The hypnotic hook. Lil Wayne was unstoppable in 2008. "Lollipop" stripped back the Southern rap sound into a minimalist, creepy-cute synth beat. Wayne’s high-pitched, robotic delivery was divisive, but the result was his first #1 single. It defined the “blog era” of hip-hop—weird, innovative, and utterly addictive.
The indie stadium crossover. Coldplay ditched the rock guitars for orchestral strings and a cryptic lyric about a fallen king. "Viva la Vida" was artsy enough for the hipsters (thanks to its use of the "Lost" trailer) but catchy enough for the masses. It became the band’s first #1 in the US and the UK, proving that pop music could be philosophical and still fill a stadium. 2008 top ten songs