From soulful crooners to electro-pop innovators, these male artists have been reshaping modern pop music without getting their due recognition. Join us as we celebrate the talented musicians who deserve more spotlight for their contributions to the contemporary music scene!
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00:00My whole thing on TikTok is to prove that anything, anything in this world can be made into music.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:08And today we're counting down our picks for the most talented male musicians in pop music
00:13who deserve more credit for their significant contribution to the genre.
00:21Number 10. Omar Apollo.
00:30There's more to this Grammy-nominated crooner than his good looks and TikTok-worthy tunes.
00:36Omar Apollo is the poster child of authenticity, painting a raw image of youth in melancholic blue and gray,
00:44passionate reds, and bright ivory, pun intended.
00:50Doesn't even have to shine.
00:55The self-taught musician, whose Spanish bops go as hard as his English tracks,
01:00if not harder, taps into his lived experiences for inspiration.
01:04Naturally, this means they're painfully relatable
01:06and often touch a nerve you could have sworn had gone numb.
01:10When such lyricism meets his angelic vocals, magic is created.
01:22Number 9. G-Dragon.
01:24Limiting GD's artistic oeuvre to K-pop is a misjudgment,
01:35even if he is widely acknowledged as the king of K-pop.
01:39The Big Bang member himself is a genre.
01:41His sonic signature combines the glamour of pop with the raw edge of hip-hop
01:46and a dash of bouncy funk.
01:48As one of the most recognizable representatives of Korean music,
01:59G-Dragon has brought the world's attention to its versatility.
02:03Besides, his influence on the global fashion industry,
02:06both as a designer and a brand ambassador,
02:09is further proof of his magnanimous impact on pop culture.
02:13Number 8. Years and Years.
02:30Olly Alexander.
02:31I dreamed you dreamed of calling out my name.
02:35Is it what the prize, oh?
02:37Before frontman Olly Alexander went solo,
02:41his band soundtracked many a sweaty rave at clubs across the world.
02:45The electro-pop anthems that dominated playlists
02:48in the first half of this decade now serve as nostalgic hits,
02:52transporting us to more carefree times.
02:55Meanwhile, Olly has moved on to more personal releases.
02:58Say what you gotta say.
03:01Tell me something.
03:03Talk to me.
03:04Contrary to the glossy bangers of his years and years days,
03:08his solo music is vulnerable and mature.
03:11Through his album Polari,
03:13he delves into the complex layers of self-expression in the queer community
03:17set to the pulsating beats of 80s pop.
03:20Keep an eye out for Olly Alexander,
03:22because there has to be more where that came from.
03:24Lie next to me.
03:26We can make a choice.
03:28Change our destiny.
03:30Number 7.
03:31Lauv.
03:39Viral popularity can often translate to one-hit wonders.
03:43Lauv's smash hit, I Like Me Better,
03:45famously featured on To All The Boys I've Loved Before,
03:48made some wonder if that's what the singer would end up being known for.
03:51However, loyal fans who had been following him from the beginning knew he had much more to offer.
04:05First, Lauv parlayed his overnight fame into a series of successful tours.
04:10Then he followed up with a consistent stream of catchy pop tracks
04:13that established his reputation as a hitmaker.
04:15Needless to say, he hasn't looked back since.
04:23Number 6.
04:25J.C. Chazet.
04:26Just tell me why.
04:28Every little thing I do.
04:31Never seen enough for you.
04:33The grand success of Justin Timberlake and the scandals that followed him
04:37inadvertently overshadowed the massive potential of his fellow NSYNC members in their solo endeavors.
04:43J.C. Chazet not getting his flowers for his ambitious debut album, Schizophrenic,
04:48will always be a fumble in the history of pop.
04:51So you wanna be a rock star, keep it going, don't stop,
04:55working while you're on top, call the cops.
04:58Had he received the JT treatment,
05:01Chazet's unique artistry and extraordinary vocal prowess
05:04could have shaped the pop landscape of the aughts.
05:07Then we wouldn't have to wait a decade for more music.
05:10Better late than never, though,
05:12because his comeback with the 2024 concept album
05:14Playing With Fire with Jimmy Harry exceeds expectations.
05:18This time, fans are determined not to let him down.
05:30Number 5. Khalid
05:32Despite boasting one of the most soulful voices in the new generation of pop,
05:42this Grammy-nominated singer is criminally underappreciated.
05:46He debuted strong, with sensational releases like Location and Young, Dumb and Broke,
05:52cementing his place in the pop R&B scene.
05:54High-profile collaborations with artists like Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish
05:59quickly made him a household name.
06:01He lived up to his popularity by outdoing himself with each release,
06:05becoming a mainstay on music charts.
06:07However, Khalid likes keeping things low-key.
06:10He's far from the textbook definition of a flashy pop star following trends,
06:21so he rarely pops up when discussing current icons.
06:25Still, his music has mass appeal,
06:27and comes from a place of sincerity,
06:30which resonates with fans.
06:31That's why he's here to stay.
06:33Number 4. Conan Gray
06:42There is such a thing as too popular,
06:45and it's a blessing and a curse.
06:47People still can't get over Heather,
06:49understandably so,
06:50but this has affected the rise of Conan Gray.
06:53I still remember
06:553rd of December
06:57Me in your sweater
07:00Ask any pop fanatic,
07:02and they'll vouch for his songwriting brilliance
07:04and dreamy vocals.
07:06However, the rest of Conan's discography
07:08is just as sublime,
07:10but rarely gets the attention it deserves.
07:12I wish that you would stay in my memories
07:16But you show up today
07:18Just you ruined things
07:20Over the years,
07:21he has taken his brand of pop
07:22from the bedroom to the arenas,
07:25drawing on 80s rock legends
07:26like Queen and Elton John.
07:28However, most will still associate him
07:30with the breathy yearning of his early career.
07:33Conan has moved on,
07:34and we should too.
07:35There's no need to hide
07:37I know the answer, baby
07:40Dance with me
07:41So we don't cry
07:43Number 3.
07:45Charlie Puth
07:46Being humble is one thing,
07:48but underselling yourself is another.
07:50Yeah, you just want attention
07:52I knew from the start
07:55In recent years,
07:56Charlie Puth has come to be known
07:57as the guy with the perfect pitch.
07:59Social media is filled with clips of him
08:01making songs from scratch
08:03with random sounds as starting points.
08:05Everybody tilt your phone horizontally.
08:08I had this idea
08:09In the song,
08:09you would hear my voice over here.
08:11I can see you over here
08:12And then you would hear it
08:13on the other side of your phone.
08:14I can see you over here
08:15He makes it look effortless,
08:17and so most believe it is.
08:19However, behind those 30-second TikTok videos
08:22is a technical mastery of the highest degree.
08:25Charlie Puth has a keen eye
08:27for what clicks in pop,
08:28and has given us unforgettable records
08:30like We Don't Talk Anymore
08:31and attention.
08:33He has lent his talent
08:34to fellow artists like Katy Perry,
08:35for whom he wrote Harleys in Hawaii.
08:38Also a mega hit.
08:40It's about time we recognize him
08:42as one of the greats.
08:43Can't you just make up your mind?
08:46Quit messing with my heart.
08:50Number 2.
08:52Troy Sivan.
08:52The YouTuber-turned-musician's
09:02chronically online
09:03boy-next-door image
09:04has become his USP.
09:06When he's not spilling juicy details
09:08about his personal life
09:10with his fans on social media,
09:11he's hanging out with hyper-pop darling
09:13Charli XCX.
09:21This glitzy lifestyle in the public eye
09:24is punctuated by the explosive success
09:26of songs like Angel Baby,
09:28Rush, and One of Your Girls.
09:30However, B-sides in his discography
09:32don't get nearly as much love as they should.
09:34How much in me would you take?
09:38How much in me would you change?
09:42Hidden gems like Stud and Postcard
09:44are testimony to his musical genius
09:47beyond TikTok's For You page.
09:49It's taking some time
09:50for the mainstream to catch up,
09:52but we have no doubt it'll get there.
09:54Yeah, you're still picking me up.
09:58Don't you put me back down.
09:59Before we unveil our top pick,
10:01here are a few honorable mentions.
10:04Ollie Murs.
10:05The X Factor alum's presence
10:06on American airwaves
10:08is not as strong as his UK fame.
10:12Grayson Chance.
10:19Struggles with the business side of music
10:21hindered his growth.
10:22Come on, come on, come on, come on, sing.
10:25Honeysuckle fell from the tree.
10:28Mika.
10:29It's a mystery why his addictive body of work
10:31hasn't hit mainstream success.
10:33Decreed, gotta be mean, gotta be everything more.
10:37Why don't you like me, why don't you like me,
10:39why don't you walk out the door?
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10:57Number one, Sean Mendez.
11:00The internet has always been more interested
11:02in the Canadian heartthrob's love life
11:04than his music.
11:05It is not surprising, therefore,
11:07that despite having all the makings of a pop phenom,
11:10he's rarely as celebrated as his peers.
11:12Now I'm gonna reap what I sow.
11:16I'm left seeing red on my own.
11:19His husky voice, extensive range,
11:21and outstanding live performances
11:23contribute to his excellence as an artist.
11:26He wields his guitar with such charisma on stage
11:29that he glows with the aura of a rock star.
11:32However, pop is his playground,
11:33where he is in his element.
11:43Albums like Wonder and Illuminate
11:46are proof of his experimental efforts,
11:48whereas his self-titled record
11:50represents his artistic identity.
11:53When the media finally moves on
11:54from speculating about his personal life,
11:57his rich discography will surely have its time to shine.
12:03What's your pop music hot take?
12:08Let us know in the comments.
12:10I think there's even a commenter called
12:11Justice for JC Chasse.
12:13So you have the people out here fighting for you,
12:16just so you know.
12:17Let's make a musical together.
12:19See you later.
12:20See you later.
12:27See you later.