It’s official: hip-hop has transitioned out of the Big 3 era. The Great Rap War of 2024 came with definitive wins and losses, putting Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole in their respective places in rap history. Those three cultural mainstays have nothing left to prove. That said, there are artists entering their prime that would love to reach potential GOAT status, just like the artists before them.
Enter Playboi Carti and NBA YoungBoy, two of 2025’s hottest rappers—as well as cultural phenomenons in their own right. Their musical identities are undeniable, at times pushing the boundaries of the genre. But, upon closer inspection, Carti and YoungBoy’s careers are about as different as it gets. The question is: if this were a friendly competition, which next-gen star would have the upper hand?
Breaking Down The Numbers
In terms of output, YoungBoy is not one to play with. He’s dropped over 500 songs, with more dropping at a rapid pace. His 30+ projects (on Spotify) are a testament to his hustle and work ethic, eclipsing almost any catalog in the game right now. This is especially true for Carti, who took a 5-year break between his most recent albums and has barely scraped by 100 released tracks.
The number of songs they’ve released doesn’t paint the whole picture, though. YoungBoy and Carti have wildly different primary fanbases – YoungBoy’s numbers go crazy on YouTube, amassing 28.5 million monthly listeners on the platform. He’s easily the most consistent YouTube-centric artist we’ve ever seen, carving his own niche with audiences that may watch his videos rather than subscribe to a streaming service.
Carti, on the other hand, pulls in 45.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His most recent album, MUSIC, holds the spot as the second-highest streamed Spotify album in a single week, only behind Taylor Swift. This is an important distinction, as YB has released 5x as many songs, but still walks away with less monthly listeners than his opponent.
Who Has More Influence on Music?
Both Carti and YoungBoy have impacted the soundscape to a notable degree. When an artist adopts their “thing” for a verse, song, or even an entire career, it’s blatantly obvious. But which one has more clones and copycats running around the game right now?
After helping to usher in the new era of “mumble rap” in 2017, then completely flipping that on its head with things like the “baby voice,” Carti has a wildly recognizable impact on hip-hop’s sound today. So much so, songs that feature Carti take on an unmistakable tone that is his, and his alone (as seen in Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s 2024 hit track, “CARNIVAL“). He’s also had everyone from Baby Keem to Childish Gambino do their own rendition of his signature high-pitched flow, showing just how much influence he truly has in rap music.
NBA YoungBoy isn’t a slouch when it comes to being influential in his own right, but sonically, it isn’t much of a competition. It’s significantly easier to trace YB’s sound back to its origins, with rappers like Boosie Badazz and Kevin Gates sharing similar qualities. This takes nothing away from YB as an artist himself, though, as the quality of music and its impact are still high.
Who Has More Impact on Culture?
When it comes to cultural impact, that may be the hardest decision to make between the two. Cultural impact is more than people wanting to be like you—it involves how your name is used, where, and why. Memes, fashion, references, and other internet trends are today’s modes of communication, and both Carti and YoungBoy have entire worlds within the current Gen Z landscape. But who is the most relevant?
If there’s one category that is easiest to determine a winner, it’s fashion. Carti’s ever-evolving style has the power to change how his fans dress overnight. In the 5-year hiatus between Whole Lotta Red and MUSIC, Carti went from goth-inspired fits to wearing throwback jerseys backwards and 2XL shorts. Needless to say, his fans followed suit and started (trying) to get similar fits off.
However, on the topic of memes and general name usage? YoungBoy might have that category on lock. Everybody knows exactly what the stereotypical YoungBoy fan is like—and we all want to steer clear. RDC, the film and content collective responsible for the “Caught in 4K” meme and other classics, recently made a hilarious video parodying the dangers of being a security guard at a YB concert.
The video received 7.2 million views on X in 2 days, just another sign that we all get the joke and understand YoungBoy’s impact on fans (even if it was a playful exaggeration).
Who Has The Bigger Tour?
Another massive determining factor between artists is how well they tour. With Carti and YoungBoy both currently on the road, there’s no better time to see just how massive their fanbases really are. Carti’s Antagonist 2.0 Tour will certainly bring the Vamps out, and YoungBoy’s MASA Tour has been packing out arenas across the country. But which of the two will come out on top?
Carti’s Antagonist 2.0 Tour, supported by Opium artists Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang, kicked off on Oct. 3, 2025. And as expected, his fans are loving the nonstop raging, theatrics, and unusual approach that Carti brings to the stage—unusual as in the decision to perform “POP OUT” more than five times. The staging has become a hit as well, with some fans even recreating the tour’s set in Roblox.
YoungBoy has been completely crushing it at every single stop on the MASA tour so far. Starting on Sept. 1, 2025, YB has been on a tear, selling out multiple cities and proving how dedicated his fans are. Fan-recorded concert videos have gone viral, showing a sea of shiesty’s and shirtless YB fans matching the energy and words of the setlist. Allegedly, the MASA tour has generated 21 million dollars from 13 of its 19 stops. In a recent sitdown with Adin Ross, Young Thug even referred to Youngboy as the current Michael Jackson.
Both NBA YoungBoy and Playboi Carti are in their prime and show no signs of slowing down. Carti has the edge when it comes to streaming and musical influence, but YoungBoy could be the more household name and resonate with a wider audience of young fans. That said, when their respective tours wrap up, the revenue numbers could crown a winner for who’s the bigger live performer.
When it’s all said and done, both young superstars will go down as titans of their era. Where will they go from here? Only time will tell.
