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The Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century Podcast: Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars
Episode Summary
On this week’s episode of the Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century podcast, we take a look at a pair of “Mirror” men: all-time rap legend Lil Wayne and classic pop entertainer Bruno Mars.
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Episode Transcript
First, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by staff writer Kyle Denis and deputy director of R&B/hip-hop (and host of Billboard Unfiltered) Carl Lamarre to talk about the self-proclaimed Best Rapper Alive, Lil Wayne. We share memories from Wayne’s golden age — in particular of 2008, the official Year of Weezy — and break down both how he was able to turn all of popular music into Wayne’s World, and then how he was able to retreat from the spotlight without sacrificing his relevance or his legacy. We also go deep on the question that many have had upon seeing the rapper born Dwayne Carter’s name on our list: Is Lil Wayne definitely even a pop star in the first place?
Then, at around the 45:40 mark, Carl is replaced by Billboard‘s R&B/Hip-Hop chart manager Trevor Anderson to pivot to all things Bruno Mars. We analyze how Bruno Mars was able to prove an immediate exception to so many top 40 rules of the 2010s: an old-school pop purveyor in an era of rap and EDM, a proven triple-threat performer in an era of bedroom pop stars, and a distant star personality in an era of chronically online oversharers. We also share our takes on how Bruno has somehow gone nearly a decade and a half as a preeminent pop hitmaker without ever once even hinting at a flop era — and how long he can keep his winning streak up from here.
Listen to our latest below, catch up on our past episodes here, and be sure to subscribe to Billboard‘s Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century series wherever you get your podcasts! (New episodes will be revealed every Friday, following the publishing of our two new Greatest Pop Star rankings for that week.)
Conclusion
In this episode, we explored the careers of Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars, two artists who have made significant impacts on the music industry in their own unique ways. From Lil Wayne’s reign as the Best Rapper Alive to Bruno Mars’ impressive run of hit songs, both artists have demonstrated their ability to adapt and evolve in the ever-changing music landscape.
FAQs
Q: Is Lil Wayne a pop star?
A: While Lil Wayne is often associated with hip-hop, his ability to crossover into other genres and his impact on popular music make him a legitimate pop star.
Q: How did Bruno Mars prove an exception to top 40 rules?
A: Bruno Mars’ success was unexpected given the changing musical landscape of the 2010s. His old-school pop sound, combined with his triple-threat talents as a singer, songwriter, and performer, allowed him to stand out and achieve success.
Q: How long can Bruno Mars keep his winning streak up?
A: While it’s impossible to predict the future, Bruno Mars’ consistent ability to produce hit songs and his willingness to experiment with new sounds and styles suggest that he will continue to be a dominant force in the music industry for years to come.