9. Major Lazer – Peace is the Mission
Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire stayed true to their progressive sound and high standards on Major Lazer’s Peace is the Mission, defining the sound of summer with island- and dancehall-inspred EDM pop fire. Fans of the music collective got exactly what they expected on their much-anticipated third studio album: The hit single “Lean On” (featuring MØ), was the go-to anthem for every DJ around the world looking to stir up the dancefloor. “Be Together” with Wild Belle provided a mellow intro to the record, setting the tone for the vibes that lay ahead. In just under 35 minutes, the record covered slick collabos with Chronixx, Travis Scott, Jovi Rockwell, 2 Chainz, Pusha T and Mad Cobra. Machel Montano also brought the peace with his uptempo single “All My Love” featuring Ariana Grande. Peace is the Mission blazed the sounds of dancehall and reggae with perfect moments of pop melodies, hip-hop lyrics and electronic brass. In November, the group released an extended version of Peace is the Mission, with even more collaborations, completing possibly their best record to date. —Kalifa Madden