24K Magic

Bruno Mars returned to the spotlight in late 2016 with a sound that felt both timeless and freshly polished. The single 24K Magic served as the lead track from his third studio album, dropping on October 7 via Atlantic Records. Mars co-wrote the track alongside Philip Lawrence and Christopher Brody Brown, who also produced it under their group name Shampoo Press & Curl. They leaned heavily into funk, disco, and contemporary R&B rhythms, creating a sonic landscape that celebrated extravagance without losing its groove.

Critics immediately noted how the synthesizer riff echoed Grandmaster Flash's 1982 hit The Message, blending old-school hip-hop textures with modern pop sensibilities. While the song shares a similar spirit to Mark Ronson's. [edit]