2016 had some of the fiercest competition when it came to releasing music, including many breakout acts such as Zayn Malik, Anderson Paak and Lil Uzi Vert. Most people remember it as a cultural reset. Others remember it as the best year of their lives. However, a commonly held belief is that 2016 was unlike any other year, especially when it came to music.

5. Starboy

Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd released this album on Nov. 25 as his third studio album. This album features guest appearances from Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. Notable songs include “Starboy” produced by Daft Punk, “Die For You,” which received a remix with Ariana Grande in 2023, and “Starboy Interlude” featuring Lana Del Rey, which became a major TikTok trend.

4. Lemonade

Houston native Beyoncé released this album on April 23, following her self-titled album in 2013. In this project, the public decided she was not just a pop star but a global superstar. Around that time, rumors circulated about her husband, Jay-Z’s, infidelity which were fueled after Beyoncé’s sister, Solange, beat him up in an elevator at the Met Gala in 2014. Beyoncé wrote this album to highlight the Black female experience while addressing the speculation pertaining to her family. The highly acclaimed album won awards such as the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary album and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album and was nominated for Album of the Year. Lemonade features songs such as “Formation,” “Don’t Hurt Yourself” and “Sorry.” Beyoncé currently holds the record for most Grammy awards won.

3. The life of Pablo

Now a controversial figure, Grammy winning rapper Kayne West released “The Life of Pablo” on Feb. 14 as his seventh studio album. The album blends rap and gospel elements. Tracks include “Fade,” “Father Stretch my Hands Pt.1,” which became a popular meme on Vine and further influenced the reach of the album. “Famous” which came under public scrutiny after including a misogynistic lyric potentially dissing Taylor Swift, whose speech West interrupted at the MTV Music Video Awards in 2009. “No More Parties in LA” and “Waves” are often regarded as fan favorites.

2. ANTI

Released on Jan. 28, this critically acclaimed album shattered records. You couldn’t escape from hearing songs from this album on the radio. It became the first album by a Black woman to spend 400 weeks on the Billboard 200. Anti is six-times platinum certified by the RIAA. The album features artists such as SZA on “Consideration” and Drake on the hit single “Work” including a Tame Impala cover of “New Person, Same Old Mistakes.” Despite its massive success, Anti lost all six of its Grammy nominations. More than a decade later, Rihanna has yet to release a new album.

1. Blonde

After releasing his debut album “Channel Orange” in 2012, which included the hit track “Thinkin’ Bout You” fans long awaited the release of his next project. In 2016, he released “Blonde” accompanied with visual album “Endless.” Blonde was met with critical acclaim. Pitchfork rated it a 9/10, an unusual rating as Pitchfork generally rates albums harshly. Blonde is often amongst the list of Top 2016 albums. “Blonde” explores themes of family, identity, growth and the complexities of love. The album includes background vocals from artists such as André 3000 and Beyoncé, on “Pink + White” and others. Top rated songs include “Pink + White,” “Chanel” and “White Ferrari.” Like Rihanna, Frank Ocean has yet to release another album.