Throughout the years, hip-hop stars like Drake, Uzi, and K. Dot have dropped record-breaking projects that have changed their careers for the better. However, only a handful of albums have been successful enough to reach the billionaire high club, racking up mileage on streaming services in the 10-figure range. One song with a billion streams is multi-platinum worthy, but a project with multiple billion streamed songs is a first-class accomplishment.
Below, we’re breaking down the eight rap albums with the most songs over one billion streams on Spotify.
’17’ by XXXTentacion (2017)
- — “Jocelyn Flores” 2.2 billion streams
- — “Everyone Dies In Their Nightmares” 1.6 billion streams
- — “Revenge” 1.5 billion streams
- — “Fuck Love” 1.7 billion streams
XXXTentacion solidified himself in rap history before his untimely passing in 2018. The year before, he released his first studio album, 17, with tracks that changed the emo rap game. He only had one feature from fellow emo rapper Trippie Redd on “F*ck Love.” Nevertheless, he still made a major impact on the charts.
The album originally debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and officially went three times platinum in 2023.
“I stayed in the studio for a whole week straight no sleep making f****** 17. I only got one break while making that,” the rapper shared about his creation process.
The hard work certainly paid off, according to his fans. “Overall, 17 by XXXTentacion is a deeply personal and poignant album that showcases the rapper’s talent and artistic vision. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate raw emotion and introspection in their music will find this album to be a standout in his discography,” Album of the Year user RobiGrim said in their 2024 review.
‘?’ by XXXTentacion (2018)
- — “Moonlight” 1.9 billion streams
- — “SAD!” 2.2 billion streams
- — “Changes” 1.4 billion streams
- — “Hope” 1.5 billion streams
The next year, XXXTentacion released his second studio album for those to cry or create a mosh pit. With features from rock legends like Travis Barker to fellow peers like the late PnB Rock, he put out another classic album for his devoted fanbase.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and officially went five times platinum in May 2023.
According to his 2018 interview with Adam22, XXXTentacion took a whole new approach to creating this album compared to 17.
“I put hella good energy into that shit… With 17, people actually don’t know that that album was so rushed because I took such a heavy hand in production and it was very different than this one. This one was very critiqued and we really sat over this one … It’s not comparable at all to the last one,” he said in the interview.
‘Scorpion’ by Drake (2018)
- — “Nonstop” 1.1 billion streams
- — “God’s Plan” 2.6 billion streams
- — “Nice For What” 1.3 billion streams
- — “In My Feelings” 1.4 billion streams
Drake came out ready to strike (and reveal his child to the world) when he dropped Scorpion. He had features from GOATs like Jay-Z and Michael Jackson (his vocals were featured on the song “Don’t Matter to Me”).
Drake earned his eighth number-one album with the project and multiple other achievements, including “the biggest week of 2018 for an album and the biggest streaming week ever for an album.” The album was officially marked seven times platinum in 2023.
However, he had to fight back years later against critics saying that the project was his worst album. In the comments of a 2023 clip from the Shots Taken Podcast, where they discuss the album’s weak points, Drizzy mentioned all the bangers Scorpion has to offer.
Some listeners are on team Drake when it comes to the overall album. “This album hella overhated. Disc 1 is great. There’s a couple skips, but most of the songs are bangers. The highs are very high, and the lows aren’t OFFENSIVELY low. Overall it’s really solid, and if it was released by itself, it’d prolly be one of my favorite Drake albums,” Album of the Year user Puffin said in a 2024 post.
The Eminem Show by Eminem (2002)
- — “Without Me” 2.3 billion streams
- — “Superman” 1 billion streams
- — “Till I Collapse” 2 billion streams
The Eminem Show was the rapper’s fourth studio album with plenty of features from rap’s elite, from Nate Dogg to Dr. Dre. However, the project was made even more special, with Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade also being featured. The project debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and hit the 12x platinum achievement in 2022.
Eminem pulled inspiration from the Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show.
“I was watching some interviews that I had did back last year, and I was talking about how my life is kind of like The Jerry Springer Show and my life is like a show and this and that. And I just hit me like, ‘Huh, why not? The Eminem Show,’” he posted on Instagram.
For fans, it is seen as a classic project from the rapper. In a 2o24 post, Album of the Year user Domcactus said the album’s lyrical content on social commentary, complex family relationships, and identity, amplified by the skits, made it a “tremendous ‘album’ experience.”
‘DAMN.’ by Kendrick Lamar (2017)
- — “DNA.” 1.2 billion streams
- — “HUMBLE.” 2.3 billion streams
- — “LOVE. FEAT. ZACARI.” 1.4 billion streams
The DAMN. album not only earned K. Dot a Pulitzer prize in 2018 but brought tons of new fans to further support his music. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and all 14 songs ranked on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a 2017 Beats 1 interview after the album was released, Kendrick explained the difference between this new album and the previous To Pimp a Butterfly.
“TPAB [was] the idea of changing the world and how we approach things” while “DAMN. [is] the idea of: ‘I can’t change the world until I change myself.’ So when you listen to records like ‘PRIDE.,’ ‘HUMBLE.,’ ‘LUST.,’ and ‘LOVE.,’ these are all just human emotions and me looking in the mirror and coming to grips with them,” Lamar said in the interview.
His vulnerability paid off in the long run for fans.
“DAMN. is Kendrick’s most polarizing album to date because of how cryptic he seems on it, over-hated by listeners and lauded by critics … The dichotomy is clear as day, wickedness or weakness? Good or bad? […] He places his darkest fears, deepest desires and greatest achievements under a microscope like never before, implying that he’s imperfect and a work in progress,” Album of the Year user JaseW said in a 2020 post.
‘Luv is Rage 2’ by Lil Uzi Vert (2017)
- — “The Way Life Goes (feat. Oh Wonder)” 1 billion streams
- — “XO Tour Llif3” 2.2 billion streams
- — “20 Min” 1.1 billion streams
The long-awaited album from Lil Uzi Vert provided the bangers and moody tunes that his fanbase had been craving. He had plenty of support from big names like The Weeknd, Oh Wonder, and production master Pharrell Williams.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and, as of May 2023, spent 300 weeks on the chart. The project also went two times platinum in 2019.
Speaking about the project in a 2017 interview with MTV News, Uzi said, “It’s not as hard as you think, but finding samples and right sounds, that’s the hard part. I don’t have patience. That’s why I get behind the mic. But playing with the 808s and the drums, that’s me.”
“Luv Is Rage 2, the sequel to the tape, is Uzi’s mainstream and studio debut album, with some of his most polished work yet that perfectly depicts his colorful persona and style, as well as more singing tracks that i hoped for,” Album of the Year user Scre4meh said in a 2020 post.
‘Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon’ (2020) by Pop Smoke
- — “For The Night (feat. Lil Baby and DaBaby)” 1.1 billion streams
- — “What You Know Bout Love” 1.1 billion streams
- — “Dior – Bonus” – 1.1 billion streams
The album was released in July 2020, months after Pop Smoke was unfortunately killed in February of that year. Numerous rappers came out to support the rising star, including Quavo, Roddy Ricch, and 50 Cent (who also executive-produced the album).
The album broke the record for most weeks at number one on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums Chart in 2021 (clocking 20 non-consecutive weeks) and still receives love from fans today.
“The album’s stacked feature and production list showcase his masterful flows perfectly. Future, Lil Baby, DaBaby, and Quavo (on multiple tracks) contrast so well against Smoke’s vocals, reinforcing how tragic it is that a rapper less than a year older than myself was killed before he could truly show the world his creativity,” Album of the Year user DCCXX said in a 2020 post.
Pop Smoke’s effect on the drill scene is still being felt today and is treasured by his forever fanbase.
