This year has been filled with rap rivalries, the release of “Brat,” and unexpected music drops, all leading up to an eventful conclusion.

As 2024 draws to a close, which events will pop culture analysts remember the most? Will it be the intense rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Or the slow unraveling of Bennifer 2.0?

Could it also be the swift ascent of Chappell Roan, the constant legal issues faced by Diddy or Disney reclaiming its status as a leading player in the film industry?

As the year ends, we highlight key pop culture moments that defined 2024 — whether for better or worse.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s legendary rap conflict

In 2024, “The Big Three” dominated hip-hop, but notably, it was just “the big two.” With J. Cole stepping back from the heated rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, K. Dot took on Drizzy directly, and it culminated in a fierce exchange.

Lamar, known for his groundbreaking album “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City,” finally addressed the long-standing question of hip-hop’s greatest of all time after a decade of speculation.

In his track “Not Like Us,” directed at Drake, he casually refers to controversy surrounding the Canadian rapper, rapping, “Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young,” and calling him a “certified pedophile,” linking to Drake’s album “Certified Lover Boy.”

“Not Like Us” turned out to be his most successful single to date, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In November, Lamar earned seven Grammy nominations, becoming the most nominated rap artist for the upcoming Grammy Awards.

Meanwhile, Drake, who opted out of Grammy submissions this year, did not receive any nominations and has threatened to file a lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Spotify, alleging they discriminately promoted Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

Lamar’s transformative year will continue into 2025, as he is set to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans next February.

The conclusion of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

This year marked a significant chapter in both Taylor Swift’s career and the broader pop music scene.

Her iconic Eras Tour, which began in early 2023, continued to capture attention throughout 2024, finally concluding on December 8.

Just when fans thought they were familiar with the entire setlist, Swift surprised everyone in May by adding songs from “The Tortured Poets Department.” In June, her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, delighted fans by joining her live on stage.

Ultimately, the Eras Tour was reported to have earned over $2 billion, making it the highest-grossing tour in history.

Diddy faces consequences from sex trafficking inquiry

Sean “Diddy” Combs finds himself embroiled in a serious legal battle.

The controversial music executive was taken into custody on September 16 at a hotel in Manhattan by federal agents, who charged him with racketeering, sex trafficking, and related offenses.

Trafficking and transportation involving prostitution has led to serious legal issues for Sean “Diddy” Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records. He has been denied bail numerous times while awaiting his trial scheduled for May 2025 at a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York.

The hip-hop mogul’s arrest coincided with several ongoing civil lawsuits claiming abuse against him. Among the allegations was a notable lawsuit submitted in 2023 by his former partner, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, which was resolved within just a day.

This arrest followed two federal raids focusing on Combs as a primary target in a sex trafficking inquiry and came after unsettling footage from 2016 surfaced, showing him assaulting Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles.

Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter rise as Charli XCX introduces Brat summer

Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter have been gradually climbing the ranks of the pop music scene for several years, and in 2024, they broke into the limelight as rising stars.

Despite Roan releasing her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” in 2023, it was this year that her popularity surged significantly, mainly driven by her hit song “Hot to Go!” which became a chart-topper.

Roan has not hesitated to call out “creepy behavior” from fans and has discussed how his new fame is influencing her, potentially setting an example for newcomers in the industry to establish their own boundaries.

Carpenter also had a landmark year with her infectious track “Espresso,” which solidified her status in pop music and became Spotify’s most-streamed song of the year.

Charli XCX made significant waves in the summer music scene with her album “Brat,” prompting even Vice President Kamala Harris to join in on the festivities, leading a CNN panel to discuss Gen Z’s unique summer vibe.

Jennifer Lopez initiates divorce from Ben Affleck

After rekindling their romance in 2022, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, famously dubbed Bennifer, found themselves in the spotlight once more amidst various tabloid speculations about their marital stability.

After months filled with escalating rumors regarding their relationship, it was finally confirmed in August that Lopez had filed for divorce, coinciding with their two-year wedding anniversary. (The couple had previously broken off their engagement in 2004 before marrying.)

In May, Lopez also made headlines when she canceled her summer tour amid the separation.

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’

Both Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are known for their tireless work ethic, and 2024 proved no different.

In March, Beyoncé unveiled her innovative album “Cowboy Carter,” stating on Instagram that this project “ain’t a Country album—this is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.” The lead single “Texas Hold ‘Em” propelled the album to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

The record features collaborations with Shaboozey, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Willie Jones, Willie Nelson, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, and country music pioneer Linda Martell.

“Cowboy Carter” was interpreted as Beyoncé’s response to the cold reception she received from Nashville’s mainstream music scene, particularly following her performance of “Daddy Lessons” alongside The Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards. Just a month after Beyoncé’s release, Swift followed suit with her own groundbreaking album.

The immensely talented singer-songwriter Taylor Swift made headlines by achieving over 300 million streams in just one day for her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” This record made it the highest-streamed album in a single day for the year 2024, as reported by a Spotify representative.

The lead single, “Fortnight,” featuring the versatile Post Malone, also set a record as the most-streamed song in a day. Swift has positioned herself at the top of the charts with three of the most-streamed albums in Spotify’s history, including “Midnights” and “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” from 2023.

‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ break records as ‘Wicked’ soars to success

What better way to sum up 2024 than to say that the year’s standout movie character might just be anxiety?

“Inside Out 2” exceeded all box office predictions this summer by appealing to both nostalgia from the 2010s and the anxiety of millennials. Currently, it ranks as not only the biggest film of 2024 but has also secured its spot as the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Following that, another Disney sequel, “Moana 2,” claimed the largest Thanksgiving weekend gross in history. Both films served as a comeback for Disney, emerging after a streak of animated flops like “Wish,” “Strange World,” and “Lightyear.”

Marvel also bounced back from recent financial struggles with “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which has now become the second highest-grossing film of the year and the biggest R-rated film in history. This success may prompt Marvel to focus even more on fan service and cameos in future projects.

However, not all news from the comic book film landscape was positive, as DC’s “Joker: Folie à Deux,” featuring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, performed poorly both at the box office and with audiences. This failure increased the pressure on James Gunn, who is tasked with revamping the DC universe with the upcoming “Superman” film next year.

If there’s a true successor to the hype surrounding “Barbie,” it’s “Wicked,” which captivated audiences with a press tour featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, turning the movie musical into a highly anticipated event.

Princess Kate and King Charles III confront cancer together

King Charles, who turned 76 on November 14, revealed his undisclosed cancer diagnosis in February and underwent a “corrective procedure” as part of his treatment.

This announcement followed a prior release from the palace on January 17, where it was stated that the king had “sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,” addressing the public that his condition was “common among thousands of men annually.”

During a spring operation, doctors discovered Princess Kate’s cancer. Her absence from public life sparked speculation about her situation. In March, she revealed in a video that she had cancer and needed time to explain this to her three children while assuring them she would be okay.

She requested privacy during her treatment, stating that she needed to focus on a full recovery. In September, she expressed her “relief” after completing chemotherapy.

Celebrities support Kamala Harris, owning the ‘childless cat lady’ tag

As President Joe Biden made the monumental choice to exit the 2024 presidential race, many celebrities quickly voiced their support for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Among the celebrities lending their backing were Swift and Beyoncé, adding their names to the long list of public figures endorsing the Democratic candidate. Swift’s endorsement was especially anticipated, as she timed it to follow a significant debate Harris had with President-elect Donald Trump.

Many endorsements also referenced Vice President-elect JD Vance’s questionable remarks about the Democratic Party being made up of “childless cat ladies.” Nonetheless, despite the star-studded support, a significant defeat awaited Harris, with many stars like Zachary Levi, Joe Rogan, and Rob Schneider celebrating Trump’s election win.

Liam Payne, James Earl Jones among notable celebrity passings

Throughout 2024, the entertainment world faced losses with the departure of several influential figures and beloved stars.

In October, One Direction member Liam Payne tragically passed away at the age of 31 after a fall from a hotel balcony. This news struck hard for fans who grew up with the boy band, leaving them heartbroken.

Other young talents we lost this year included 27-year-old Chance Perdomo, who died in a motorcycle crash, and “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, who was tragically shot at the age of 37.

Additionally, several stars lost their battles with cancer, including Shannen Doherty, Toby Keith, and Morgan Spurlock.

The entertainment industry mourned other major losses this year, including Carl Weathers, Richard Lewis, Louis Gossett Jr., Shelley Duvall, Richard Simmons, Bob Newhart, James Earl Jones, John Amos, and Quincy Jones.

Charges filed in the death of Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry’s passing in 2023 stunned many “Friends” fans, raising inquiries about the circumstances surrounding his death in October. However, updates began to emerge in 2024.

In August, five individuals faced charges related to Perry’s death, identified as resulting from “the acute effects of ketamine.”

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, and 41-year-old Jasveen Sangha, referred to in a Department of Justice announcement as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood, were initially cited for 18 criminal counts for allegedly “supplying ketamine to Perry in the lead-up to the actor’s passing.”

Co-defendants in this case included Perry’s live-in aide Kenneth Iwamasa, 59; Dr. Mark Chavez, 54; and Erik Fleming, 54, identified as a friend of Perry’s.

Iwamasa’s plea agreement provided insights into Perry’s last days, shedding light on his private struggle with ketamine addiction, which came to a tragic end when he was discovered dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence on October 28, 2023.

According to investigators, Iwamasa worked with others to acquire over $55,000 worth of ketamine for Perry, administering the drug without proper medical authorization. Ketamine is primarily an anesthetic but also has psychedelic properties. Allegedly, Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine three times on the day he died.

‘Oppenheimer’ leads Oscar winners, Ryan Gosling becomes the highlight

The year 2023 became known for the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, which continued into 2024 with the awards season, culminating in “Oppenheimer” claiming the Oscar for Best Picture, and Christopher Nolan receiving the Best Director award.

Predictably, this was the night Hollywood honored Nolan, recognizing him not just as a top-grossing director today but also as one of the finest in the industry.

Yet, what may linger in our memories from the 2024 Oscars is the stunning performance by Ryan Gosling, who appeared in a glittery pink suit to sing “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie.” His captivating performance may have outshone his original movie portrayal. We always knew he was Kenough.

Surprising Comebacks of Jon Stewart and Robert Downey Jr.

Just when we thought they were finished, two stars stunned audiences by returning to the iconic franchise that launched their careers.

In January, Jon Stewart disclosed that he would be back to host “The Daily Show,” at least once a week. This was a surprising turn for the comedian, who had made a grand exit in 2015.

Fans have responded positively to Stewart’s new episodes and, while his return was initially planned just for the elections, he is now expected to stay until 2025. Could this be the beginning of a lengthy second act for the comedian who once was a leading voice in late-night television?

Even more surprising was the return of Robert Downey Jr., who exited the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019 after Iron Man’s emotional farewell, shocking fans at Comic-Con in July when he announced he would return for the upcoming “Avengers” films—not as Iron Man, but as the villain Doctor Doom.

As Luke Skywalker once said, in Hollywood, no one ever truly leaves.