“New Rules” is a curious tincture of tropical house, EDM, and electropop, proving that pop music, these days, is really a genre-less free-for-all.

Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee — “Despacito”

It broke records left and right, and most of the song’s fans don’t even know what the lyrics are saying.

Cardi B — “Bodak Yellow”

Cardi B accomplished the seemingly impossible—toppling the domination of Taylor Swift.

Lil Pump — “Gucci Gang”

A latecomer in the year, and called “cheerfully dark” by Vulture, this hyper-catchy song (just give the first 30 seconds a spin!) has racked up 300 million views on YouTube in under two months.

Lil Uzi Vert — “XO TOUR Llif3”

An enigma and a provocation (with a video directed by Off-White founder and designer Virgil Abloh).

SZA — “Love Galore”

While SZA’s star had already been rising before 2017, this was the year the R&B singer took over the very idea of the love anthem. “She drags out the word ‘love’ in a way that forces you to reach deep down into the pits of your emotions, open your mouth wide as hell, and cry out,” the Fader wrote.

Post Malone ft. 21 Savage — “rockstar”

No less a feat for having hacked its way to number one.

St. Vincent — “Los Ageless”

Arguably the year’s most magnetic music video.

BTS (ft. Desiigner) — “MIC Drop”

The Korean boyband BTS isn’t new to the music scene, but as k-pop razes its way through the Western hemisphere, the group is having its first major moment on the global stage.

In 2018, as streaming expands even more, we can expect much more mixing of musical flavors from various niches, nooks, and corners of the world. Nowhere is that more evident than in this magically rootless track: It’s catchy and quick, meaningful in its nonsense, and beholden to no single culture.

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