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Here we go with the controversy or maybe not … Okay, Drake has just been ranked as the No. 4 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century in Billboard’s ongoing countdown. Hell of a ranking but let’s be real, is this a stretch. Probably not. As you can imagine, the placement that has sparked both praise and controversy among fans and critics. The Hotline Bling artist now occupying a spot above other global icons such as JAY-Z, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Britney Spears. This is pop we’re talking about so the Bieber argument, we can understand the argument, maybe but he’s been a bit MIA the last several years. Gaga, that’s a discussion. But Drake is well, Drake. And his accolades and impact is really indisputable.

Get this, as with any ranking, reactions to the list have been really divided. What else is new. In pop culture, politics or otherwise, people don’t agree on much.

Many of Drake’s supporters, particularly members of his OVO fanbase, were quick to defend his position. “Numbers-wise he’s outta here,” one user wrote, while another fan pointed out, “Well deserved [goat emoji]. Bro has almost 80 top 10 singles lmao. He’s like the LeBron of Billboard hits.” Others highlighted his chart dominance, with one person commenting, “The bias is insane smh. Drake deserves to be top 2. The hate against him is unreal after everything he has achieved on Billboard plus his longevity.”

We concur.

However, not everyone agreed with Drake’s high ranking. Some fans felt it was unjust for him to be placed above pop legends like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. “Drake being above Britney and Gaga on the list for the greatest 21st century POP stars is nasty fkin work… everything is a fkin joke!” one user wrote. A common critique centered on the idea that Drake, being primarily a rapper, doesn’t fit the mold of a “pop star.” Many echoed this sentiment, arguing that his dominance in rap shouldn’t equate to top-tier pop status.

Not a pop star? Have they heard Drake on the melodies? Ha.

Billboard, however, emphasized the historic nature of Drake’s chart success to justify his position. The outlet highlighted his unprecedented achievements, including 13 No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and 13 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, an accomplishment shared only with The Beatles — a group Drake famously honored with a tattoo after surpassing one of their Billboard benchmarks in 2019. The article also noted Drake’s unparalleled career total of 338 Hot 100 entries, a record he first broke in 2020 and has since expanded year after year.

Um, we concur – again.

As the rankings continue, many music fans on X (formerly Twitter) are speculating about who might take the top spots, with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna emerging as the most likely contenders.

Likely, yes. So let’s see.

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Chris Brown is a hitmaker. Period. The R&B superstar has reached a major milestone in his career with his first-ever Diamond certification for his hit song “No Guidance” featuring Drake. When you think about it the fact that’s his first diamond plaque is interesting. Shout out to the 6 God for contributing to the collab.

Get this, the track has now achieved 11-times Platinum status, officially earning it the prestigious Diamond plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Alongside this achievement, Brown has also earned multiple new certifications for other iconic tracks, further solidifying his status as one of the most successful and enduring artists of his generation.

Now in addition to the remarkable Diamond status for “No Guidance,” it gets better for Chris. His 2007 classic “With You” has now been certified six-times Platinum. His 2019 single “Under The Influence,” originally from his Indigo album, has reached Platinum status five times, marking its ongoing popularity. Other notable certifications include Platinum plaques for new hits like “Call Me Everyday” featuring Wizkid, “Heat,” and the tracks “Indigo” and “To My Bed” from his Heartbreak On A Full Moon album.

What’s more, Brown’s recent Gold certifications also reflect his continued impact on the music industry. His Breezy album has officially reached Gold status, alongside several singles, including “Juicy Booty” featuring Jhené Aiko and R. Kelly, “WE (Warm Embrace),” “Angel Numbers/Ten Toes,” and “How We Roll” featuring Ciara.

When it comes to touring, Brown announced exciting plans to perform in South Africa, which quickly garnered attention. While many fans celebrated the news, the announcement was met with backlash from local women’s rights activists due to his past legal troubles. Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change, expressed her disappointment, stating, “When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed.”

Either way, Chris Brown is killing it on wax and his barrage of hits never seem to slow down.

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It’s all about the pen game. The Songwriters Hall of Fame has revealed its list of nominees for the Class of 2025, with hip-hop icons N.W.A. and Eminem, as well as R&B legend Janet Jackson, leading the pack. On Tuesday, November 12, the organization unveiled this year’s nominees, which span multiple genres, including country, rock, folk, and pop.

Get this, in addition to the three headline names, the list includes influential figures like funk pioneer George Clinton, hit-making producer and songwriter Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, and celebrated rock artist Alanis Morissette.

Now just so you understand the magnitude of this honor, to be eligible for induction into the prestigious Hall of Fame, a songwriter or performer must have released their first commercial song at least 20 years ago. Voting for the 2025 class is now open and will close on December 22 at midnight ET. Voters can select up to three nominees from both the songwriter and performer categories.

What’s more, over the past few years, the Songwriters Hall of Fame has increasingly recognized hip-hop artists for their groundbreaking contributions to music. The trend began in 2017 when Jay-Z made history as the first rapper to be inducted into the Hall. His induction was a momentous occasion, celebrated by many, including former U.S. President Barack Obama. Reflecting on his admiration for Jay-Z, Obama shared, “I sampled his lyrics to close my speech at Selma… I tweeted a reference to ‘My First Song’ as I was putting the finishing touches on my final State of the Union Address. I had to brush some ‘dirt off my shoulders’ during a campaign.”

Obama added with a smile, “I’m pretty sure I’m still the only President to listen to Jay-Z’s music in the Oval Office. That may change at some point, but I’m pretty sure that’s true now.” TBH, he’s probably right.

But wait, other hip-hop legends who have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame include Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, and The Neptunes.

Taking it back just a year, the 2024 class of inductees included an eclectic mix of talents, such as rock icons R.E.M., Steely Dan, and SZA, as well as established songwriters like Hillary Lindsey, Diane Warren, and Cindy Walker.

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