If music is reflective of the desires of its listener base, then the Billboard Top 100 dutifully provides a comprehensive record of the ever-changing social landscape. Gone are the days of the protest-laden, peace-touting rock ballads of the 60s, catchy yet soulful Motown records of the 70s or the disaffected suburbanite grunge 90s — those are the sounds of yesteryear. Even K-pop, with its high-budget production and mesmerizing choreography, has plateaued in popularity.
One genre stands out as a forceful newcomer,…
