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The summer of 2015 was every music lover’s dream.

Hip-hop witnessed a very social media-filled beef (Meek Mill vs. Drake), R&B alternative artists like The Weekend crossing over successfully, and soca and reggae music finding its way to the top of the charts.

There wasn’t a surefire song of the summer like last year’s “Fancy” by Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea, but the most played tracks were all from Black rappers – such as Wiz Khalifa, Omarion, Fetty Wap, and more. These artists managed to break records globally, and make history while lighting up the dance floor at the same time.

Here are just some of the songs that dominated this summer.

1. Silento – “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”

The 17-year-old mashed some of the decade’s biggest dance crazes into one song with “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” After fans made video tutorials for the song, the rapper incorporated them into his music video, which has over 220 million views and counting. This song will be played at barbecues for years to come.

2. Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”

The nearly one-year-old song got a boost this summer when celebrities like Blake Griffin and Kate Hudson danced and rapped along with the jam online. The rapper’s consistent plethora of hits has also made him the first artist since The Beatles to have four singles (“My Way” featuring Monty, “Again,” “679” featuring Remy Boyz, and “Trap Queen”) in the Top 10 of the Billboard charts at the same time.

3. OMI – “Cheerleader” (Felix Jaehn Remix Radio Edit)

The Jamaican-born singer recorded “Cheerleader” eight years ago and used his last $1,000 to film the song’s music video. It was a modest hit in Jamaica, but failed to chart in the States, leading OMI’s label to drop him. Right after deciding to leave the business, “Cheerleader” ended up in the hands of a German producer who remixed it, turning the song into the smash hit it is today. OMI told reporters he owes much of the song’s success to his girlfriend, who convinced him to give music another try. Check out more of the unbelievable story below.

4. The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”

The Weeknd’s strong cult following (thanks to his uniquely eerie sound) kept him a leader in Alternative R&B. After the release of “Can’t Feel My Face,” many believed the singer’s choice to go a more pop route would fail, but it was quite the opposite. Critics loved the jam and compared the Weeknd’s vocals to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

5. Wiz Khalifa (feat. Charlie Puth) – “See You Again”

“See You Again” was released in March as a tribute to the late Paul Walker of The Fast and Furious films. After appearing on the Furious 7 soundtrack, the song went on to break the Spotify record for the most streamed release in one day (4.2 million times on April 13, 2015). Puth, who helped compose the song, says he was inspired by a friend who also died in a car accident. The touching track has sold over 3 million copies in the U.S, and is the longest-running rap number-one hit in the country.

See the full list of the summer’s most streamed songs, here.

SOURCE: Huffington Post | VIDEO CREDIT: YouTube | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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Making History: Black Artists Top List For Most Streamed Songs Of The Summer  was originally published on newsone.com