From Desiigner to Lil’ Yachty, there were many artists who had breakout performances in 2016; however, history shows that not all of these breakout artists will continue to have the same success in the coming year. Here are the artists expected to continue on their path to stardom, as well as some names that will soon fade from listeners’ memories.
Going from the featured drummer on Dr. Dre’s Compton to being a Grammy nominated artist, Anderson .Paak had one of the biggest breakout years in recent history.
In a field where a good ghost writer and a smart publicist can make the even the least talented musician a pop sensation, .Paak’s original brand of hip-hop still shines through. His excellent technical skills, unique ingenuity and energetic live performances are just a few reasons .Paak will be able to achieve continued success in the music industry. They say there are no guarantees in life, but Anderson .Paak having a long, successful musical career might be an exception.
Similar to .Paak, 21 Savage and rap group Migos both broke onto the mainstream with the release of their sophomore studio LPs that followed up their marginal past successes.
Critics tend to give producer Metro Boomin’ much of the credit for the success of his joint album with Atlanta rapper 21 Savage, but if the duo stick together, they will continue to release records that slap. After working with the likes of Kanye West, Drake and Future in 2016, Metro will still have plenty of work available if he and 21 Savage decide to go their separate ways.
Although Migos’ breakout hit “Bad and Boujee” reached one-hit-wonder popularity levels, a closer look at the group’s past material proves that these guys have more than just one hit. Led by frontman Quavo, the Atlanta-based trio has been waiting for their time in the spotlight since the group formed in 2009. Now that they’ve found a mass audience for their music, they won’t be going away anytime soon. The follow-up to YRN 2 is set to be released later this month.
Female rapper Noname and Haitian producer Kaytranada stunned audiences with their debut albums in 2016. Add their names to the list of artists expected to continue their career with successful follow up material.
While many artists will capitalize on their breakout performances from last year as they continue on their rise to stardom, others won’t be as fortunate.
Rapper Desiigner is the mostly likely breakthrough artist from last year to fade from the public arena. His mega-hit “Panda” was enough for Kanye West to sign him to the GOOD Music label; however, the New York rapper has proven himself incapable of writing anything that rivals his first single. After dabbing himself to the point of vomiting at a concert last summer, it became increasingly obvious that he is without a doubt a one-hit-wonder.
Lil Yachty, another Kanye protege, impressed listeners with a series of features on other artist’s tracks as well as several standout performances off of his own record. Unlike many artists who broke out last year, Yachty not only raps, but sings too, leading some people to believe that his breakthrough year wasn’t just a fluke. His career is very similar to mid-2000s rapper T-Pain. Like T-Pain, Yachty may prove to be a good artist to sing hooks as a featured musician, but his solo career will not continue to rise after his unexpected success.
Portland-area rapper Amine, 2016 XXL freshman class member Lil Uzi Vert and singer D.R.A.M. are amongst the other breakthrough artists from last year who fans should expect to soon forget.
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