimes. Then in 2017 this EDM trend peaked. Then slowly it started to decline starting in late 2017. Even in 2018 it didn't go away with Marshemello's song Happier and it lingered into 2019 too. Even today it isn't totally non-existent but it is past its prime. And this is all about the late 2010s culture. And how you noticed these changes in late 2015 and early 2016. Now that it is declining this is a sign of us heading into the early 2020s.... Unfortunstrly most people think this is leaving the mid 2010s but that's because they didn't pay attention to pop culture they just took one year and put it part of the mid 2010s just because even though the mid 2010s culture zeitgeist got formed long before that in 2014. Now we're hearing into early 2020s culture and you saw these signs earlier even in 2018 with Billie Eilish coming into the scene and stuff and this is really early 2020s culture being formed right now as we speak. And yeah it will be remembered for trap rap as well in the future. All these new artists and styles are being formed as part of the early 2020s cultural era.



https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ce/fb/7c/cefb7cc79ef3bff8f08c641c34772e87.jpg

@Disney, you're driving me and everybody on this thread completely insane. How many times do we have to go over this with you? Trap was not dominant in 2016. Period.

You're getting too caught up in your feelings with this sh!t. The fact of the matter is when you look at the Hot 100 for Billboard (be it Year-End, or the chart I provided from Late June of 2016) there was very little trap in the top charts, especially in comparison to how the genre would evolve in the Late 2010s. mc98 has provided sources, Sman has provided sources, I have provided sources. What have you provided to this conversation? Exactly, not much but you ranting and raving about Cardi B's mixtape. I said that she was not a household name, and I stand by that because, simply put, she was not a household name. You keep bringing up Drake and Rihanna's works from 2016 as it pioneered a new sound, I agree. But that new sound wasn't necessarily indicative of the Late 2010s culturally, as I already outlined before. I can go on and on, but this conversation is seriously becoming too effin' toxic.

We all acknowledge that trap grew in popularity in 2016, but once again you're placing WAY too much credence on just trap, when there were stil other musical genres, trends, and even instrumentation styles within hip hop, that were different enough to suggest that culturally it was still predominately mid 2010s. If you choose to remain ignorant, that is on you.


Lol how am I getting caught up in my feelings. You’re the one who’s upset  ;D I proved my case with facts and you are going off a video from January-June of 2016 which was chosen out of bias. You and one other person is the only one who disagrees. I’m doing fine on this end. You didn’t outline anything but biased opinion and tried to call me a liar when I disagreed yet I’m the toxic one ? You are projecting your insecurities and faults on me to make yourself feel better and it’s not working on me or anyone on this thread. You made it toxic by calling me out my name and insinuating something I’m not and when I once again proved you wrong you tried to use reverse psychology by playing victim and making me seem as if I’m the problem here.

I brought up tons of artists besides Drake and Rihanna you are the only one who is still stuck on them, I only concluded that Drake and Rihanna were closer to number 1 on the charts in June of 2016 demonstrated by the video you provided. Trap was pretty dominant in 2016 for the most part. I’m not remaining ignorant I was in college in 2015-2016 along with you, I remember it clearly.... I have also provided sources, you provided one vide as I have already declared earlier which did not capture most of the pop culture of that year... I provided multiple sources, a link to the top 100’s by end year of 2016 providing top hits which a majority of them included some form of trap infused music. I also provided a playlist which included hip hop and pop  songs of 2016 in which all made the top 1000’s at some point during that year but instead of being more open minded you were quick to dismiss that as well.

You are taking this too deep and literal. I only respond to what you hit me with.

I didn't know 2016 would be such a controversial year to talk about. It is another unique and transitional year like 2013.

I didn't know 2016 would be such a controversial year to talk about. It is another unique and transitional year like 2013.


The year is cursed and all discussion of it should be banned tbh.

Lol how am I getting caught up in my feelings. You’re the one who’s upset  ;D I proved my case with facts and you are going off a video from January-June of 2016 which was chosen out of bias.


gTXlTt_bqBw

At one point did this video ever only show songs from only "January-June of 2016"? The headline of the video, literally has a still from the music video of 'Star Boy', which came out in October of 2016. You are lying on purpose, that was never my argument. You keep bringing up this point, but it has never been mentioned. That's what is frustrating about this conversation, you are literally not making any cohesive sense.


You and one other person is the only one who disagrees. I’m doing fine on this end. You didn’t outline anything but biased opinion and tried to call me a liar when I disagreed yet I’m the toxic one ? You are projecting your insecurities and faults on me to make yourself feel better and it’s not working on me or anyone on this thread. You made it toxic by calling me out my name and insinuating something I’m not and when I once again proved you wrong you tried to use reverse psychology by playing victim and making me seem as if I’m the problem here.


What do you mean by, "You and one other person is the only one who disagrees.? You and Slim are the only ones on this thread that are claiming that 2016 was Late 2010s. Everybody else on this thread, from people that think 2016 was more like 2019 to people whom think that 2016 was more like 2013, agree with the general (and quite honestly, objective) consensus, that 2016 was the mid 2010s. Did some elements of Late 2010s culture pop off in 2016? Yes. Does that automatically make it a Late 2010s year? No.

I've literally outlined every single one of my points and countered every single one of your points. I have provided evidence; from charts, to billboard lists, to YouTube compilations, etc. etc. The only thing you really added to this conversation ('added' being a very loose term on your part) was your own Soundcloud playlist of your own selected 2016 songs. How do I know you didn't just make that playlist up in between this conversation just to make some kind of point? Who's really to say? Even if I give you benefit of the doubt and you've always had that playlist, once again a playlist is one's subjective list of songs that they have compiled. You're acting like your playlist of mostly trap music from 2016 is somehow more substantive than actual Billboard lists, not to mention other Hot 100 lists in other countries (I know mc98 posted one from the U.K as an example). These lists weren't just made in a lab somewhere, they were indicative of what was actually popular in 2016. I can't believe I have to explain such a basic concept to a grown ass adult :(.


I brought up tons of artists besides Drake and Rihanna you are the only one who is still stuck on them, I only concluded that Drake and Rihanna were closer to number 1 on the charts in June of 2016 demonstrated by the video you provided. Trap was pretty dominant in 2016 for the most part. I’m not remaining ignorant I was in college in 2015-2016 along with you, I remember it clearly.... I have also provided sources, you provided one vide as I have already declared earlier which did not capture most of the pop culture of that year... I provided multiple sources, a link to the top 100’s by end year of 2016 providing top hits which a majority of them included some form of trap infused music. I also provided a playlist which included hip hop and pop  songs of 2016 in which all made the top 1000’s at some point during that year but instead of being more open minded you were quick to dismiss that as well.

You are taking this too deep and literal. I only respond to what you hit me with.

The only two other things that you have been arguing here have been; "Bud wUd boU't DrAkE ANd RIhaNA!?!?!? and "bUd CaRD B mIXtaPe, in which I have already thoroughly addressed each and one of these points. I am not going to repeat myself, I am merely just going to repost these counter-points I have already provided.


"She was not a household name. It's not about being cultured or uncultured, it's just an objective fact of reality. Her only call for fame back then was for being on a sh!tty reality tv show, while in 2017 it was for her music. Do you see the difference? Also...... I've gone over this before, June of 2016 was the peak of 2016. If you want, you could also include July of 2016 in that category as well. So June/July of 2016 is the peak of 2016, so I included the Hot 100 list from Late June of each respected year to showcase the music that was popular at the mathematical and cultural epicenter of the three respected years. But I decided to also include Year-End as well to show case songs that were popular on a wider scale, in case they may had premiered late into the year, such as 'Star Boy' or '24K Magic'. The problem is that you and others are placing WAY too much credence on the musical trends that debuted in the later months of 2016, and are completely ignoring the many trends that continued well into 2016, relatively strongly. You're bringing up trends that debuted Late in 2016, like 'Black Beatles' and it's subsequent 'Mannequin Challenge' to act like it's some sort of 'gotcha', but then completely ignoring the EDM, Indie Rock, Teen Pop, and other musical elements that made 2016 a cultural Mid 2010s year.

I'm sorry to say, but it's making you seem desperate. I already posted the video above of the Most Popular Billboard Hot 100 Songs of 2016, and you're displeased because of the lack in trap rap posted the video, in which mind you, making an outlandish claim before about how "Drake and Rihanna WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO!!!!", in which I correctly pointed out, "Yes, they did". It couldn't be that maybe, just maybe, my argument holds stronger weight? That I am correct in the assertion that trap was not a major factor in pop music in 2016, in the same way that it would become in 2017-onwards? If anything, it just seems like you're trying to fit reality into this subjective mold of based on what you're own pre-subscribed beliefs are.

If you want to make the argument that Drake's album Views and Rihanna's album Anti were closer in musical instrumentation to trap/hip hop of today vs. hip hop of much of the early-mid 2010s, then that is one thing (although I would still disagree, for reasons I will list later). But to suggest that was some kind of proof that 2016 as a whole was culturally Late 2010s, that to me just seems like a major leap in logic. And in all honesty, you cite these two albums as somewhat of a cultural watermark, which I am not discarding, but whereas I can also to point you to some other hit albums in 2016 that would sound much more out of place in 2019 than in 2013; Kanye's The Life of Pablo, Bieber's Purpose, Future's Evol, Drake & Future's What a Time to Be Alive Chance's Coloring Book DJ Snake's Encore, I could go on and on. I understand Drake and Rihanna are big names in music, but are you going to ignore the fact, despite pioneering these new sounds, that;

a) Drake has since moved on from that musical style. And even this neo-Reaggaeton flow in trap music/party music you're citing has not been relevant for at least two years now, right around the time that the neo-Latino wave in music began to get big in 2017 with 'Despacito'. So even if you're using this as an argument as to either suggest that, 2016 was more like 2019 or worse, 2016 was culturally Late 2010s, it doesn't make much sense because just because it appeared to be a new trend, does not make that new trend a a culturally indicative trend of the Late 2010s or let alone one to suggest it dramatically altered the stage in music in a fundamentally new way. There's an argument to be made with some trap that got big in 2016, like 'Panda' and 'Black Beatles', because those trends actually survived well into the Late 2010s and are much more culturally aligned to the Late 2010s, in which that would be the parameters of this debate in which I would be willing to have a discussion about 'Late 2010s influences started popping up in 2016', but not anything that came out of Drake from this year (Views, What a Time to Be Alive) Finally;

That you also have the fact that, and this brings me no pleasure in saying this, especially as witnessing her rise to fame since the mid 2000s, but nonetheless it has to be said that

b) Rihanna is not musically relevant anymore. Her last studio album was Anti. She has been VERY low key for the last four years, which is unheard of for her since she has been making music consistently since the mid 2000s. So taking account everything I had to say in the first point, then once again, why would you place Rihanna's album Anti on the level of some cultural phenomenon akin to like MJ's Thriller, when the sound that she allegedly pioneered with she herself have not been active in? "

And that's all. I don't know why you're blatantly lying, but I see through it like a book and it's not clever by any means.

gTXlTt_bqBw

At one point did this video ever only show songs from only "January-June of 2016"? The headline of the video, literally has a still from the music video of 'Star Boy', which came out in October of 2016. You are lying on purpose, that was never my argument. You keep bringing up this point, but it has never been mentioned. That's what is frustrating about this conversation, you are literally not making any cohesive sense.


What do you mean by, "You and one other person is the only one who disagrees.? You and Slim are the only ones on this thread that are claiming that 2016 was Late 2010s. Everybody else on this thread, from people that think 2016 was more like 2019 to people whom think that 2016 was more like 2013, agree with the general (and quite honestly, objective) consensus, that 2016 was the mid 2010s. Did some elements of Late 2010s culture pop off in 2016? Yes. Does that automatically make it a Late 2010s year? No.

I've literally outlined every single one of my points and countered every single one of your points. I have provided evidence; from charts, to billboard lists, to YouTube compilations, etc. etc. The only thing you really added to this conversation ('added' being a very loose term on your part) was your own Soundcloud playlist of your own selected 2016 songs. How do I know you didn't just make that playlist up in between this conversation just to make some kind of point? Who's really to say? Even if I give you benefit of the doubt and you've always had that playlist, once again a playlist is one's subjective list of songs that they have compiled. You're acting like your playlist of mostly trap music from 2016 is somehow more substantive than actual Billboard lists, not to mention other Hot 100 lists in other countries (I know mc98 posted one from the U.K as an example). These lists weren't just made in a lab somewhere, they were indicative of what was actually popular in 2016. I can't believe I have to explain such a basic concept to a grown ass adult :(.


The only two other things that you have been arguing here have been; "Bud wUd boU't DrAkE ANd RIhaNA!?!?!? and "bUd CaRD B mIXtaPe, in which I have already thoroughly addressed each and one of these points. I am not going to repeat myself, I am merely just going to repost these counter-points I have already provided.


And that's all. I don't know why you're blatantly lying, but I see through it like a book and it's not clever by any means.


K

I didn't know 2016 would be such a controversial year to talk about. It is another unique and transitional year like 2013.


Because there are some people that live in an alternate reality trying to impose their views on the world onto us.

Ok, I'm slightly kidding ;D. But still though, there's agreeing in disagreeing on the underlying question of the thread, and then there is straight up lies and misinformation. If I were to say that Disco became big in 1980, obviously that is outlandishly wrong on so many fronts. I don't understand how pointing something like that out is controversial.

K


"I brought up tons of artists besides Drake and Rihanna you are the only one who is still stuck on them, I only concluded that Drake and Rihanna were closer to number 1 on the charts in June of 2016 demonstrated by the video you provided. Trap was pretty dominant in 2016 for the most part. I’m not remaining ignorant I was in college in 2015-2016 along with you, I remember it clearly.... I have also provided sources, you provided one vide"

Oh Boy
http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=61001.45


This is a way to settle the debate, here below were the top Billboard Hot 100 hits for the mid sections of each of these years (2013, 2016, & 2019). I picked the last week of June for each of these years, acting as a good halfway point. Along with the Year-End Top 100 songs from each respected year:


June 2013
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2013-06-29

Year-End 2013
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-100-songs
eW_iNOaUBwU




June 2016
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2016-07-02

Year-End 2016
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-100-songs
gTXlTt_bqBw




June 2019
https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2019-06-29

Year-End 2019
https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-100-songs
7I8E0swNo_U


THIS. Being in college in the mid-late 2010s, I can assure you that the EDM scene certainly began to die down after 2016. If anything, trap/reggaeton started getting blasted more at parties and music festivals in the Summer of 2017, vs. EDM. This is what I meant by EDM 'changing' in 2017, the genre had to adapt with the changing musical tides, so you started to see the genre integrate itself with elements of reggaeton and Trap. The result? The genre's appeal began to diminish even further.

In fact, this is from the article you posted:

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ims-report-top-paid-djs.jpg

"I have also provided sources, you provided one vide"

I rest my case. Glad we got that off the record, K.

The year is cursed and all discussion of it should be banned tbh.

;D

Oh Boy
http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=61001.45



I rest my case. Glad we got that off the record, K.


No I just don’t want to argue anymore. It’s not worth it. There’s a lot I can say but I won’t.

;D


This !!  ;D

No I just don’t want to argue anymore. It’s not worth it. There’s a lot I can say but I won’t.


Because your hand got caught in the cookie jar ;D.  Nighty night guys, and yeah diddo on 2016 being hella cursed ;D.

I will say this, if there are any aspects of music in 2016 that are different to today the reason for it is because we are in the early '20s. The reason is not that 2016 was still a mid 2010s year, far from it. But many things from 2016 are indeed still popular today or have only recently started to decline. Which only proves the late 2010s have recently started to decline (not the mid '10s which were over a long  long time ago). 2016 is a solid late 2010s year on the whole. And it was transitional as well along with late 2015. All those songs posted from the Billboard charts of 2016 do not sound mid 2010s at all. If you wanna know what the mid 2010s sound like, look at the charts from 2014 and 2015. In 2016 things were already changing.

Even the trap music is different. The trap you hear today had its roots in 2016 and just only exploded later on. But the trap from 2015 and 2014 like the song "Trap Queen" from 2015 is a different thing and sounds different from the mumble rap you hear now the style of that trap is lighter.

Because your hand got caught in the cookie jar ;D.  Nighty night guys, and yeah diddo on 2016 being hella cursed ;D.


No I’m confused as to what I got caught in ? I still stick to my word as does the majority of the vote on this thread lmao... Not really sure why your antagonizing me to keep going either after continuing to say how toxic this conversation is going. I proved my point. You already had me when you didn’t know who Cardi B was in 2016, I already knew not to take this serious as all your points still aren’t validated as you’d like to believe  ;D

I will say this, if there are any aspects of music in 2016 that are different to today the reason for it is because we are in the early '20s. The reason is not that 2016 was still a mid 2010s year, far from it. But many things from 2016 are indeed still popular today or have only recently started to decline. Which only proves the late 2010s have recently started to decline (not the mid '10s which were over a long  long time ago). 2016 is a solid late 2010s year on the whole. And it was transitional as well along with late 2015. All those songs posted from the Billboard charts of 2016 do not sound mid 2010s at all. If you wanna know what the mid 2010s sound like, look at the charts from 2014 and 2015. In 2016 things were already changing.

Even the trap music is different. The trap you hear today had its roots in 2016 and just only exploded later on. But the trap from 2015 and 2014 like the song "Trap Queen" from 2015 is a different thing and sounds different from the mumble rap you hear now the style of that trap is lighter.


I agree, I don’t really know what Zelda was listening to in 2016 but it is what it is. 2016 was more late than mid, politically and culturally. Edm of 2016 sounds nothing like what was being produced in 2014  and hip hop in 2014 was more influenced by edm rather than trap like in 2016.

If anyone is interested here is the too hot 100’s list for r&b and hip hop By the end of 2016 (not just hot 100’s pop music in which Zelda provided) provided by the billboard charts website

https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_in_hip_hop_music

Mostly all of the songs were trap/trap infused and mumble rap was becoming big by 2016 according to this chart. 2016 was def the year trap dominated hip hop. 

I would say 2013, but I don't really listen to pop music today so I could be wrong.

So what subgenre do people consider Billie Ellish to be? If EDM is dead in 2019, then I'm gonna have to go with 2013, since there was at least some EDM then and EDM/House music was the dominant genre in 2016. 2013 had EDM & trap music. If EDM is dead then 2019, only has trap music but no EDM.

Thing is, in 2013 there were a lot of pop stars. I can't think of many popstar today outside of Lizzo.

I would say 2013, but I don't really listen to pop music today so I could be wrong.

So what subgenre do people consider Billie Ellish to be? If EDM is dead in 2019, then I'm gonna have to go with 2013, since there was at least some EDM then and EDM/House music was the dominant genre in 2016. 2013 had EDM & trap music. If EDM is dead then 2019, only has trap music but no EDM.

Thing is, in 2013 there were a lot of pop stars. I can't think of many popstar today outside of Lizzo.


I agree. Also, with the bold, that's another strong argument as to why 2016 was more similar to 2013, as there was still a wave of 'neo Princess Pop Stars' in the mid 2010s. Acts like Demi, Selena, 'early' Ariana, Fifth Harmony (prior to Camilla leaving), etc. This wave in pop music was applicable in both of these years, and was definitely not a thing by 2019.

I agree. Also, with the bold, that's another strong argument as to why 2016 was more similar to 2013, as there was still a wave of 'neo Princess Pop Stars' in the mid 2010s. Acts like Demi, Selena, 'early' Ariana, Fifth Harmony (prior to Camilla leaving), etc. This wave in pop music was applicable in both of these years, and was definitely not a thing by 2019.


I get your point. But even in 2019, you had ex-Fifth Harmony members being prominent in the pop scene with Normani ("Dancing with a Stranger", "Motivation") and Camila Cabello ("Señorita", "South of the Border").

Ariana Grande was still popular in early 2019 with her Thank U, Next album, and her hit songs "7 rings" and "break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored".

Selena Gomez had her first #1 hit with "Lose You To Love Me" in the year as well. There was her other hit song "Look At Her Now", and she was featured in "Taki Taki".

In 2013, the trap song that was a #1 hit was "Harlem Shake", but that song was influenced more by EDM and UK bass. That's hardly the sound of trap today.

In 2016, "Panda" by Desiigner reached to #1 and the minimal, atmospheric trap elements in that song sound more alike to 2019's trap songs like "Old Town Road", "HIGHEST IN THE ROOM", "The London", and lots more.

I get your point. But even in 2019, you had ex-Fifth Harmony members being prominent in the pop scene with Normani ("Dancing with a Stranger", "Motivation") and Camila Cabello ("Señorita", "South of the Border").

Ariana Grande was still popular in early 2019 with her Thank U, Next album, and her hit songs "7 rings" and "break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored".

Selena Gomez had her first #1 hit with "Lose You To Love Me" in the year as well. There was her other hit song "Look At Her Now", and she was featured in "Taki Taki".

In 2013, the trap song that was a #1 hit was "Harlem Shake", but that song was influenced more by EDM and UK bass. That's hardly the sound of trap today.

In 2016, "Panda" by Desiigner reached to #1 and the minimal, atmospheric trap elements in that song sound more alike to 2019's trap songs like "Old Town Road", "HIGHEST IN THE ROOM", "The London", and lots more.


True, but the difference (at least to me) is that, all of those stars sort of broke out of their 'teenybopper' roles by the time 2019 rolled around. Fifth Harmony broke up in 2017, and since there have been good success for solo artists Camilla and Normani, but obviously with less of a 'teenybopper' sound and definitely a lot more mature (Camilla becoming a bit of a 'sex symbol', being a perfect example of that). Ariana had a distinct turn into more 'Adult Contemporary' in her 2018 & 2019 albums Sweetner & Thank U, Next, with some more deep melodic lyrics and darker/trap infused beats. Selena sort of disappeared from the music scene after her album Revival, and didn't make a bit of a comeback until 2019 with a completely different sound from her music before. Demi had some success in the Late 2010s, but nowhere near the stardom she had in the early-mid 2010s, and her music had already gone out of the 'teenybopper' sound by that point as well.

I will grant you on the point on Desiigner, however songs like 'Panda' emit a somewhat distinct sound, compared to many trap songs that would debut later. Many people thought that Desiigner was actually Future at first (I sure as heck did ;D), due to the very similar voice muddling techniques that Desiigner used for his songs. That's a musical element that reckons back to the mid 2010s, when there was hella 'Future Clones' out there.

True, but the difference (at least to me) is that, all of those stars sort of broke out of their 'teenybopper' roles by the time 2019 rolled around. Fifth Harmony broke up in 2017, and since there have been good success for solo artists Camilla and Normani, but obviously with less of a 'teenybopper' sound and definitely a lot more mature (Camilla becoming a bit of a 'sex symbol', being a perfect example of that). Ariana had a distinct turn into more 'Adult Contemporary' in her 2018 & 2019 albums Sweetner & Thank U, Next, with some more deep melodic lyrics and darker/trap infused beats. Selena sort of disappeared from the music scene after her album Revival, and didn't make a bit of a comeback until 2019 with a completely different sound from her music before. Demi had some success in the Late 2010s, but nowhere near the stardom she had in the early-mid 2010s, and her music had already gone out of the 'teenybopper' sound by that point as well.

I will grant you on the point on Desiigner, however songs like 'Panda' emit a somewhat distinct sound, compared to many trap songs that would debut later. Many people thought that Desiigner was actually Future at first (I sure as heck did ;D), due to the very similar voice muddling techniques that Desiigner used for his songs. That's a musical element that reckons back to the mid 2010s, when there was hella 'Future Clones' out there.

Songs from Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman album sounds so mid 2010s (especially Into You and Side To Side) and a far cry from her 2019 material, which has minimal and bassy productions. Same with with Fifth Harmony, Work From Home sounds like a DJ Mustard song, which was very mid 2010s. 2016 also had disco throwback tracks like 24K Magic, Cake By The Ocean, and Can't Stop The Feeling. There was also a lot of post-Royals pop songs like Gold and Sit Still Look Pretty.

The EDM of 2016 was dominated by Deep/Tropical House. This was probably more popular than trap in 2016. There was also the Chainsmokers, which were hardly a thing in 2019.

Trap was very popular in 2016, it was transitional with acts like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert but Atlanta rappers were still the faces of the genre. These Soundcloud rappers were considered underground and wouldn't influence the sound of hip hop until 2017.

True, but the difference (at least to me) is that, all of those stars sort of broke out of their 'teenybopper' roles by the time 2019 rolled around. Fifth Harmony broke up in 2017, and since there have been good success for solo artists Camilla and Normani, but obviously with less of a 'teenybopper' sound and definitely a lot more mature (Camilla becoming a bit of a 'sex symbol', being a perfect example of that). Ariana had a distinct turn into more 'Adult Contemporary' in her 2018 & 2019 albums Sweetner & Thank U, Next, with some more deep melodic lyrics and darker/trap infused beats. Selena sort of disappeared from the music scene after her album Revival, and didn't make a bit of a comeback until 2019 with a completely different sound from her music before. Demi had some success in the Late 2010s, but nowhere near the stardom she had in the early-mid 2010s, and her music had already gone out of the 'teenybopper' sound by that, point as well.

I will slightly grant you on the point on Desiigner, but one thing that mc98 brought up to me earlier, was that the song was actually produced in Atlanta, and not in Florida or New York like many future trap artists would come from and change the game. Thus, songs like 'Panda' emits a somewhat distinct sound, compared to many trap songs that would debut later. Many people also thought that Desiigner was actually Future at first (I sure as heck did ;D), due to the very similar voice muddling techniques that Desiigner used for his songs. That's a musical element that reckons back to the mid 2010s, when there was hella 'Future Clones' out there.


Future definitely laid the groundwork for "mumble-trap" artists like Desiigner and 21 Savage in the mid-2010s.

And since Demi had her near-death drug overdose in 2018 and was in rehab for several months, her popularity severely deteriorated. So it makes sense that she wasn't as musically relevant now as she was in 2015-2016.

I do think 2016 was a bridge for artists like Ariana as she was transitioning from a teenage pop sensation to a more mature-sounding woman (similar to Britney Spears' transition from Oops! I Did It Again to her self-titled album).

Songs from Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman album sounds so mid 2010s (especially Into You and Side To Side) and a far cry from her 2019 material, which has minimal and bassy productions. Same with with Fifth Harmony, Work From Home sounds like a DJ Mustard song, which was very mid 2010s. 2016 also had disco throwback tracks like 24K Magic, Cake By The Ocean, and Can't Stop The Feeling. There was also a lot of post-Royals pop songs like Gold and Sit Still Look Pretty.

The EDM of 2016 was dominated by Deep/Tropical House. This was probably more popular than trap in 2016. There was also the Chainsmokers, which were hardly a thing in 2019.

Trap was very popular in 2016, it was transitional with acts like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert but Atlanta rappers were still the faces of the genre. These Soundcloud rappers were considered underground and wouldn't influence the sound of hip hop until 2017.


I agree! Great summary of 2016 :).



Future definitely laid the groundwork for "mumble-trap" artists like Desiigner and 21 Savage in the mid-2010s.

And since Demi had her near-death drug overdose in 2018 and was in rehab for several months, her popularity severely deteriorated. So it makes sense that she wasn't as musically relevant now as she was in 2015-2016.

I do think 2016 was a bridge for artists like Ariana as she was transitioning from a teenage pop sensation to a more mature-sounding woman (similar to Britney Spears' transition from Oops! I Did It Again to her self-titled album).




Good points. Dangerous Woman was like Ariana's Oops! I Did It Again, in many respects. The songs still had that teenybopper flare that defined much of her music prior, but it was also when she started to experiment a little bit more with her vocal ranges, lyrical content, and beat sampling. Although, I do agree with mc98, that despite that Dangerous Woman being pretty transitional, the album still sounds stereotypically mid 2010s. Sweetner was truly when Ariana really broke out of that 'teenybopper' flare and started to experiment in more great detail. One of the first songs that comes to mind was 'No Tears Left to Cry':


ffxKSjUwKdU


The vocals, the lyrics, the instrumentation, the innovative echoing techniques, even the surrealist music video, all of this is pretty detached from her stuff from even just a couple of years prior to this song dropping.

I agree! Great summary of 2016 :).


Good points. Dangerous Woman was like Ariana's Oops! I Did It Again, in many respects. The songs still had that teenybopper flare that defined much of her music prior, but it was also when she started to experiment a little bit more with her vocal ranges, lyrical content, and beat sampling. Although, I do agree with mc98, that despite that Dangerous Woman being pretty transitional, the album still sounds stereotypically mid 2010s. Sweetner was truly when Ariana really broke out of that 'teenybopper' flare and started to experiment in more great detail. One of the first songs that comes to mind was 'No Tears Left to Cry':


ffxKSjUwKdU


The vocals, the lyrics, the instrumentation, the innovative echoing techniques, even the surrealist music video, all of this is pretty detached from her stuff from even just a couple of years prior to this song dropping.


And I always thought of 2016 as the new 2000, being the tail end of a teen pop era.

I always say quantity is no match for qualité and 2019's Lizzo brings that in spades. All the other pretenders could do was try.

Wayyy closer to 2019, 2013 pop music sounded more upbeat and generally what most people think of when they hear the word pop music. Around 2016 or so you started to see the rise of Soundcloud rappers and music sounding more dark and dreary.