2024’s Highest Albums, Songs and Emerging Artists

2024 proved as soon as once more that fab tune by no means we could up. On the heart of all of it was once Brat, Charli XCX‘s summer-defining list that had everybody in its grip. Charli was once so deep in her Brat generation that she stored the celebration going with two better half albums — Brat and it’s the similar however there’s 3 extra songs so it’s now not and Brat and it’s totally other but additionally nonetheless brat. It was once her global this summer season and we have been all too satisfied to are living in it.

However Brat wasn’t the one factor spinning on repeat, pop tune as a complete had a second. Sabrina Chippie served up flirty, sugary self belief with “Coffee,” whilst Chappell Roan‘s theatrical, heartfelt songwriting made her an speedy favourite. Each changed into staples on our place of business playlist and racked up Spotify streams we’ll fake now not to take a look at. In the meantime, the rap global was once the rest however quiet. Kendrick Lamar and Drake‘s feud hit new heights, with “Now not Like Us” reworking sharp jabs right into a West Coast victory lap — a diss observe so infectious, it doubled as a success unmarried.

As for emerging stars, this 12 months shined a focus on voices like Tems, Renée Rapp, Elyanna and extra — those artists carved out their very own lanes with unique sounds and plain skill. We even stuck up with Elyanna previous in June and her ambition to make use of tune as a device for alternate, which made her double wins on the Billboard Arabia Tune Awards all of the extra significant.

Stay scrolling to find our best albums, songs and emerging artists of 2024.

BEST ALBUMS

Latto — Sugar Honey Iced Tea

Alyssa Michelle Stephens, identified professionally as Latto is a emerging rap queen and her newest free up, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, served up a razor sharp masterpiece. Latto creates an album this is equivalent portions playful and reflective. Tracks like “Giant Mama” and “Georgia Peach” spotlight her signature Atlanta sound, whilst softer cuts like “Excellent 2 You” that includes Ciara, show off her versatility and romantic facet. Sugar Honey Iced Tea stands proud for its authenticity — a assured homecoming that embraces Latto’s Southern belle identification with allure and finesse.

GloRilla — Superb

GloRilla‘s Superb is strictly that. This album marks her evolution from viral sensation to hip-hop powerhouse and dives deeper to expose extra private tales of resilience and ambition.  Regardless that “TGIF” or “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME (feat.Sexyy Pink)” made waves as viral hits, tracks like “Blessed and Reckless” are similarly as infectious. Superb is an anthem of self-belief, delivered with GloRilla’s signature grit, air of secrecy and unmistakable Memphis sound, incomes its well-merited position on our 2024’s perfect albums record.

Charli XCX — Brat

You realize what we’re gonna say about Brat, it ruled our entire summer season. It’s simply a type of albums the place you’ll’t fault any track, we will be able to’t select a favourite as a result of we adore each and every one in all them. Don’t even get us began with the tune movies and for many who overlooked the excursion, we’re actually sorry.

Tinashe — Quantum Child

Tinashe‘s 7th album, Quantum Child is a testomony to her DIY ethos and genre-blending imaginative and prescient. It’s fluid, seductive and unapologetically experimental. To not point out, its standout observe, “Nasty,” set the tone for an much more Brat-ier summer season and was once a slick manufacturing that straight away stuck hearth.

aespa — Armageddon – The first Album

aespa‘s arrival in 2021 with “Subsequent Stage” marked them as the brand new leaders of K-pop, merging AI-inspired ideas with futuristic visuals. Their first full-length album Armageddon – The first Album, showcases their signature gritty and strong sound, led by means of the only “Supernova.” Whilst the album steers clear of the R&B influences of tracks like “Thirsty” or “Lucid Dream,” it highlights the gang’s energy in solidifying their musical identification.

BEST SONGS

Chappell Roan — “Excellent Success, Babe!”

Chappell Roan is without equal pop chameleon. Her sound, genre and visuals shift easily, making her not possible to pin down and her unmarried “Excellent Success, Babe!” completely encapsulates this artistry. Underneath its polished manufacturing and putting vocals — in particular the explosive moments overdue within the observe, Roan’s actual magic lies in her storytelling. She delivers lyrics with the intimacy of a dialog and the load of a monologue, pulling listeners deep into the narrative. It’s this stability of emotional intensity and function that makes “Excellent Success, Babe!” so charming and cements her as one in all pop’s maximum compelling new voices.

Sabrina Chippie — “Coffee”

Along with the whole lot we’ve coated to this point, we’ve were given Pass over Sabrina Chippie so as to add to the record. Recognized for her flirtatious attract, Chippie delivers hooky, playful traces like “My give a f-cks are on holiday” with a honeyed but sharp edge. The track is stuffed with quirky, eyebrow-raising moments like “That’s that me, coffee” and “I Mountain Dew it for ya” — delivered with cheeky self belief. Its surreal, carefree vibe channels the spirit of ’80s Italo-disco, the place emotion takes priority over literal that means.

Flo Milli — “By no means Lose Me”

Flo Milli‘s unapologetic, eccentric genre has earned her important consideration within the rap global. In spite of evaluations of her over-sexualized lyrics, she remains true to herself — no simple feat for an rising artist. Since debuting 4 years in the past, the Alabama-based artist has carved a singular house for herself. Her December free up, “By no means Lose Me,” changed into a TikTok sensation, topping Billboard‘s TikTok Most sensible 50 chart for a record-breaking 4 weeks, making historical past with the longest reign at the chart.

Kendrick Lamar — “Now not Like Us”

The continued feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been one in all this 12 months’s maximum talked-about tune tales and it’s mirrored within the charts. At the Billboard’s Sizzling 100, Kendrick takes goal at Drake in a blunt diss observe, that includes a West Coast-style beat with the road, “Qualified Lover Boy? Qualified pedophile.” Kendrick doubles down at the controversy surrounding Drake, all whilst handing over a licensed hit. This observe is greater than only a diss — it’s Kendrick’s victory lap, mixing cultural observation with a chart-topping sound.

Billie Eilish — “Birds of a Feather”

We adore Billie Eilish and “Birds of a Feather” showcases her vocal vary and emotional intensity. The refrain is a standout, with Eilish belting out robust notes that transfer past her signature whisper. Her prime notice against the tip unearths new layers to her voice so as to add intensity to her sound, proving she’s in a position to a lot more than her standard genre.

BEST RISING ARTISTS

Doechii

Doechii has had a breakout 12 months, incomes Grammy nominations for “Highest New Artist,” “Highest Rap Efficiency” and “Highest Rap Album” with “Alligator Bites By no means Heal.” She made historical past as the primary lady nominated within the “Highest Rap Album” class for a mixtape and inspired with robust performances on The Past due Display With Stephen Colbert and a standout NPR Tiny Table live performance. With all this momentum, 2025 is about to be even larger, with a possible Grammy win and a brand new album at the horizon.

Elyanna

The primary-ever Billboard Arabia Tune Awards 2024 formally made its approach to Saudi Arabia and for Elyanna, it was once an evening to keep in mind. Along appearing two of her best songs — “Al Sham” and “Ganeni,” she additionally took house two prestigious awards: “Highest Arab Indie Artist” and “Highest New Artist.” Along with her double win marking a profession milestone, we’re excited to look what 2025 brings for her.

Renee Rapp

Renée Rapp, in the beginning identified for her paintings as a singer-songwriter, has made a notable shift from Broadway to pop stardom. She received standard reputation for her function on this 12 months’s musical reeboot of Imply Ladies, however her true breakout got here together with her tune profession, in particular together with her hit unmarried ‘Too Smartly.” With 2.8 million Instagram fans and a rising TikTok presence, Rapp has frequently constructed a devoted fanbase.

Tems

Tems (born Temilade Openiyi) has temporarily develop into one in all tune’s maximum celebrated emerging stars. With 2024 marking a big milestone with the discharge of her extremely expected studio debut album, Born within the Wild. The list has already made waves, with the standout observe “Love Me JeJe” incomes a nomination for “Highest African Tune Efficiency” on the 2025 Grammy Awards. Tems’ soulful voice, distinctive sound and plain skill proceed to place her as a number one power in each African tune and the worldwide tune scene.

Lola Younger

She honed her craft on the famend BRIT Faculty, house to one of the crucial UK‘s brightest stars. By way of 18, she had already secured her first list deal and launched her debut undertaking, Intro in 2019. However her leap forward got here with “Messy,” a TikTok ruin that propelled her into the mainstream and skyrocketed her Spotify streams to twelve.7 million per thirty days listeners. With a function on Tyler, The Author‘s Chromakopia and a sold-out U.K. excursion last out her stellar 2024, she’s cemented herself as an artist on the upward push.

When you’re right here, take a look at the remainder of our Hypebae Highest options for 2024 beginning with The Highest Model Manufacturers and Pieces of 2024.