Beyond its weekly charts, Billboard has also made a name for itself by ranking the biggest superstars of the moment—sparking fierce debates and serious Twitter beef. Take, for instance, the chaos that erupted when they crowned the Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century. Fans went into full-on debate mode, arguing whether icons like Drake or Lil Wayne even qualify as pop stars. And now? Billboard has done it again—this time, breaking down the Top Artists of the 21st Century.
Before we dive into the rankings, the list was based on performance on two major charts—the Billboard 200 (albums) and the Hot 100 (songs)—from 2000 through the end of 2024. This isn’t just a “pick-your-favorite” list; it’s rooted in hard data.
Trust me, I was just as shocked as anyone to see Post Malone landing higher than rap legends like Eminem and Ye. As fans picked apart the rankings, one thing became clear: There was much to be said about who in hip-hop made the cut.
Of course, if you’re from a younger generation, it might be hard to understand why legends like Nelly, Ludacris, and 50 Cent are sitting pretty on the list. After all, you didn’t get to witness Nelly’s grillz revolution, Ludacris rocking those beyond oversized Air Force Ones in the “Stand Up” music video, or 50 Cent hanging upside down during the “In Da Club.”
Let’s not forget, though, that these three dominated the 2000s hip-hop scene and helped bring the South and East Coast to the forefront. Their Billboard stats don’t lie—they earned their spot.
Then there’s Nicki Minaj, the only female rapper to crack the top ten of this list. Despite her fair share of controversies, Nicki didn’t just carve out a space for herself; she paved the way for a new generation of female rappers, from Doechii to Glorilla, to take the genre to new heights.
Naturally, with the list dropping and fans taking to social media, the reactions have been everywhere on an emotional scale. So, whether you’re defending Kendrick Lamar to your younger sibling or wondering how Lil Wayne is only number six, there’s one thing we can all agree on: Billboard has people ready to throw hands. Below, we’ve rounded up the best reactions to Billboard’s Top Artists of the 21st Century list. Happy arguing.
