@Jacob Johnson

Created with FreeYourMusic.com where you can transfer playlists to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others

Created with FreeYourMusic.com where you can transfer playlists to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others

Created with FreeYourMusic.com where you can transfer playlists to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others

Whether it’s Monday morning or Friday night, get going with this personalized mix of upbeat music.

Songs to help you relax and unwind. Updated every Sunday.

Discover new music from artists we think you'll like. Refreshed every Friday.

No decade in music has seen quite as much fundamental change as the one we just survived—the kind you can hear. The 2010s were post-genre, post-language-barrier, post-album, post-band, Post Malone—a time period that saw sounds and ideas from all eras and corners of the planet become one, often in the space of a single song, usually with some help from Drake or Beyoncé. From the cultural transcendence of “Despacito” to the 21st-century R&B of FKA twigs’ “cellophane” to the sociopolitical urgency of Kendrick’s “Alright” and the constant shape-shifting of Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran—these are the songs that defined the decade.

The only rule for pop in the ‘10s? Trusting your instincts can do wonders for your star power. Take Lady Gaga, who shape-shifted from hard-edged diva to big-voiced balladeer multiple times during the decade, or Ariana Grande, who kept fans guessing with surprise drops and coded lyrics. The 2010s were a wild time on the charts, with pop divas, hip-hop stars, and guitar-strumming crooners all making their own way to the top. Adele belted her way through heartbreak and triumph; Drake got in his feelings over street-sourced beats; Taylor Swift shared her innermost thoughts with millions; and Shawn Mendes made the leap from viral-video star to world-conquering pop icon. Groups hit it big, too, whether they were singing in sweet harmony like the boy banders of One Direction or revamping themselves alongside the times like the soul-poppers in Maroon 5.

Great summer songs don’t just capture a mood, they soundtrack our memories—where we were, who we hung out with, the freedom we felt, the good trouble we got into. In that spirit, here’s a playlist of tracks that not only helped shape music in the new millennium, but plugged into the celebratory spirit that connects summers across space, time, and style. From fizzy dance pop and EDM to hip-hop and indie rock, here’s the sound of the 2010s, summer-style. Our editors update things here now and then, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

Releasing an album in November usually means one of two things for an artist: The project either gets buried in our seasonal distractions of shopping for loved ones, taking part in hometown reunions, or just closing out the work year with the little bit of concentration you have left—<i>or</i> its bangers persevere until we’re safely out of the holiday fog. You don’t have to guess which category Drake’s <i>Her Loss</i>—his collaborative album with 21 Savage—falls into, because by the time fans were back in the gym making good on New Year’s resolutions, they’d have the presence of mind to appreciate an album that drew a hard line between the “BackOutsideBoyz” and the “Broke Boys.” <i>Her Loss</i> was an omen of sorts, a collection of music that set the tone for a full year of the kind of virtuosic teeth-gnashing that made Drake one of the most revered MCs in the game (despite his penchant for R&B ballads, of course). This year alone, Drake gave us the ransom whisper of “MELTDOWN” with Travis Scott, the roadman bar fest that is “On the Radar Freestyle” with Central Cee, multiple appearances on Young Thug’s <i>BUSINESS IS BUSINESS</i>, and an assist in the return of Stratford, London’s J Hus on “Who Told You.” All of this before his latest opus, the 23-track <i>For All the Dogs</i>, a star-studded effort that features guest verses from some of the most impactful MCs of the era (J. Cole, 21 Savage, Chief Keef, Lil Yachty) and one who may be poised to change the game down the line—his 6-year-old son Adonis. Listen to Drake on Today’s Hits, home to the biggest songs in pop, hip-hop, R&B, and more. Check back often, as our editors update this playlist regularly—and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.