16 Things To Be Thankful For In 2016
Ugh, what a year. Go home, 2016, you're drunk.
It's been a wild ride this trip around the sun—full of highs, lows, intoxicating moments, and sobering ones. And now as we enter the first lap of the holiday season, we have to pause and reflect. You read all of those inspirational memes telling you to "let it go" or "remove negative people from your life" and "focus on the positives" plus "show gratitude." So let's try and do that. Here are 16 things from 2016 to be thankful for, involving some of our favorite artists...to love and to hate.
"Headphanie"
Young M.A., you have changed our lives this year. With "OOOUUU," with breaking gender barriers in hip-hop, with Headphanie. The name "Stephanie" will be forever changed because of you and so shall the rap game.
Our Beloved Timmy Turner
Did Desiigner have ANY inkling as to the power of this little freestyle when he dropped it off for his XXL Freshmen visuals? Probably not. But now it's with us and will probably never leave. Hell, it led to an actual full song and remix with Kanye West. Come on now.
Every Drop Of Lemonade
If you are not thankful for Beyoncé every year, chances are you have no heart or soul and lack joy in your life. HOWEVER, with the rollout of Lemonade, we have even more to be thankful for. The HBO special, the album, lyrics, message, tour, and not to mention the emotional turmoil she put us through thinking she and Jay Z were splitsville... ugh, it was all so overwhelming. She also made us care about TIDAL so there's that.
A Seat At Solange's Table
Don't call it a comeback: Solange has been hot. You've just been stupid late.
Drake And Rihanna's Confusing Relationship
Listen, Drake and Rihanna are hip-hop's Ross and Rachel storyline. The friend zone, the "break," the awkward confessions of love where you're like "wait, was that just a televised awkward confession of love?" It's kept us all entertained like it's primetime Friday night TV in the '90s again.
Album Do-Overs
Drake's Views, Kanye West's The Life Of Pablo. These were albums where in their original forms gave us collective "mehs" but thanks to technology and streaming were tinkered with as they went along (Ye's more than Drizzy's) and now we kind of love them. Plus, how else would we have gotten Teyana Taylor's #gymgoals?
DJ Khaled's Unexpected World Domination
From "guy who yells on songs" to everyone's life coach, DJ Khaled has to be everyone's #goals. He should run for President. Apparently anyone can.
Chance The Rapper's Coloring Book
Chance The Rapper's Coloring Book was the right amount of inspiration this year and made him a household name.
The Return Of A Tribe Called Quest
After losing Phife Dawg earlier this year, A Tribe Called Quest gave us their swan song titled We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service. Besides the fact that it topped the charts, it also gave us the unbridled joy of Busta Rhymes. So much to be thankful for. Btw we miss you, Phife.
A New And Improved Guwop
Ever since Gucci Mane was released from prison, he's been a light in our lives. From eating kale and tranforming his body to proposing at a basketball game, La Flare is all sorts of adorable.
The Weeknd's Haircut
Abel's hairdo was getting distracting and you know it.
The Transparency Of The 2016 Election
Finding out your friends, family, and Azealia Banks voted for Donald Trump was eye opening to say the least. The holidays are going to be awkward.
The Mannequin Challenge
Not really the #MannequinChallenge per se, rather Rae Sremmurd getting "Black Beatles" to the top of the charts.
This Moment
Right there with you, Nicki. Meeting Ms. Lauryn Hill is stan-worthy.
Drake's New Apple Music Commercial
Just released, but you can't help but feel gratitude watching Drake sing Taylor Swift and then fall off the lifting bench.
Lil Wayne's Memory Span
JK JK JK.
