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In 2015, our favorite artists showed out and put out some fabulous new music for the world to turn up to for years to come. There were scores of awesome music artists who did their thing in the industry over the past few months. However, here’s 10 top artists that Team Beautiful felt really took things to the next level.
1) Fetty Wap
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This boy had Team Beautiful seriously turning up at the office with his hits, “Again,” “My Way” and our favorite, “679.” Wap put his hometown, Paterson, NJ, on the map by topping the Billboard charts, getting millions of YouTube views and grabbing co-signs from the biggest stars in the industry including Trey Songz, Rihanna and Kanye West. It’s no surprise that he was nominated for the XXL 2015 Freshman Class. We don’t care what anyone says; Fetty is fine in a quirky way—one eyeball and all.
2) Missy Elliott
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Missy came back like a champion this year with her epic Superbowl performance and her long-awaited music video for her song, “WTF.” Missy hadn’t put out a song since the Dubya administration and she still had listeners sprung to hear her new material. She didn’t disappoint either—her. video. was. turnt.
3) Drake
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You know our Champagne Papi had to be included on the list. Drake got cuter and cuter with each Instagram post and he came really hard on his new music tip. Not only did he release his surprise album, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, but he owned Meek Mill on two different dis tracks, joined Future on What A Time To Be Alive and he had everyone dancing like Carlton stuck in space to “Hotline Bling.”
4) Tamar Braxton
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Tamar may be struggling with her health now that the year is coming to its end and she had to forfeit her spot on “Dancing With The Stars.” Still, she’s been serving up some of the most memorable performances we’ve seen in ages. Tamar was looking like a bag of money in her video for “If I Don’t Have You” and she floored everybody with her tribute to Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation.” Werk, hunty!
5) Janet Jackson
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Speaking of Ms. Janet, we cannot tell you how excited we were when she came back with a tour and a brand new album this year. Janet Jackson is living proof that Black truly doesn’t crack; this woman looks better than ever! That appearance from J. Cole on “No Sleep” is everything, too.
6) Beyoncé
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Not much to say here. Queen Bey stays winning and in 2015, her style was better than ever even though she didn’t release much new music this year. We’re not ashamed to say that we’ve been stalking her Instagram day in and day out, and we can’t wait until she releases another album—if she decides to do another one, that is.
7) Adele
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This has been the year of come backs, hasn’t it? One of the most beloved voices in the world is winning over our hearts all over again with the new song, “Hello.” She’s making history, too: Adele’s latest album, 25, sold 1.49 million copies in its first release day of sales alone. If you haven’t heard it yet, girl you’re missing out big time.
8) Jidenna
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So the Black Dandy/plantation owner style that Jidenna rocks is a look we’re still getting used to. In any case, we’re not going to front. His sound on “Classic Man” and “Yoga” is irresistible. We’ve got a feeling that this guy’s going to be doing it big in the music industry for many years to come.
9) Rihanna
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Our favorite bad gyal was singing all our money woes this summer but this pop star is branching further and further out into other parts of the entertainment industry. Not only are we waiting for her highly anticipated album and corresponding world tour, Anti, but Rihanna was also slaying in her ad campaign for Puma. She’s still snagging big time TV and film roles, too. She held it down for the kids in Home, she just starred in an episode of Tyler Perry’s “Love Thy Neighbor” and she’s set to star in the upcoming sci-fi film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Go RiRi!
10) Kendrick Lamar
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Kendrick owned 2015 with his third album, To Pimp A Butterfly. “Complexion,” “King Kunta,” “Alright”—every song on that album has a special place in our heart on Team Beautiful. But Kdot really impressed us when he did that collab with Taylor Swift on “Bad Blood.” We’re dying to see who Kendrick works with next.
Did we miss anybody? Tell us who you your favorite artists were in 2015 in the comments section below.
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