There’s nothing better than making money on your year off.

Kendrick Lamar has officially surpassed 11 billion Spotify streams in 2025 across all credits, marking the first time in his career he’s reached this milestone.

In the process, Kendrick has proven that more isn’t always better. After a massive 2024 powered by the dominance of “Not Like Us” and his GNX album producing major hits like “tv off” and “luther,” Lamar was largely absent in 2025, opting only for select feature appearances on projects from artists like Playboi Carti and Clipse. Still, his presence was undeniable.

Rather than new releases, Kendrick dominated the year through his catalog. Tracks from GNX continued to thrive, while his megasmash “All The Stars” with SZA and classics from DAMN. and good kid, m.A.A.d city experienced major streaming surges, reinforcing the longevity of his work.

And 2025 wasn’t exactly quiet. Kendrick embarked on the GNX Tour, one of the most successful hip-hop tours of all time, performed at the most-watched Super Bowl in history, and won a Grammy early in the year. However you look at it, Kendrick Lamar shined bright. And yes, Drake also had the best year of his career in terms of Spotify streams. Don’t you just love it when both parties win?

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.