From blockbuster Grammy sweeps to record‑shattering Spotify numbers, these ten names defined the sound and business of rap in 2025. The ranking below weighs monthly listeners, total yearly streams, chart peaks, touring impact and major awards.
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Kendrick Lamar
• Swept five trophies at the 67th Grammys—including Record & Song of the Year for “Not Like Us.”
• First rapper to cross 100 million monthly Spotify listeners.
• Delivered a culturally seismic Super Bowl LIX halftime show watched by 120 M+ worldwide. -
Drake
• Leads 2025 with 3.38 billion Spotify streams so far, edging Kendrick by a hair.
• Kept momentum with the collaborative project $ome $exy $ongs 4 U and the 70‑date Anita Max Win world tour. -
Doechii
• Became the first woman since Lauryn Hill to win Best Rap Album (Alligator Bites Never Heal).
• Surged to 56.9 million monthly listeners—most for a female rapper this year. -
Travis Scott
• Joined Drake & Kendrick as the only rappers to log 2 billion Spotify streams in 2025.
• Extended the stadium‑scale Circus Maximus tour to Asia and announced JACKBOYS 2. -
Future & Metro Boomin
• Pulled a rare back‑to‑back, debuting We Don’t Trust You and its sequel We Still Don’t Trust You at #1 on the Billboard 200 within a single month.
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Central Cee
• First U.K. rapper in a decade to crack the U.S. top 10—Can’t Rush Greatness bowed at #9 on the Billboard 200.
• Simultaneously scored a #1 album at home on the U.K. Official Chart. -
Playboi Carti
• Ruled RapTV’s March Power Rankings after all 30 tracks on his album MUSIC entered the Hot 100, with the LP debuting at #1.
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Lil Durk
• Earned the most new RIAA certifications of any rapper in 2025 (53), while ninth studio set Deep Thoughts landed four Hot 100 debuts.
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Lil Baby
• Crossed the 1 billion‑stream mark for the year by April, keeping pace with hip‑hop’s elite despite no 2025 album yet.
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Tyler, the Creator
• Set a record‑breaking six‑night residency at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena as part of his CHROMAKOPIA World Tour.
