Three artists quietly reshaped pop music in 2024, though you might not know it from your Spotify Wrapped. As listeners question the accuracy of their year-end streaming stats, we explore the innovative sounds bubbling up just below the algorithmic radar. Tampa's "Swamp Princess" Doechii brings narrative depth back to hip-hop through her chameleonic vocal approach. Bedroom producer Mk.gee discovers entirely new possibilities for the electric guitar by deliberately recording "wrong." And BLACKPINK's ROSÉ challenges K-pop industry constraints while building bridges to Western pop on her revolutionary solo album. These artists point toward an exciting future where pop continues to evolve in unexpected ways, even as streaming platforms try to predict and package our musical tastes. Plus: Our producer Reanna Cruz presents evidence that their Spotify Wrapped might be fibbing, and Nate reveals his most-played track of 2024 was... Jeremy Irons singing "Be Prepared" from The Lion King? The algorithm works in mysterious ways.

Songs Discussed

• Doechii: "Girls," "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake," "NISSAN ALTIMA," "Denial Is A River," "Boom Bap"
• Mk.gee: "I Know How You Got," "Big Mics," "Are You Looking Up," "Alesis"
• BLACKPINK"Boombayah," "Kill This Love," "How You Like That," "Pink Venom,"
• ROSÉ: "On The Ground," "APT." (featuring Bruno Mars), "Toxic Till The End"
• Taylor Swift: "Shake It Off"
• Avril Lavigne: "Girlfriend"
• Toni Basil: "Mickey"
• Tom Petty: "American Girl"
• Bo Diddley: "Bo Diddley Beat"

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