Toronto’s very own Hip Hop and R&B sensation, Drake, is among the top 5 pop stars of the 21st century according to a new ranking by Billboard.
As we careen ever closer towards 2025, acclaimed music publication, Billboard, is counting down the top 25 pop stars who’ve dominated culture in the past 25 years, or the 21st century, so far.
No surprise to anyone who’s listened to the radio in the past 15-or-so years, Aubrey Graham, better known by his stage name, Drake, has made the cut, cracking the top five and landing himself a slot in fourth place.
On top of boasting 13 number-one singles over the past quarter-century, being the most-streamed artist on Spotify both in the first decade of the app’s operation and in the 2010’s, and over 300 songs to appear on the top 100 in his career, Billboard claims that the rapper’s cultural significance could quite possibly outweigh even the stats.
“From the moment he first became a mainstream proposition in 2009, the Toronto MC widened the parameters of hip-hop stardom,” writes Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger, citing Drake’s ability to blend sounds from the fringes of the genre and his own unique style while still falling firmly within mainstream appetites as a major contributor to his success.
In Toronto, Drake’s influence — both musically and in a broader cultural sense — has led to seizmic increases in city pride, whether through his devoted support of local sports teams, supporting local businesses or unexpected appearances that keep life in the city interesting.
Drake’s in good company on the list alongside a fellow Toronto native, too; Scarborough-born singer The Weeknd pulled in an 18th-place finish on the list, with Stratford-born legend, Justin Bieber, coming in at number 8.
The top three artists — meaning, those who beat Drake — have yet to be revealed, so avid music heads will have to keep an eye trained to the publication to find out who managed to out-rank the 6ix God.
When it comes to Toronto-based talent, though, there’s no disputing that Drake is, and perhaps always will be, number one.
