We're celebrating 50 golden years of hip-hop and Spotify's RapCaviar has gifted us with the 50 most streamed hip-hop albums in Spotify's history. Prepare to have your mind blown!
The list is an absolute smorgasbord of talent, featuring heavyweights like Drake, Eminem, J. Cole, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar. The late XXXTentacion tops the chart at No. 1 with his 2018 sophomore album ?, his last studio album before his tragic murder later that year. It's a testament to his enduring influence and the deep impact he left on the hip-hop community. Drake, the Canadian rap maestro, holds down both the No. 2 and No. 3 spots with his 2018 masterpiece Scorpion and the 2016 fan favorite Views. This should come as no surprise given Drake's consistent dominance in the rap game. His lyrical prowess and knack for creating catchy hooks has earned him eight spots in the top 50 - talk about ruling the roost!
Posthumous albums also made their mark on the list. Pop Smoke's Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon landed at No. 7, while Juice WRLD's Legends Never Die came in at No. 10. These albums serve as poignant reminders of the immense talent we lost too soon. Eminem, the rap god himself, scored six albums on the list, while Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar each secured three spots. These artists have consistently pushed boundaries and redefined the genre, earning their rightful places on this prestigious list. Dr. Dre’s 2001 (ironically released in 1999) is the only album from the 90s to crack the top 25. Meanwhile, 2Pac’s iconic All Eyez On Me landed at No. 46, ahead of Da Baby’s Blame It On Baby, Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes, DJ Khaled’s Grateful and Tyga’s Legendary.
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Cardi B, the queen of rap, was the only female rapper to make the list with her 2018 debut Invasion of Privacy. The album not only smashed streaming records but also bagged the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album the following year. Not far behind was Nicki Minaj, who posted her own stats, including being one of the top 10 most-streamed rappers on Spotify. This list is proof of the ever-evolving landscape of hip-hop and the artists who continue to shape it. Here's to another 50 years of sick beats, thought-provoking lyrics, and boundary-pushing creativity.
