Kendrick Lamar leads the pack—twice—while Playboi Carti, Doechii, and Tyler, The Creator round out a stacked top five.

Spotify’s mid-year streaming stats are in, and it’s very interesting. Kendrick Lamar stands tall at the top—and bottom—of the top 5 list, proving once again that his catalog is as timeless as it is trendsetting. His newest project GNX leads the charge with a staggering 2.4 billion streams, securing the No. 1 spot with ease. The album showcases more of a laidback, carefree version of Kendrick who is more focused on making hits than playing prophet. But what’s even more impressive is that DAMN., his 2017 classic, still commands enough attention to land at No. 5 with 1.0 billion streams, showing that the Pulitzer Prize-winning album continues to resonate.

Coming in at No. 4 is Doechii’s breakthrough album Alligator Bites Never Heal, which has racked up 1.2 billion streams. The album has a good mix of underdog vibes, hits, and genre-bending music that all kinds of hip-hop fans will appreciate. Tied with her at No. 3 is CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, The Creator—another genre-bending masterpiece that continues Tyler’s evolution into one of the most boundary-pushing artists in music today.

Playboi Carti’s MUSIC takes the No. 2 spot with 1.6 billion streams, cementing his place as one of the most polarizing—and streamed—figures in rap. His cryptic lyrics and punk-infused rage beats offer a visceral experience that continues to galvanize his ever-growing cult fanbase. Despite its avant-garde nature, the project has found massive success, showing that Carti’s risk-taking is paying off.

At the top, though, it’s Kendrick Lamar’s world. GNX hasn’t just dominated the charts—it’s shifted the conversation. With its Cali vibes, futuristic palette, and Kendrick’s signature razor-sharp delivery, it’s no surprise the album has surged to 2.4 billion Spotify streams already. When you combine that with DAMN.‘s ongoing success, it’s clear that Kendrick isn’t just having a great year—he’s having a historic one.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.