What’s Hot in POP

By carolinianweb on April 6, 2016 • ( 0 )

mobu26/ flickr

Kashif Stone
Staff Writer

With 2016 being four months in, music has been nothing more than dynamic thus far. From Rihanna’s new “ANTI” album leaking onto the internet in January, causing mixed opinions from music critics and even her “Navy” fans, to Beyoncé taking the world by storm, yet again, with the surprise release of her “Formation” single, it is safe to say that pop music is HOT in 2016.

Rihanna – “Work”

Unless you have been living under a rock, I am sure you have heard Rihanna’s lead single “Work” off her “ANTI” album. The song is played nationally across radio stations in heavy rotation and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The 28-year-old songstress revisits her Barbadian roots through the songs’ Caribbean feel. The fun uptempo, electronic hip-hop track features Canadian rapper Drake, who hasn’t collaborated on a Rihanna song since 2010 for “What’s My Name” on her “Loud” album. Drake’s verse adds extra spice to the song but it is Rihanna’s repetition of the word “work” that makes the song catchy and unforgettable. The song is currently number one Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Beyoncé – “Formation”

It had been over two years since Queen Bey released a body of music and her fan base, the BeyHive, were becoming impatient with the singers abstinence in music. Despite her surprise release of her single “711” in 2014, the singer hadn’t made any indication that a new album was in the works – until she dropped “Formation” a day before her Superbowl 50 appearance. The internet was taken by storm when the artist dropped the single, and as usual, the queen didn’t disappoint. The song is powerful and explores the singer’s southern roots with memorable lyrics like “I got hot sauce in my bag, swag” and “my mama Alabama, daddy Louisiana, you mix that negro, with that creole and make a Texas-bama.” The song received major criticism from music critics. Furthermore, the music video has been deemed to have stir up racial controversy by glorifying black power and the Black Panther Party.

Adele – “Hello”

You cannot talk about hot pop music without mentioning Adele. The “across the pond” singer made her return to music last November with the release of her best-selling album to date, “25,” and her lead single “Hello” has become a song that everyone has heard. Even if you are worn out of hearing the single, you have to admit that the song is genius. Adele begins the song saying “Hello, it’s me” which has become one of the catchiest phrases of this year thus far. The downtempo power ballad will have you grabbing a box of Kleenex and wanting to call your ex-lover to tell them that you’re sorry and you want them back. The song has been on the Billboard 100 chart for 22 weeks and I’m certain it isn’t going anywhere soon.

Justin Bieber – “Love Yourself”

“My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone” is probably one of my favorite Justin Bieber lyrics ever. Anything Bieber makes is a hit, in my opinion, and he has proved that with his latest single off his “Purpose” album. “Love Yourself” is a song with a strong message to a no-good lover. The acoustic, Ed Sheeran style track has been played across national radio stations and show Bieber in a different light from his typical apologetic songs such as “Sorry.” “Cause if you like the way you looked that much, baby you should go and love yourself,” is one of the catchiest lyrics in the song that is currently number three on the Billboard HOT 100 chart. Is Bieber throwing a jab at his long time on again, off again lover Selena Gomez or one of his other industry girlfriends? The world may never know!