It might be time to crown Abel, guys.
You know what always made me laugh during the peak of the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef? That no one talked about the real rivalry—Drake vs. The Weeknd. Two of the biggest Canadian artists in music history, both wildly successful, both culture-defining—but while Drake may have the bigger catalog and a tighter grip on pop culture, The Weeknd has been racking up mind-blowing numbers of his own. Case in point: Starboy.
According to Spotify’s latest data, Starboy has officially become the most streamed album by a Black artist in the platform’s history—racking up an insane 17 billion streams and counting. Leading the charge is the album’s title track, “Starboy,” which has amassed 3.9 billion streams. That’s followed by “Die For You” with 2.8 billion, and the fan-favorite “Stargirl Interlude” with 1.3 billion.
The Weeknd's 'Starboy' becomes the first album by a Black artist to surpass 17 BILLION streams on Spotify ?
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) June 17, 2025
It's the most streamed English-speaking album ever — and the 2nd most streamed album in Spotify history. pic.twitter.com/ax7qde7Ekj
It’s not just a win for The Weeknd—it’s a moment in music history.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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