Kendrick Lamar’s old and new content are both thriving.

Kendrick Lamar has officially joined an elite class of artists, surpassing 50 billion streams on Spotify across all credits, making him only the 14th artist in history to do so. In 2025 alone, the Compton legend has already crossed 9 billion streams, further proving his enduring influence and ability to captivate listeners across generations. This milestone reflects not only his dominance in hip-hop but also his position as one of the most impactful cultural figures of our time.

Much of Kendrick’s recent momentum can be traced back to 2024, a career-defining year that saw him both sparring with Drake in hip-hop’s biggest feud and releasing his critically acclaimed album GNX. Fans rallied behind every move, propelling him to new commercial and critical heights. That wave of energy has carried into 2025, where his music and performances continue to resonate worldwide.

This year has already been monumental for Kendrick. In February, he took home multiple Grammy Awards for “Not Like Us,” delivered a show-stopping Super Bowl halftime performance, and watched GNX become the highest-selling hip-hop album of 2025. His collaboration with SZA, “luther,” has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 and earned recognition as a strong contender for “Record of the Year,” while his GNX Tour with SZA has already broken records as the highest-grossing rap tour ever.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that both his latest releases and older catalog are thriving simultaneously. Tracks from DAMN. and hits like “All of the Stars” continue to surge in streams, while recent smashes such as “Not Like Us” and “luther” have crossed the billion-stream mark. Even “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin is approaching the same milestone. With his past and present firing on all cylinders, Kendrick Lamar’s run over the last two years stands as one of the greatest in hip-hop history.

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.