2016 No. 1s: Video Interviews With Chainsmokers, Gucci Mane, Kelsea Ballerini, Pretty Reckless & More
For Billboard's No. 1s issue — out now withThe Weeknd on the cover— we spoke with an eclectic variety of artists who topped different Billboard charts this year. FromThe ChainsmokerstoKelsea BallerinitoIggy PoptoDesiignertoGucci Mane, here are what the 2016 chart-toppers had to say about the songs and albums that defined 2016.
Kelsea Ballerini remembers celebrating "Dibs" going No. 1 with Hunter Hayes and "30 of her closest friends" while her hair was still in foil.
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The Chainsmokers share the story of making the "Closer" beat "in the back of a tour bus at 3 a.m." Columbia EVP/GM Joel Klaiman and manager Adam Alpert recall their initial reactions to the song.
Desiigner, Def Jam CEO Steve Bartels and Steven Victor (COO, G.O.O.D. Music; manager; senior vp A&R, Universal Music Group) talk about watching "Panda" explode and linking up with Kanye for his Madison Square Garden fashion show.
Lukas Graham's Lukas Forchhammer talks about becoming a father and writing "7 Years" after waking up from a nap.
Maná talk collaborating with Nicky Jam on "De Pies a Cabeza" and experimenting with reggaeton.
Gucci Mane talks recording the "triumphant" Everybody Looking
in just six days after getting out of prison.
Iggy Pop explains why Post Pop Depressio
n might be the last full album he ever releases.
Mike Posner reflects on the "artist purgatory" that preceded writing "I Took a Pill In Ibiza" after making two shelved albums.
The Pretty Reckless explain how the story of Robert Johnson selling his soul informed "Take Me Down."
Troye Sivan admits the songwriting session for "Youth" was "awkward" and talks about his favorite lyrics on "Wild" and "Youth."
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