For more than a decade, the global rap throne has had one constant occupant, and 2025 proved no different.
For the 11th consecutive year, Drake has finished as the world’s best-selling rapper, reinforcing his status as one of the most commercially dominant artists of the streaming era.
The recognition comes from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), whose annual rankings measure worldwide music consumption across physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming platforms. In the 2025 IFPI Global Artist Chart, Drake placed third overall, trailing only Taylor Swift and K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids — making him the highest-ranking rapper on the planet once again.
What makes the milestone even more striking is that Drake achieved it without dropping a major solo album in 2025. Instead, his dominance was fueled by relentless collaborations, strategic features, and a catalogue packed with enduring hits that continue to rack up streams worldwide. In the process, he outpaced fellow rap heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, and Eminem in annual global consumption.
The IFPI rankings go beyond traditional album sales. They aggregate total listening activity from fans across continents — meaning artists with strong daily streams and evergreen appeal often dominate. Few embody that formula better than Drake.
His streaming supremacy reached another historic marker in early 2026 when he became the first artist ever to have 300 songs surpass 100 million streams on Spotify — a staggering testament to both volume and longevity. It’s not just about chart-topping singles; it’s about a catalogue that continues to thrive years after release.
By seamlessly blending rap, R&B, and pop — and maintaining a constant presence through features and surprise drops — Drake has adapted effortlessly to the evolving music economy. As 2026 unfolds, he stands not only as the best-selling rapper worldwide for an 11th straight year, but as a defining force of the global streaming generation.
With anticipation building for his forthcoming solo project, ICEMAN, the question isn’t whether Drake can stay relevant — it’s just how much higher he can raise the bar.
