For this year’s update of our ongoing Greatest Pop Star by Year project, Billboard has been counting down our editorial staff picks for the 10 Greatest Pop Stars of 2024 for the last week — you can see the artists we’ve already counted down, plus our Honorable Mentions, Comeback of the Year and our Rookie of the Year artists all right here . Now, at No. 1, we remember the year in Kendrick Lamar — who had a year that felt historic from its opening blast, and only got greater as it went.
(Listen to our new Greatest Pop Stars podcast discussing both of our top two artists and the thinking behind their rankings here .) Kendrick Lamar ’s 2024 was about many things, but first and foremost, it was all about him letting people know just what he’s capable of. It was essentially the thesis statement behind the biggest song of his year (“Sometimes you gotta pop out and show n—as”), with a sentiment that also ended up offering the title to the centerpiece event of his year.
And throughout 2024, the often low-profile rapper did indeed keep popping out, emerging with new releases or revelations that captured headlines and captivated the culture. By year’s end, the people had unquestionably been shown, in ways they would never forget. And in truth, it wasn’t unreasonable for the veteran MC to assume that a reminder was needed.
Not that anyone had really forgotten about Kendrick Lamar or his greatness; his run of unanimously acclaimed albums and beloved singles in the 2.
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