The ultimate playlist for saying goodbye to 2024

Sabrina Carpenter definitely brewed something delightful with her infectious single “Espresso.” On the pop-funk track, the singer compares herself to the caffeinated beverage as someone who can keep her man up all night. As she sings on the hook, “Now he’s thinking about me every night, oh / Is it that sweet? I guess so / Say you can’t sleep, baby I know / That’s that me espresso.” 

2024 might go down as the year of Kendrick Lamar and he didn’t even release an album. “Not Like Us” was just one of the rapper’s diss tracks aimed at Drake, but it was also the most popular. It had a major impact on pop culture as well, such as Taraji P. Henson using it as a parody as she hosted the 2024 BET Awards and the Los Angeles Dodgers using it as a celebration song as they won the World Series. 

Virginia native Shaboozey took the country world by storm with his breakthrough single “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Using an interpolation of rapper J-Kwon’s 2004 hit song “Tipsy,” Shaboozey highlights his frustration with his work life and sometimes he just needs a drink or two to take his mind off of things. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” became the longest-running No. 1 hit song on the Billboard Hot 100 this year.

Over the last few years, Tommy Richman was releasing singles and EPs independently. It wasn’t until April 2024 when he released his breakthrough single “Million Dollar Baby” to rave reviews. The track quickly went viral on social media and was a No.1 hit for ten weeks on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart. 

If you’re looking for one of the best dance albums of the year, then Kaytranada’s TIMELESS deserves heavy rotation. With Kaytranada as a producer, his albums are filled with collaborations alongside other artists. Childish Gambino lends his vocals to the single “Witchy,” a track that highlights how love can sometimes feel like it has a magical spell on people.

One thing is for certain about NLE Choppa, he knows how to make a catchy anthem. His single “Slut Me Out 2” highlights his confidence and brashness in his looks and abilities to sexually please a partner. With its electronic production, it became a popular sound used on social media. 

Just a year after releasing his previous album Austin, Post Malone is fully embracing his love for country music on his latest album F-1 Trillion. He teamed up with fellow country singer Morgan Wallen on the album’s lead single “I Had Some Help.” On the track, they highlight how being in a relationship with someone can be influential on both parties, good and bad. 

SZA is a firm believer that there has to be a better world than the current planet she lives on with her single “Saturn.” On the track, she stresses how tired she is of feeling stuck in her life and simply wants something better for herself. As she sings in the first verse, “If there’s another universe / Please make some noise / Give me a sign / This can’t be life.” 

Just two years after releasing her previous album, Megan Thee Stallion returned with her third album Megan. On her single “Hiss,” Megan addresses her critics, haters, other rappers, and past lovers, and she makes her confident raps flow effortlessly across the infectious beat. 

Country singer Jelly Roll highlights how people wrestle with doing right and wrong in life on his single “Halfway to Hell.” As he sings on the track, “This little light of mine damn near burned me alive / Lord knows that mama tried and I don’t know if / I’m halfway to Heaven or halfway to Hell / My angels and demons at war with myself.” 

Tinashe’s “Nasty” is the lead single from her seventh album Quantum Baby. On the track, the singer wants to know if someone can match her desires and stamina when it comes to a bedroom rendezvous. As the song continued to gain momentum across social media and fans, Tinashe released a remix EP that featured collaborations alongside artists like Tyga and Chlöe. 

After taking a four-year hiatus, pop singer Katy Perry returned with her seventh album 143. She teamed up with rising rapper Doechii on the single “I’m His, He’s Mine,” a track that samples Crystal Waters’ 1991 hit song “Gypsy Woman.” On the track, Perry and Doechii are calling out other women who try to make advances on their men. As Perry sings in the first verse, “I can see you flirtin' / Why you overworkin'? / On him like a suntan / Go and get your own man / Thinkin' that we're over / We only gettin' closer.”

When Glorilla released her single “TGIF,” she had so many people chanting the first verse, “It’s 7pm Friday, it’s 95 degrees.” On the track, Glorilla boasts about her looks, her friend group, and not being phased by any of her haters. “TGIF” became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the lead single to her debut album Glorious. 

In May 2024, pop singer Billie Eilish released her third album Hit Me Hard and Soft, which featured the hit single “Birds of a Feather.” Produced and co-written by her brother Finneas O’Connell, the track highlights how a person falls deeply in love and wants them to stick together forever, even in another life. As she sings in the first verse, “I want you to stay / 'Til I'm in the grave / 'Til I rot away, dead and buried / 'Til I'm in the casket you carry / If you go, I'm goin' too, uh / 'Cause it was always you."

Beyoncé teamed up with singer-songwriter-producer Raphael Saadiq on her track “Bodyguard.” In the song, Beyoncé stresses how much of a protector she is of her partner, and won’t let anybody or anything try to break him down. As she sings on the second verse, “Be your best friend / I protect you in the mosh pit / And I'll defend you in the gossip / You know how people like to start s**t and pop s**t.”

At the top of the year, Kali Uchis released her fourth album Orquídeas, which featured her hit single "Igual Que Un Ángel.” Uchis teams up with Peso Pluma to explore how people shouldn’t give up on love, and to take on a chance on someone who is seemingly Heaven-sent. 

Laila! is unbothered on her breakout track “Not My Problem,” which was also the lead single to her debut album Gap Year! On the track, she highlights how people are always going to have something negative to say, but as she stresses, that’s just not her problem to deal with. 

2024 was the year of Chappell Roan thanks to her breakthrough hit single “Good Luck, Babe.” On the track, Roan reflects on how a relationship is working out since each party is on a different page. Since they can’t agree on what they want to establish, Roan wants to wish her partner well even though they’re denying what’s meant to be. 

Just two years after releasing her previous album Blue Water Road, Kehlani released their fourth album Crash. On the lead single “After Hours,” Kehlani describes meeting someone in the club and is hoping they can spend more time with them afterward. Kehlani is so entranced by the person that the two of them don’t even realize that the club is closing and all other patrons are leaving. 

Since 2023, Tyla had the world talking about being the next rising star in the amapiano and R&B spaces. In 2024, she released her self-titled debut, which featured her hit single “ART.” On the track, Tyla highlights how her partner treasures her like an art piece, and she will continue to be their muse. As she sings in the second verse, “Fresh out the gallery / Can you handle me? Handle me carefully / I'll be yours to keep (I'll be yours) / I'm your centerpiece, make the canvas speak.” 

Throughout his career, it seems like any collaboration Bruno Mars touches turns to gold. It was no different when he teamed up with pop star Lady Gaga on their single “Die With a Smile.” On the track, they highlight how a couple that truly loves each other can’t picture a life without the other. As they sing on the hook, “If the world was ending / I'd wanna be next to you / If the party was over / And our time on Earth was through / I'd wanna hold you just for a while / And die with a smile.”

Tems expresses how much she wants unconditional love in her single “Love Me JeJe.” Her stance is evident from the first verse as she sings, “I need your lovin,’ so fresh, so clean / Love me in out, unfailingly / And I’ll be down now, anytime you call me / I’ll be down / I’ll be down.” 

Willow continues to elevate her artistic abilities and sound with each album. Her latest album Empathogen blends sounds of jazz, pop, and smooth rock, with the latter two being the prime sound for lead single “sympton of life.” On the track, Willow stresses how people go through spiritual awakenings to see a change in their life. As she sings on the hook, “Feast my eyes on lower things while bеauty is a symptom of life / Gotta decide if I'm gonna see it, why? / Fеast our eyes on lower things when suffering is craving the light /Gotta decide how we're gonna heal it, why?”

Ariana Grande knows how to recognize pop and R&B staples, while also giving credit to the stars that made them. She did just that on her remix of her single “the boy is mine,” which features R&B legends Brandy and Monica. The song is an ode and reimagining in a sense to their 1998 single of the same name. 

Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar had no problem calling out haters and posers on their track “Like That.” Lamar was really the star of the song as he wanted end the debates over who is the "big three" in the rap game, and claims he’s the best one. This is the track that was just the beginning of the rap beef between Lamar and Drake. 

Following the success of her previous album Crash, pop singer Charli XCX returns with her sixth album Brat. In the second single “360,” Charli references her confidence in her attractiveness and self-empowerment. The song saw massive success throughout the year and had many fans referencing their participation in a Brat summer. “360” earned a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year. 

Following the success of his previous album Call If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator returns with his eighth album Chromakopia. One of the standout tracks is his Teezo Touchdown-assisted song “Darling, I” in which the two highlight their thoughts on love and commitment. Tyler’s stance is evident as he says, “So how can I get everything from one person? / I'm at the altar, but I'm still searchin' / I’m only human, if it ain't work, things change / And nothing stay the same, I believe / Hmm, maybe lettin' go is a beautiful thing / Perfect for the time being, y'all ain't do nothin' wrong / Life is short, but forever is so goddamn long.”

BTS member Jimin released his sophomore studio album Muse, which featured the hit single “Who.” On the track, Jimin reflects thinking about his love life and how’s he yet to meet the person he is supposed to end up with. As he sings on the hook, “We never met, but she's all I see at night / Never met, but she's always on my mind / Wanna give her the world and so much more / Who is my heart waiting for?”

Karol G reflects on a love that could’ve been on her single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.” On the track, she highlights the difficulty of seeing a guy with his new partner, because she knows that could’ve been her if the two meet sooner in life. 

Taylor Swift released her eleventh album The Tortured Poets Department, which was led by the hit single “Fortnight.” Teaming up with Post Malone, Swift reflects on a relationship that didn’t work out like she hoped, and now she’s dealing with that reality. “Fortnight” became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.