It's no surprise that 2016 has been one of the most chaotic years in history! There have been various celebrity deaths, most of which were unexpected and heartbreaking, and a plethora of albums have dropped, ultimately making this one of the greatest years in music. From Zayn making his solo debut away from One Direction to Beyoncé breaking the internet with the release of her visual album, 2016 has been one amazing year -- and we aren't even halfway through it! If by chance you are not up to date with the albums that have been released so far this year, here is a comprehensive list to inform you:
1. **Bonus: "Purple Rain" by Prince
Following the tragic and unexpected death of Prince on April 21, 2016, his "Purple Rain" album and "The Very Best of Prince" rose to numbers one and two on the Billboard 200 chart.
2. "Anti" by Rihanna
"Anti" was released on January 28, 2016 and is Rihanna's eighth studio album. This album peaked in the top ten on over 25 national albums charts. Two days following its initial release, it was certified platinum. The most popular single on the album (which is still repeatedly played today) is "Work," which features the popular Canadian rapper Drake.
3. "Islah" by Kevin Gates
"Islah" was released on January 29, 2016 and is the debut studio album of rapper Kevin Gates. The album features six different singles: "Kno One," "La Familia," "The Truth," "Really Really," "2 Phones," and "Jam." It also received universal acclaim from music critics and reached the number two spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
4. "Khalifa" by Wiz Khalifa
"Khalifa" was released on February 5, 2016 and is Wiz Khalifa's sixth studio album. The album debuted at number 56 on Billboard Hot 100 and features many guests, such as Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, Juicy J and even Wiz Khalifa's son, Sebastian.
5. "The Life Of Pablo" by Kanye West
"The Life Of Pablo" was released on February 14, 2016 and is Kanye West's seventh studio album. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and features many guest appearances, including Ty Dolla $ign, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, The Weeknd, Sia, Chris Brown, Kirk Franklin, André 3000 and more!
6. "This Unruly Mess I've Made" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"This Unruly Mess I've Made" was released on February 26, 2016 and is the sophomore album for artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The album debuted at number four on Billboard 200, and Macklemore's confrontational side returns on this album.
7. "untitled unmastered." by Kendrick Lamar
"untitled unmastered." was released on March 4, 2016 and is Kendrick Lamar's fourth studio album. The album received universal acclaim and topped the Billboard 200 chart. This album is one of the realest albums to be released in 2016, due to Kendrick's skillful way of discussing the many social injustices present in today's society.
8. "Mind of Mine" by Zayn
"Mind of Mine" was released on March 25, 2016 (the one-year anniversary of the day Zayn parted from the infamous boy band One Direction) and is Zayn's debut solo album. The popular single "PILLOWTALK" debuted at number one on Billboard Hot 100, and the album itself received praise from various music critics.
9. "Lemonade" by Beyoncé
Beyoncé broke the internet following the release of her visual album "Lemonade." This album is her sixth studio album and was released on April 23, 2016. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and received critical acclaim from music critics.
10. "Views/ Views From The 6" by Drake
"Views/ Views From The 6" is the fourth studio album released by Drake and was released on April 29, 2016. The album's main single is "Hotline Bling," which is featured as a bonus track. The album also received positive reviews from critics.
