If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed the world going all in on 2016 nostalgia. From regular users to stars like Ice Spice, everyone’s been reminiscing about a time when things felt much simpler—or at least seemed that way.
That year was also one of the most iconic in music. We were getting classic rap, pop, and R&B albums at an incredible rate. Drake was the kingpin, with his stimulus package putting artists on, while the SoundCloud era was just beginning to spill into the mainstream, with artists like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert were only starting their rise.
With nostalgia at an all-time high, we thought it would be fun to look back at rap music from that year. Here’s a look at some artists’ biggest songs from 2016, based on their Billboard chart performance.
Lil Uzi Vert
Song: "Bad and Boujee” with Migos
Released: October 28, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 26
Lil Uzi was the breakout rapper of 2016 but his biggest hit didn't come to the end of the year. Migos' Metro Boomin-produced smash “Bad and Boujee” would eventually hit No. 1 at the top of January.
Drake
Song: “One Dance" Feat. WizKid & Kyla
Released: April 5, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 1
You know how they say the first million is the hardest? Same thing with No. 1 hits. It took Drake nearly 10 years to land his first No. 1 as a lead artist, which came with “One Dance.” After that, he couldn’t be stopped.
Lil Yachty
Song: “Broccoli” with D.R.A.M
Released: April 6, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 5
Lil Yachty has lived many lives since 2016. Back then, his persona and music were driving oldheads crazy—and now, well, he’s still doing that. D.R.A.M.’s “Broccoli” marked the beginning of Lil Boat having the radio in a chokehold.
Kanye West
Song: “Pop Style” with Drake & Jay-Z
Released: April 5, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 16
Although 2016 was the year The Life of Pablo took over, Kanye’s biggest mark on the charts came with the Views cut “Pop Style.” Ahh—back when times were simpler.
Gucci Mane
Song: “Black Beatles” with Rae Sremmurd
Released: August 12, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 1
One of the biggest cultural moments of 2016 was the Mannequin Challenge, backed by Rae Sremmurd and a just-home-from-the-feds Gucci Mane, who was very much not a clone.
Kodak Black
Song: “Lockjaw” with French Montana
Released: May 27, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 73
In 2016, Kodak had been buzzing for a minute, but it was French Montana who helped push him into the mainstream with the minor hit “Lockjaw,” a song about the joys of getting geeked out.
Travis Scott
Song: “Pick Up The Phone” Feat. Young Thug and Quavo
Released: June 3, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 43
Maybe no song screams 2016 like “Pick Up the Phone,” which captures Travis Scott, Young Thug, and Quavo colliding right as they’re on the verge of superstardom.
Kendrick Lamar
Song: "Don't Wanna Know" with Maroon 5
Released: October 11, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 7
There was a time when Kendrick was embracing collaboration with pop stars. During a particularly busy stretch after To Pimp a Butterfly, he worked with Taylor Swift, SIA, Beyoncé, and even put out this mid, mailed-in effort with Maroon 5.
21 Savage
Song: “Sneakin'” with Drake
Released: October 29, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 28
The Drake and 21 Savage long partnership began with “Sneakin’,” a standout from the playlist More Life, with The Boy's melodic delivery playing off 21's deadpan flow.
J. Cole
Song: “Deja Vu”
Released: December 9, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 7
We got a J. Cole album in 2016. 4 Your Eyez Only, the follow up to 2014 Forest Hills Drive, featured the standout“Deja Vu.” At the time the song was his biggest hit, being his first song to hit the top 10.
Future
Song: “Used To This” Feat. Drake
Released: November 3, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 14
Fresh off What a Time to Be Alive, his collaboration album with Drake, "Used To This" further affirmed them as kindred spirits. This is definitely one of the more underrated collaborations between the two.
Young Thug
Song: “No Limit” with Usher
Released: June 9, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 32
In 2016, Usher had the good sense to tap in with one of the most interesting weirdos in rap, and Young Thug delivered. This sultry, trap-banger also serves as a tribute to Master P and No Limit. How can you go wrong?
Post Malone
Song: “Deja Vu” Feat. Justin Bieber
Released: November 4, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 75
By 2017, "Congratulations," which features Quavo, would become Post Malone's biggest hit at the time, a song that would eventually go diamond. But in 2016, his highest-charting song was his catchy collaboration with JB.
Nicki Minaj
Song: “Side To Side” with Ariana Grande
Released: August 30, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 4
Ariana and Nicki have always shared a special chemistry. Their 2016 hit “Side To Side” was one of their biggest collaborations and a true song of the summer contender.
Lil Wayne
Song: "Sucker for Pain" with Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors
Released: June 24, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 32
This was an era when record labels were still producing rap soundtracks. Suicide Squad had one through Atlantic, featuring this moody, Frankenstein of a posse track “Sucker for Pain,” which includes a pretty good verse from Lil Wayne.
Fetty Wap
Song: “All In My Head (Flex)” with Fifth Harmony
Released: May 31, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 24
In 2016, Fetty still had the glow of his 2015 breakout all over him, keeping him in demand for pop hits—including this Fifth Harmony heater.
Chance the Rapper
Song: “No Problem” Feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
Released: May 26, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 43
In 2016, Chance had the world in his hands. He, of course, played an important role on The Life of Pablo, but he also released his own Grammy-winning album, Coloring Book, which dominated the year. The posse cut “No Problem” emerged as the album’s biggest hit.
Fat Joe
Song: “All The Way Up” (Remix) with Remy Ma, Jay-Z, French Montana & InfaRed
Released: March 26, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 27
Fat Joe and Remy Ma reached late-career highs with "All The Way Up." The song went to another level when Jay-Z jumped on the remix, thanks to Memphis Bleek. At least French finally secured that publishing.
ScHoolboy Q
Song: “THat Part” Feat. Kanye West
Released: May 13, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 40
ScHoolboy Q scored one of the biggest hits of his career, partly thanks to an explosive verse from Kanye.
YG
Song: "Why You Always Hatin?" Feat. Drake & Kamaiyah
Released: May 21, 2016
Billboard Hot 100 peak in 2016: 62
Drake and YG tried to recreate the magic of “Who Do You Love?” by posing another pressing question: “Why You Always Hatin?"