Spotify’s Most Streamed Hip Hop Albums Of All Time Might Surprise You

Spotify just released its data for the most streamed hip-hop albums of all time, and the results — well, some of the entrants might raise an eyebrow or two. But they shouldn’t.

For the first time in a very long time, hip hop hasn’t seen an album or single top the US Billboard charts in 2023 (so far). And while that’s highly unusual, seeing as just a few years ago hip hop and R&B were coupled up as the most popular genres of music in the world, there’s still plenty of evidence of rap’s dominance in contemporary music.

The Billboard revelation comes as a bit of a blow to the inescapable genre (and the culture in general) given hip hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. That is, 50 years since it was first conceived as a grassroots movement, consisting of breakdancing, beatboxing, emceeing, DJing, and graffitiing, making its way from New York City to the rest of the United States and eventually the world.

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Spotify has decided to soften that blow and play on a more positive note, this week releasing the aforementioned data highlighting the top 50 most streamed rap albums of all time. It’s, of course, the type of list you’d expect. There’s no Kool G Rap. No Mobb Deep. No Ice Cube. Definitely no UGK. Hell, even JAY-Z is nowhere to be found in the top 50.

This is a younger demographic we’re talking about here. So it’s perfectly understandable that XXXTENTACION, an incredibly multifaceted and complicated rapper who died in 2018 before his career really had a chance to take off, comes out on top with his 2018 album ?. Even over the likes of Drake, Eminem, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, who are the four artists that boast the most albums in the ranking.

Two of Drake’s more soulless albums, Scorpion and Views round out the top three, while late rapper Juice Wrld clocks in at #4 with Goodbye & Good Riddance and Travis Scott slides into #5 with the excellent Astroworld.

Drake makes the single most appearances on the list with pretty much all of his album’s, bar debut Thank Me Later scattered across the top 50. His lowest ranking album, Dark Lane Demo Tapes — best known for ‘Chicago Freestyle’ and, unfortunately, ‘Toosie Slide’ — is found towards the bottom of the list at #48.

Eminem has the second most appearances in the top 50 while both Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar tie in for the third most-placed rappers, with three albums each crawling into the top 50. Interestingly, The Life of Pablo is placed far above My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

But this isn’t the sort of list hip-hop fans should be mad at. Again, demographics play a part here. You’re talking about people who would call Nicki Minaj’s shockingly bad ‘Starships’ an “old-school classic,” not chin-strokers who still debate about who had the best verse on ‘Scenario.’

That hasn’t stopped Minaj from being indignant about the list on Twitter, reminding her fans that she is still in the top ten list of the most streamed rappers on Spotify. Again, demographics. Queen Latifah, Lil’ Kim, and MC Lyte could never.

Spotify’s Most Streamed Hip Hop Albums Of All Time

1. ? – XXXTENTACION
2. Scorpion – Drake
3. Views – Drake
4. Goodbye & Good Riddance – Juice WRLD
5. ASTROWORLD – Travis Scott
6. 17 – XXXTENTACION
7. Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon – Pop Smoke
8. DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar
9. More Life – Drake
10. Legends Never Die – Juice WRLD
11. The Eminem Show – Eminem
12. Luv is Rage 2 – Lil Uzi Vert
13. Death Race for Love – Juice WRLD
14. 2014 Forest Hills Drive – J. Cole
15. Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight – Travis Scott
16. Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B
17. good kid, m.A.A.d. city – Kendrick Lamar
18. The Life of Pablo – Kanye West
19. Take Care – Drake
20. Graduation – Kanye West
21. The Heist – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
22. Certified Lover Boy – Drake
23. Black Panther The Album: Music From and Inspired By – Kendrick Lamar
24. Recovery – Eminem
25. 2001 – Dr. Dre
26. Nothing Was the Same – Drake
27. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – 50 Cent
28. The Marshall Mathers LP – Tour Edition – Eminem
29. The Marshall Mathers LP2 – Eminem
30. Music to be Murdered By – Side B (Deluxe Edition) – Eminem
31. Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. The World 2 – Lil Uzi Vert
32. Culture II – Migos
33. Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch
34. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
35. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – Drake
36. Kamikaze – Eminem
37. Meet the Woo 2 – Pop Smoke
38. We Love You Tecca – Lil Tecca
39. The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj
40. DUMMY BOY – 6ix9ine
41. Hoodie SZN – A Boogie wit da Hoodie
42. THE GOAT – Polo G
43. Culture – Migos
44. My Turn – Lil Baby
45. IGOR – Tyler, the Creator
46. All Eyez On Me – Tupac
47. BLAME IT ON BABY – DaBaby
48. Dark Lane Demo Tapes – Drake
49. Grateful – DJ Khaled
50. Legendary (Deluxe Edition) – Tyga