Toppa Top ’16: 16 Caribbean-Inspired Pop Songs That Were Everywhere in 2016

Words by Sajae Elder

Whether you loved or hated the trend, pop tunes inspired by the genres we know and love were huge in 2016. From hip-hop to EDM, some of the biggest artists and producers in the world tried their hand at songs backed with reggae, dancehall and soca fusion sounds  — with varying degrees of success and authenticity. This isn’t the first time pop music has looked to the Caribbean for reference points, and there has been plenty of discussion and valid critique of the trend. But it can’t be denied that this development spawned some of the year’s best songs, including many that fit equally well at a dance or in a fete as they did on the Billboard charts.

Here’s 16 Caribbean-inspired pop songs that were everywhere in 2016.

1. Justin Bieber, “Sorry”

It would be hard to make a list like this and not begin with Justin Bieber’s “Sorry.” Though it dropped in 2015, it hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the start of 2016 and even spawned some Inception-like dancehall-to-pop-and-back-again covers. With production that jumped from staccato drums to lush synths with a hefty bassline, it’s not surprising this song was seemingly everywhere for months. It had a bit of dancehall, soca and reggaeton to it, though not explicitly any of the above, making it the type of track every DJ had to play — whether they wanted to or not.

2. Rihanna, “Work”

As a proud Caribbean woman herself, it only makes sense that Rihanna made one of the best songs on this list. Riding a riddim comes naturally to the Bajan superstar, which is what sets “Work” apart from the rest of the pack. So with her patois on full tilt, an infectious bassline and a melody lifted from Richie Stephens’ Sail Away riddim, Rih brought the pop charts to the dancehall with the Drake-assisted track, spending a few months at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, it was her longest run at No. 1 ever, proving you can stick to your roots and go pop at the same time.

3. Drake, “Controlla”

No matter which version you like better (let’s be real and admit it’s just not the same without Popcaan, shall we?) it’s obvious Drake was becoming more comfortable embracing the heavy influence of Jamaican music and culture in his native Toronto. It was hard to go anywhere without hearing the thumping bassline produced by Boi-1da, Supa Dups and Stephen McGregor — all of whom are Jamaicans, by the way. Even though we got hit with the bait and switch by the time VIEWS was released, and Popcaan was nowhere to be found, the use of Beenie Man’s classic “Tear Off Mi Garment” in the mix helped make up for it somewhat.

4. Tory Lanez, “LUV”

The recent surge of dancehall-infused tracks all over the charts owes a big debt to the ’90s. That era of dancehall will forever be inspiring remakes and tributes. Tory Lanez’ take on Tanto Metro & Devonte’s “Everyone Falls In Love” landed on his debut album, I Told You, and made for an easy mix-in from the classic track.  Tory’s own Caribbean heritage helped drive the vocals home, over the bass-heavy production. Like his fellow Torontonian Drake, the kid really has a soft spot for dancehall — he’s since collaborated with Kranium, and also offered his own version of “Controlla.”

5. Sean Paul + Sia, “Cheap Thrills”

While Sean Paul is an artist that knows this lane all too well, pop singer-songwriter Sia is a newcomer to the territory who still held her own. Sean’s quick ad libs bring just the right amount of punch alongside Sia’s dreamy vocals and pulsing production, which brought the romantic vibe of zouk and kizomba into the synth-y pop track.

6. Fifth Harmony feat. Fetty Wap, “All In My Head (Flex)”

What’s a pop list without a girl group appearance? The X Factor-spawned quintet’s Fetty Wap-assisted summertime single was a sexy ode to Mad Cobra’s “Flex” (sorta). The hook’s arrangement heavily pulled from the classic 1992 dancehall single, while acoustic chords and chops met synths and snaps on the song’s production. Fifth Harmony get props for returning to dancehall again on their album 7/27, where they covered Vybz Kartel’s “Gonna Get Better.” And while we’re at it, their mega-hit “Work From Home” had a dancehall swing to it, and was played heavily in fetes and dances this summer.

7. Beyonce, “Hold Up”

Bey is no stranger to toying with Caribbean sounds in her music, and the Diplo-produced “Hold Up” from her Lemonade visual album was one of her strongest showings in this area to date. Between the song’s powerful steel drums, air horns and the star’s impassioned “Mi sing seh!,” we’re left with an amazing track that ended up mixing perfectly into Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” in live performances. And we have to large up another Jamerican, Melo-X (out of the Electric Punanny crew), for his contributions to the track, and Lemonade in general.

8./9. Drake, “One Dance”/“Too Good”

We know this is technically two songs, but we couldn’t resist getting all of the dancehall Drake tunes together in one place. While “One Dance” also infuses elements of Afrobeats and UK Funky House, it has an undeniable dancehall vibe, making it the perfect conclusion for the slow wine mix trifecta right after “Work” and “Controlla” at a party.

“Too Good” puts Rihanna to good use again over some bouncy production (from Supa Dups and yet another Jamaican-Canadian producer, Nineteen85). But it was the Popcaan quote — Cock up yuh bumper, siddung pon it  — and sample that really made it stick.

10. PartyNextDoor, “Not Nice”

As the songwriter behind another entry on the list, Rihanna’s “Work”, PartyNextDoor was bound to drop something of his own that fuses his dark&B sound with a bit of dancehall. To the average listener, not nice, bad & rude might sound like jabs, but Jamaicans and dancehall fans in general know in the right context they could read as the perfect way to compliment someone who catches your eye. From the song’s bouncy bassline, slow wine references and a Vybz Kartel sample in the pre-chorus, it was the perfect combination for a Caribbean pop crossover hit.

11. Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber and MØ, “Cold Water”

Major Lazer has been at the forefront of bringing reggae, dancehall, soca and EDM together, since its inception in 2009. That continued in 2016, as the Diplo-led crew scored a massive hit for the second straight year, on the heels of last year’s “Lean On,” also featuring Denmark’s MØ. Justin’s vocals were a great fit for the bass-heavy, synth-laden production with a more-than-familiar groove.

12. Shawn Mendes, “Treat You Better”

It might not be obvious at first but, but there’s definitely a hint of dancehall in the guitar-heavy production on Shawn Mendes’ “Treat You Better,” which makes sense considering he’s from a suburb right outside the heavily Caribbean-populated city of Toronto. The song is also about someone’s unhappy girlfriend that’s about to get tek weh. What more evidence do you need?

13. Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul and Anne Marie, “Rockabye”

In yet another example of Caribbean sounds and artists adding some much-needed layers to EDM, British group Clean Bandit sprung for steel pan rhythms and Sean Paul adlibs to tie their single “Rockabye” together. While the song is without a doubt heavy on the synths, you can’t deny the islands grooves deep in the cut.

14. AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan, “I’m In Control”

London-based duo AlunaGeorge specializes in vibe-heavy deep house and electro-R&B, but their island injection on “I’m In Control” still didn’t seem too far out of their range. The elements of dancehall and reggaeton in the song’s production, along with a guest verse from Popcaan, all makes perfect sense considering singer-songwriter Aluna Francis is herself of Jamaican ancestry.

15. Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj, “Side to Side”

It seems like every pop singer got in a Caribbean zone this year, even Ariana Grande. Ariana’s vocals seemed to work perfectly over the song’s guitar-driven production, which pulled from rock-y reggae sounds just as much as it did pop. And Nicki’s Trini roots definitely shine through at the start of her straightforward guest verse.

16. DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber, “Let Me Love You”

In yet another appearance by Biebs, the DJ Snake-produced “Let Me Love You” was everywhere, and gave deep meaning to “tropical house.” Though it might start out as your run-of-the-mill EDM offering at first, listen out for 2002’s classic Diwali Riddim, nestled into a pre-chorus that brings the song all together with plenty of synths, snaps and even steel drums.