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Drake is the highest-selling rapper globally, ahead of Kendrick Lamar, Eminem
Canadian rap superstar Drake continues his decade-long reign over the global hip-hop scene as he has been officially named the highest-selling rapper of 2024 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
Drake secured the No. 2 spot on the global artist ranking list, finishing behind Taylor Swift, who claimed the top position for the third consecutive year and the fifth time overall.
This marks Drake’s 10th appearance in the IFPI’s top 10 rankings, further solidifying his position as the most commercially successful rapper of the 21st century.
At No. 1 for an unprecedented third year running after another record-breaking year following the Eras Tour and subsequent album drop it’s the first ever 5x Global Artist Chart winner, US pop megastar Taylor Swift. Congrats!@taylornation13 #GlobalArtistChart pic.twitter.com/LyNaHopXqU
— IFPI (@IFPI_org) February 18, 2025
2024 was a landmark year in hip-hop, largely defined by the intense rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Their high-profile diss battle dominated the rap landscape, culminating in Kendrick Lamar’s hit “Not Like Us”, which became the biggest song of the feud and earned five awards at the 67th Grammys.
Despite Drake’s dominance in sales, Kendrick Lamar also had a major year, ranking No. 9 on IFPI’s list—the second time he has ever made the top 10 (the first being in 2017, when ‘DAMN.’ propelled him to No. 4).
His surprise November 2024 album GNX was well received, and his record-breaking Super Bowl Halftime Show cemented his legendary status.
Unlike previous years, Drake had a relatively quiet 2024, releasing only four songs as part of his ‘100 Gigs’ collection and making a few guest appearances with 4Batz, Gordo, and Camila Cabello.
Yet, his massive streaming numbers and catalog longevity still propelled him to the No. 2 global artist ranking—a testament to his unmatched influence and dominance in the hip-hop industry.
Joining Drake in the top 10 rappers were:
– Eminem at No. 8
– Kendrick Lamar at No. 9
Drake’s continued commercial success, even in a year without an album, reinforces Billboard’s ranking of him as the biggest rapper of the 21st century.
His ability to outstream and outsell artists with fresh releases is a testament to his global appeal and longevity.
As 2025 unfolds, all eyes will be on Drake to see how he responds to Kendrick Lamar’s massive year and whether he will return with a full album to reclaim the No. 1 spot.
