Lil Nas X, Japanese Breakfast, Vince Staples (pictured above) and more share their favorite music of 2021 with NPR. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images; Album art courtesy of Polydor & Wolf Tone Records, Saddle Creek Records, Kemosabe & RCA Records hide caption

Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X accepts best direction for "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday in New York City. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption
Megan Thee Stallion kicked off Saturday Night Live's 46th season in style — and with substance. Will Heath/NBC hide caption
Ariana Grande released "Stuck With U," a new song with Justin Bieber, as a COVID-19 relief fundraiser Friday. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Justin Bieber, photographed with fans at the premiere of his self-produced YouTube documentary series Seasons, on Jan. 27, 2020 in Los Angeles. The pop star released his first album in five years, Changes, on Feb. 14. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images hide caption
Charli XCX's latest single is "Spicy," a Spice Girls tribute in which she collaborates with Herve Pagez and Diplo. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Global Bieber fever: a shot of Indian media gathered before the pop megastar concert in Mumbai, India this May. Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Lydia Loveless unlocks the slow-burning desperation at the heart of an electro-pop banger. David T. Kindler/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Justin Bieber on stage in December. Bieber's 2012 album Believe, despite selling over 1,000,000 copies, wasn't nominated for a single Grammy Award. Michael Kovac/Getty Images hide caption
He's Only Eighteen: Justin Bieber's new album, Believe, is his fourth to hold the No. 1 spot on the Billboard album chart. Ben Watts/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Over the weekend, Justin Bieber's 45-city fall tour sold out in an hour. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption
Justin Bieber, on the cusp of something. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images hide caption
Members of New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys at the American Music Awards Rick Rowell/ABC hide caption
"U Smile 800% Slower" (Original Tempo)
Fans who can't see Justin Bieber perform live flock to his YouTube videos. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Entertainment hide caption