One of the biggest ways to prove a song is popular these days is by checking its streaming numbers. Some of the biggest hits of the past few years have racked up billions and billions of streams. Post Malone’s “Rockstar” and “Sunflower” have both generated more than 2.7 Billion streams. The Weeknd’s mega-hit “Blinding Lights” leads the way with over 3.6 billion streams. What’s even more impressive is when songs that predate streaming altogether manage to hit streaming milestones. Artists like Queen, Eminem, Coldplay, Nirvana and The Killers have all found success on the platform. Each artist has at least one song with a billion streams that came out before Spotify was founded.
Recently, 50 Cent joined that group with a milestone of his own. His 2003 smash-hit “In Da Club” recently became the newest song to join the billion streams club. The song now has over 400 million more streams that his second biggest hit on the platform, “Candy Shop.” The track joins The White Stripes hit song “Seven Nation Army” among tracks from 2003 to hit 1 billion streams. To celebrate, Spotify sent 50 Cent a plaque sporting a silver plated version of their logo to celebrate.
Recently 50 Cent was hailed as a good luck charm for an appearance at an NHL game. The rapper sounded the siren to kick off Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals a few weeks ago in Las Vegas. The game ultimately became the clinching win for the Las Vegas Golden Knights to take home the Stanley Cup.
50 Cent also started some controversy earlier this month when he spoke out against the WGA strike. In his assessment, the strike would make things worse for writers rather than better. His comments were widely condemned by many pro-union artists. The scenario got even worse when one of his producers threatened to hit striking writers with his SUV. What do you think of 50 Cent’s song “In Da Club” hitting 1 billion streams? Let us know in the comment section below.
ASAP Rocky’s 2018 track alongside English artist Skepta, “Praise The Lord (Da Shine),” has reached a new streaming milestone. The song, which appears on ASAP Rocky’s album Testing, has officially hit 1 billion streams on Spotify according to UK Rap Daily. Listeners clearly dig the collab, which features vocals and production from the UK artist. Following it’s release, the track quickly became a fan favorite. The duo also dropped a ’90s-inspired accompanying music video to the song in June of 2018.
Following the release of the collaboration, ASAP Rocky discussed how the track was created. He revealed that the pair were tripping on acid while they worked on the track, giving listeners some insight to the experimental bars. “We was all in London at my spot,” he began the story, “Skeppy came through.” He continued, telling Genius, “I have this psychedelic professor, he studies in LSD. I had him come through and kinda record and monitor us to actually test the product while being tested on. We did the rhymes all tripping balls bro. N***as was high.”
Aside from the recent streaming feat, ASAP Rocky also got fans talking this week when he appeared to hint at another major milestone. Rihanna attended his Cannes performance earlier this week, where the rapper referred to her as his wife. “I’d like to dedicate this song to my beautiful wife in the motherf*cking building!,” he said during the show. However, a report by RadarOnline last month claimed the couple have no plans to tie the knot any time soon. “Rocky would get married tomorrow if Rihanna would agree — but she doesn’t see the sense in it!” a source claiming to be close to the couple revealed.
According to reports, “Rihanna knows if they decided to marry, she would need a team of lawyers to work months on a prenup.” The source continued, adding, “Frankly, she doesn’t have the stomach for it.” They went on to report that, “Rocky insists he loves Rihanna unconditionally and isn’t after her money — and she believes him. But she’s no fool when it comes to cash.”
A couple months ago, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek spoke about the streaming service’s future, saying in part, “I think we are ready to raise prices, I think we have the ability to do that, but it really comes down to those negotiations [with major music industry stakeholders].”
Now, in a follow-up to that news, it appears Spotify could be readying a more expensive tier of streaming service. As Bloomberg reports, Spotify is readying a new, pricier subscription option dubbed “Supremium” internally, according to “people familiar with the strategy.” It’s set to be the most expensive plan Spotify offers and will reportedly include high-fidelity audio. The new tier is expected to launch this year in non-US markets before becoming available to American users.
In response to the new report, Spotify spokesperson Laura Pezzini told The Verge, “At Spotify, we are constantly iterating and ideating to improve our product offering and offer value to users. But we don’t comment on speculation around possible new features and do not have anything new to share at this time.”
Back in 2021, Spotify announced (but has yet to deliver) Spotify HiFi, so perhaps it’s finally just about ready for consumers. Earlier this year, Spotify co-president Gustav Söderström said to The Verge of Spotify HiFi, “We announced it, but then the industry changed for a bunch of reasons. We are going to do it, but we’re going to do it in a way where it makes sense for us and for our listeners. The industry changed and we had to adapt.”
There is no one doing it quite like Ice Spice. The female rap game has plenty of up-and-comers at the moment. Still, the Bronx-born baddie has quickly asserted herself as the Princess of Rap. Not only does she have bragging rights like collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift under her belt, but Isis Gaston is now among an elite category of artists who have surpassed a major Spotify milestone.
On Tuesday (June 20), it was revealed that the 23-year-old has officially surpassed one billion streams on the platform. As TMZ reports, it’s not exactly surprising news. Especially considering that January’s Like..? EP is the best-performing hip-hop project that’s dropped so far in 2023. The short, punchy effort contains titles like “In Ha Mood” and Spice’s breakout single, “Munch (Feelin’ U)” which caught the attention of Drake last summer when she was first blowing up.
The East Coast star’s biggest release to date is “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” with PinkPantheress, which earned her her first RIAA Platinum certification. Aside from that, her aforementioned joint effort with Swift, “Karma (Remix)” remains in the Top 10 of the Hot 100 chart. The song initially arrived in May and was last sitting in the No. 9 slot of the coveted ranking. Her “Princess Diana (Remix)” with Minaj has also done impressive numbers. Of course, they could possibly be topped when they team up again for “Barbie World” from Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s upcoming film. It’s set to hit DSPs this Friday (June 23). From what we’ve heard so far, it’s even catchier than expected.
Elsewhere in the news, Ice Spice made waves with her performance at Governor’s Ball earlier this month. Not only did her constant twerking catch the eyes of thirsty fans (and haters) during her appearance, but she also landed on our best-dressed list from the event. See other artists whose outfits we loved at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
According to Hip Hop All Day, DaBaby is now the only male rapper to have three songs, released in this decade, reach one billion streams each on Spotify. He shared the post on his Instagram page earlier today to celebrate. He also included a clip of several children dancing from his recent “SHAKE SUMN” music video. Some commenters on the original post are calling the news into question. Many believed that other artists, like Post Malone, Quavo, and more, should have been considered as candidates.
“Welcome DaBaby,” Hip Hop All Day wrote, adding, “His 2020 run will go down in the history books.” When one social media user asked about Post Malone, the account responded. “He’s never been a rapper but he has 10,” they wrote. The songs that reached one billion streams on Spotify are Pop Smoke’s “For The Night” featuring DaBaby and Lil Baby, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” featuring DaBaby, and DaBaby’s “ROCKSTAR” featuring Roddy Rich.
Last week, reporter Meghann Cuniff shared a memo from prosecutors pertaining to the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case. According to the memo, it was alleged that Tory Lanez and DaBaby had planned to ambush Megan Thee Stallion’s 2021 Rolling Loud show. The memo also states that the two artists were within close proximity to Megan Thee Stallion despite a protective order. “During the victim’s performance, the defendant went through security clearance and entered the green room,” it says.
The memo continues, “These areas were within 100 yards of the stage where the victim was performing, in violation of the protective order. It was also brought to the victim’s attention that the defendant and DaBaby attempted to rush the stage… In no way was the victim previously aware of nor did she consent to the defendant’s presence at the venue when she would be performing.” Tory Lanez and DaBaby were allegedly unsuccessful in their attempt to rush the stage.
The double murder trial of YNW Melly, who stands accused of killing his associates YNW Juvy and YNW SakChaser, has the whole world watching. His rise to fame surged rapidly thanks to a few hit singles, which raked up a whole lot of streams thanks to this case’s high-profile nature. On Spotify alone, his biggest hits “Murder On My Mind,” “Suicidal,” “223’s” featuring 9lokknine, and “Mixed Personalities” featuring Kanye West garnered over 1,250,000 streams alone within 24 hours of court being in session, according to streaming data website kworb.net. The trial began on Monday (June 12) with opening statements, and in just two days we’ve seen many notable developments ahead of its next.
In total, the website data indicates that YNW Melly raked up over 2.6 million Spotify streams alone within that timeframe. It hasn’t been updated since, but we can assume that numbers have only continued to rise since then with impressive numbers. Given that he’s literally fighting for his life, with the possibility of the death penalty pursued by prosecutors in the jury’s hands, streams might only rise as the trial goes on. With prayers in the courtroom and displays of emotion, both positive and negative, many are morbidly captivated by the case. In fact, the Florida native gained ten platinum plaques and six gold ones from the RIAA since his arrest in 2019.
YNW Melly’s Streaming Data After Trial’s First Day
Screenshot via kworb.net on 6/14/2023
Another interesting element to this trial concerns another famous rapper. None other than Boosie Badazz went to court to show his support for YNW Melly on both days of the trial so far. While it’s unclear whether he will attend its third on Wednesday (June 14), it’s a divisive appearance. This is because the father of YNW Juvy blasted the Baton Rouge MC for showing up to trial.
“Y’all are b***hes, man,” Juvy’s father expressed. “Boosie down there supporting Melly- he flaw as f**k for that. He don’t even know that n***a Melly. He talking ’bout, ‘I want Melly free ’cause that n***a bought me snacks and a magazine at the airport.’ What? Man, go to Marlo Mike’s trial, n***a. F**k you at this n***a trial? Marlo Mike in that b***h fighting for his life, n***a. You got that man staying up the road doing all that God damn time, but you in there for Melly.” Furthermore, he told Boosie to go back home and leave their family in peace. For more news and updates concerning YNW Melly and his trial, come back to HNHH.
Nicki Minaj has had a busy year so far popping up on a number of songs and remixes. Her prolific output has resulted in her reclaiming a title she’s held at various points in her career before. Of course, we’re talking about the female rapper with the most monthly listeners on Spotify. Fans were quick to notice when Minaj reached 51 million monthly listeners, passing Doja Cat who’s also held the title extensively. Doja has had a pretty quiet year so far musically, joining SZA for a remix of her hit song “Kill Bill” as her only official release so far.
Nicki Minaj on the other hand has been far more active. She lead off the year with her own song “Red Ruby Da Sleeze.” It has wrapped up over 65 million plays since its March release and recently got an accompanying music video. She’s joined a trio of singles as a featured artist including “Alone” with Kim Petras. Moreover, she had “WTF” with Youngboy Never Broke Again. Not to mention, just this week “Pound Town 2” alongside Sexyy Red and Tay Keith. However, Nicki’s biggest moment of the year so far came when she joined Ice Spice on the remix of “Princess Diana” in April.
Nicki Minaj Reclaims Her Throne
After 6 releases (19 versions combined) this year, Nicki Minaj has now finally surpassed Doja Cat becoming the female rapper with the most monthly listeners on Spotify. @NICKIMINAJ 51,051,389 pic.twitter.com/k9GuZtW6lo
That remix of “Princess Diana” was in the news again recently when superstar DJ Skrillex debuted a remix of the track during a live performance. Fans gave mixed reactions to his take on the song. But in a post to her Instagram Nicki herself cosigned the remix, saying “#PrincessDiana being remixed by @skrillex is crazyyyyy.”
Both “Alone” and “Princess Diana” have come with a number of remixes. They also got alternate versions that have helped the songs generate more streams and attention. As a result Nicki Minaj currently ranks as the #39th most streamed artist in the world on Spotify. While Nicki hasn’t confirmed any more forthcoming music yet, if she keeps up her current pace it won’t be long before fans hear new songs from her again. Let us know what you think of this milestone, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the music world.
There’s hardly a Billboard record that Drake hasn’t broke yet but the same can be said for his success on streaming platforms, such as Spotify. There’s no doubt that Drake is one of the most streamed artists in the world and the rapper continues to set new records with each release. Most recently, Drake reached a huge milestone on Spotify as the most streamed rapper in the world. Thanks to the success of “Search And Rescue,” which recently reached 100M streams on Spotify, Drake surpassed 80 billion plays across his whole discography on Spotify, per ChartData.
Drake’s pull on Spotify hasn’t gone unnoticed over the years. In 2021, Spotify declared Drake as the most-streamed artist in the U.S. with 8.6 billion on-demand streams. In addition, one out of 131 streams that year also belonged to his songs. Needless to say, Drake continues to reign supreme on Spotify and it seems like he could possibly continue his dominance in the near future. He recently debuted the long-awaited “At The Gates” ft. Lil Uzi Vert on Sound42 while fans have speculated that the release of Scary Hours 3 is near.
Drake’s History With Spotify
.@Drake becomes the first artist in Spotify history to surpass 80 billion streams across all credits. pic.twitter.com/HmEstxXtWi
In a matter of months, Drake raked in another 5 billion streams on Spotify. Back in January, the rapper reached a milestone of 75 billion streams. However, Drake used the opportunity to urge streaming services to compensate artists for their success. “We should get bonuses like athletes to motivate the future artists to be consistent and competitive,” Drake wrote. “Feel free to send me a Lebron sized cheque. I have enough dinner plates.” Spotify has yet to respond but it’s certainly something that’s worth considering.
Besides his Spotify milestone, Drake is gearing up to embark on his first tour in nearly five years. The rapper and 21 Savage will hit the road for the It’s All A Blur tour across North America. The tour kicks off on June 29th at Memphis’ FedExForum before closing out at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on October 7th. Hopefully, we’ll get some more music from Drake before then. Check out Chartdata’s tweet above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.
Columbus, Ohio rapper Latto AKA Big Latto, has reached 1 billion streams of her music on Spotify. Our Generation Music shared a post on Instagram celebrating the 24-year-old’s accomplishment yesterday.
Latto performed at Pharrell’s Something In The Water music festival in April. The MC also performed at Coachella this year, where she reportedly shaded fellow rapper Nicki Minaj. Although she never mentioned Minaj by name, she said “Pussy hoe, let a bitch know, we tired of the subtweets this year,” while exiting the stage. Tension between the two women began last year when Minaj posted a Tweet In April about her song being moved out of the rap category, claiming that if her song doesn’t qualify as rap then neither does Latto’s. She responded by texting Minaj. She wrote, “I don’t think you need to bring my name/song up to prove a point.”
Latto responded by texting Minaj. She wrote, “I don’t think you need to bring my name/song up to prove a point.” Minaj posted the text conversation on Twitter, calling Latto a “Karen” and saying she “probably mentioned my name in over 100 interviews.” She criticized the young rapper for staying silent instead of “[speaking] up for the black woman she called her biggest inspiration.” In an interview with Billboard in February, Latto shared her thoughts on the Twitter beef. She said, “It’s difficult navigating through situations like that because there’s a disconnect.” Adding, “It’s disappointing. You just got to take it to the chin and keep pushing.”
Her drama with Nicki Minaj is not the only beef she’s gotten into lately. In February, VVSNCE called the performer out on Instagram, claiming that comments the artist made in a Billboard interview were false. She said that Latto said, “I don’t work with new female artists,” claiming those to be her “EXACT words.” VVSNCE shared DMs exchanged between the two of them, where Latto tells VVSNCE that she “coulda just asked [her] wassup.” There were also reports in March of the singer getting into a fight with Doechii backstage at Billboard‘s Women In Music awards ceremony. The fight was said to have stemmed from Doechii mentioning Nicki Minaj in her speech. In April, Coi Leray called Latto out on Twitter for body shaming her in one of her songs. Coi Leray wrote, “Please do not come on here and talk about nobody BODY. Lol like seriously.”
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of the best Hip Hop beats, as Spotify unveils its greatest selections. As we all know, “Top” lists in Hip Hop often create a stir. Whether it’s a debate over who is the greatest or conversing about artists deserving of Mount Rushmore placements, ranking artists always makes waves. After sharing its “50 Greatest Hip Hop Beats of All Time” list, Spotify did just that to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary.
From the iconic sounds of Kanye West’s “Power” to the timeless groove of Dr. Dre’s “Still D.R.E.” and the contemporary vibes of Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” these tracks found themselves in the Top 10 spots. Arguably, the songs are considered some of Rap’s finest production moments, capturing the essence and evolution of Hip Hop. Stay tuned as we celebrate these incredible beats that have left an indelible mark on music history. Also, let us know if you think this Top 10 needs some adjusting.
10. “Get Ur Freak On” – Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” is an iconic track that was released in 2001 as the lead single from her album Miss E… So Addictive. Produced by Timbaland, who also contributed guest vocals, “Get Ur Freak On” blends Eastern-inspired melodies with infectious beats. The track achieved immense chart success, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and receiving critical acclaim for its groundbreaking sound. Its music video, directed by Dave Meyers, also became a cultural phenomenon. Missy’s dynamic flow and Timbaland’s inventive production help make “Get Ur Freak On” a timeless classic that continues to inspire.
9. “SICKO MODE” – Travis Scott ft. Drake, Swae Lee
Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” is a game-changing hip-hop anthem that captivates listeners with its dynamic shifts. Released in 2018 as part of his album Astroworld, the song features guest appearances from Drake and Swae Lee, adding to its star-studded appeal. The production credits include a team of talented producers, namely Rogét Chahayed, Hit-Boy, OZ, Tay Keith, and Cubeatz. “Sicko Mode” quickly climbed the charts, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning multi-platinum certifications. Its success can be attributed to its unconventional structure, seamlessly transitioning through different sonic landscapes. The song’s fusion of Trap, Hip Hop, and psychedelic elements speaks to Scott and production’s artistic vision.
8. “Still Tippin” – Mike Jones ft. Paul Wall & Slim Thug
Mike Jones’s “Still Tippin” is a definitive track that propelled him into the mainstream. Released in 2004, the song captivated audiences with its catchy hooks and infectious Southern sound. “Still Tippin” features guest verses from Slim Thug and Paul Wall, who added rounded out the track beautifully. The production credits go to Salih Williams, who crafted the hypnotic beat that became instantly recognizable.
Additionally, the song peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a staple in the emerging Houston rap scene. With its distinctive Texas flavor, “Still Tippin” solidified Mike Jones’s presence in the Rap game and remains a beloved anthem for Hip Hop fans.
7. “It’s All About the Benjamins (Remix)” – Puff Daddy & The Family
If you want to get the party started, this is the track. The “All About the Benjamins Remix” is a legendary collaboration that has become an anthem. Released in 1997, the track was a remix of the original song by Puff Daddy (now known as Diddy) and featured an all-star lineup of guest artists. This includes The Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim, and Jadakiss. The production credits go to Diddy himself, alongside DJ Clue and Nashiem Myrick. “All About the Benjamins Remix” was a megahit, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a staple in playlists.
6. “Power” – Kanye West
Kanye West’s “Power” arrived during a significant shift in the rapper’s career. “Power” was featured inMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, an album that some have hailed as West’s best. The track instantly grabbed attention with its grandeur and unapologetic lyrics. “Power” features a memorable sample of “21st Century Schizoid Man” by King Crimson and boasts production credits from West himself, along with S1, Jeff Bhasker, and Mike Dean. The song peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received widespread critical acclaim. With its triumphant instrumentation and Kanye’s commanding presence, “Power” also stands as a testament to his creative genius.
5. “A Milli” – Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” is one of many classic favorites from the Louisiana icon. This one was pulled from Weezy’s Tha Carter III, released in 2008. Produced by Bangladesh, the song’s beat and hook became instantly recognizable. “A Milli” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multi-Platinum certifications. The track is a solo effort from Lil Wayne, once again demonstrating his uncanny ability to craft hits alone of with his contemporaries by his side.
4. “Who Shot Ya?” – The Notorious B.I.G
The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya?” was released in 1995 and initially faced controversy due to its timing. It was released shortly after the shooting of Tupac Shakur in New York—the incident that sparked the East Coast, West Coast controversy. However, “Who Shot Ya?” is not directly linked to the incident. The track also stands out with Biggie’s hard-hitting lyricism over a haunting beat produced by Nashiem Myrick and Poke. Notably, the song was not released as a single and didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Nonetheless, it has since gained immense recognition.
3. “Grindin” – The Clipse
The Clipse’s “Grindin” makes listeners want to pound on the closest desk. Released in 2002, the song instantly grabbed attention due to it’s The Neptunes production. Pusha T and Malice, the duo comprising The Clipse, also deliver gritty verses, embodying the hustler mentality. The track also peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has gone on to become a signature Hip Hop classic. There have been rumors of The Clipse getting together for a reunion, so maybe we’ll get a 2.0 for the new generation.
2. “Shook Ones, Pt. II” – Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Pt. II” is a timeless classic. Released in 1995, Havoc and Prodigy deliver sharp verses over a haunting beat. The song further epitomizes the hardcore East Coast sound of the mid-’90s. The production credits go to Havoc himself, who crafted the track’s atmospheric and menacing instrumental. “Shook Ones Pt. II” achieved critical acclaim and became an instant fan favorite, although it didn’t achieve significant commercial success on the charts. However, its impact on Hip Hop cannot be overstated, as it remains a benchmark for raw lyricism and street authenticity.
1. “Still Dre” – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
Compton and Long Beach, stand up! Dr. Dre’s iconic track “Still D.R.E” continues to resonate with Hip Hop fans worldwide. Released in 1999, Dre’s signature West Coast sound and features Snoop Dogg’s smooth verses come together beautifully. Dr. Dre himself co-produced the track alongside Scott Storch, infusing it with his trademark heavy beats and infectious melodies. The song’s production credits also include Mel-Man.
“Still D.R.E” achieved immense success on the charts, peaking at No. 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the Top 10 in several countries. Its impact extends beyond its chart performance, as it has become an anthem for Dre’s enduring influence. “Still D.R.E” remains a timeless classic that solidifies Dr. Dre’s status as a legendary figure in the genre.
