2024: A Year In Music
By Kavan Chan
No matter where or when you were in 2024, music last year was inescapable: especially to digital natives who frequent within the boundless abyss we call the internet. It has also been widely agreed that 2024 has been an amazing year for music in general in the eyes of critics and the general public alike, spanning from Brainwashing Pop hits to career-shattering and civil wars of rhymes.
Hit me Hard and Soft, Short n’ Sweet
The past year has created significant development for pop music in general. Amongst all these changes is the growing rise of musical minimalism, seen through the likes of Noah Kahan and Charli XCX’s “brat”, which resulted in the internet trend of a “brat summer”. The retention of simplicity, combined with a bold, loud sound provided a platform for Charli XCX’s directly evocative lyricism, further reinforcing the strengths of minimalism. The rise of emotional and lyrical depth has also been found within the likes of Billie Eilish, Chappel Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, who have all created critically acclaimed works applauded for their quality and depth. Although lacking significant music awards, the album “Hit Me Hard and Soft” by Billie Eilish has been praised for its flawless production and musical innovation, such as the inclusion of jarring beat switches and genre bending styles through songs such as “Blue” and “L'amour De Ma Vie”. Billie Eilish’s 3rd studio album expressed her vulnerability and the emotions in love and heartbreak through mega-hit “Birds of a Feather”, “The Greatest” and “Wildflower”, which conveyed the attachment and intimacy felt during attraction, as well as the sorrows of emotional turmoil and regret.
Grammy’s best new artist Sabrina Carpenter also received critical acclaim and validation on social media for her album “Short n’ Sweet”, which was applauded for the album’s commercial success and playful songwriting in songs like “Espresso” and “Please, Please, Please”. Surprisingly, Bruno Mars reached first on Spotify’s monthly most-streamed artist charts, through two unpredictable collaborations with Lady Gaga and Blackpink’s Rosé. This led to the inescapable songs of “Die With a Smile” and “APT” that have both reached over 1 billion streams on Spotify in under 100 days of their release, demonstrating the “24K Magic” singer’s expertise in creating unforgettable, marketable music. Additionally, other artists in the pop genre who gained fame or notoriety in 2024 include Benson Boone for his song “Beautiful Things”, Teddy Swims for “Lose Control” and Chappel Roan for her song “Good Luck Babe”.
The Pursuit of Authenticity
Hip Hop music has experienced significant notoriety in recent years, especially through artists such as Tyler the Creator and Kendrick Lamar, who have expressed their vulnerability and maturity through undoubtedly poetic lyricism and musical tonality. Tyler Okonma’s “Chromakopia”, which launched as a monetary and auditory hit with nearly 300,000 sales within its first week, showcased his ability to blend elements of rock, hip hop and soul, whilst exploring human themes of anxiety, isolation and personal growth that resonated with many audiences. Tracks such as “Like Him”, “Noid” and “Darling, I” depicted his experiences with paternal abandonment, paranoia and his struggles with the tendency to fall in love, whilst songs such as “Sticky” and “St Chroma” highlighted his instrumental prowess, range and creativity. The project’s balance of humor and exploration of human fears provided an engaging experience for the listener, reflecting the complexities of life and further resonating with many audiences.
During April and May, Kendrick Lamar loudly established his lyrical dominance which would continue to remain throughout the duration of 2024. The Pulitzer winning rapper participated in an infamous diss battle against Drake resulting in themulti-Grammy winning diss track “Not Like Us”, which won 5 Grammys and became the fastest solo rap song to ever reach one billion streams on Spotify, whilst simultaneously igniting accusations against Drake for Pedophilia that have reached global audiences: not just through his music, but also through globally watched programs such as the 2025 Superbowl, and through host Conan O’Brien on the 2025 Oscars. Kendrick Lamar’s diss tracks against the “God’s Plan” artist signified his pursuit for change and integrity in Hip-Hop, placing emphasis on Artistic vision and purpose over commercial success, especially due to Drake’s accusations of ghostwriting and commonplace status.
Aside from his diss tracks, Lamar unconventionally released his newest album GNX by surprisingly dropping the project without promotion or any album rollout. GNX showcased Kendrick’s respect to African-American culture by incorporating elements of 1980’s west coast hip-hop to a modern setting, whilst displaying his storytelling capability and mastery over metaphor through songs such as “Reincarnated” and “Heart pt. 6”. The song “Reincarnated” emphasises Kendrick’s reflection on the stories of Black artists across history, and his message on how the black community can overcome the flaws of those who came before, whilst retaining the artistic greatness of those who came before.“Heart pt.6” further told stories of Kendrick’s early life and explored his thoughts of the culture.
Similarly, some of the other hip-hop artists who experienced significant acclaim this year include Doechii for her EP “Alligator Bites Never Heal”, Don Toliver for his album “Hardstone Psycho” and Schoolboy Q for “Blue Lips”.