Amid controversy, Drake hits 170 million sales

Despite a tumultuous year, Drake‘s status as a commercial juggernaut remains unshaken. The Canadian rapper, now 38, has surpassed an astonishing 170 million equivalent album sales in his career.

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The turbulent year of Drake

The year 2024 was marked by one of hip-hop’s most explosive feuds: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar. The intense back-and-forth saw Lamar arguably take the upper hand. His track Not Like Us not only dominated the charts but also settled its place alongside legendary diss songs like 2Pac’s Hit ’Em Up and Nas’ Ether.

While the track’s success hurt Drake’s pride, the real damage came from Lamar‘s brutal accusations, including allegations of cultural appropriation, sexual misconduct, and hypocrisy. These claims, coupled with the earlier leak of Drake’s nude photos on social media, severely tarnished his image. Adding insult to injury, his street credibility was ridiculed for filing a lawsuit against his own label, accusing it of promoting Not Like Us to his detriment.

All this drama coincided with a notable career milestone – or lack thereof. For the first time since 2012, Drake did not release any new project in 2024, whether a studio album, mixtape, or collaboration. Fans eagerly anticipated Hometown Love, the upcoming joint project with PartyNextDoor, but it has yet to materialize.

Drake still led all rappers in sales for the year

Despite the controversies, Drake remained the top-performing rapper of the year. With 12.11 billion streams on Spotify, he ranked as the third most-streamed artist overall, trailing only two other artists embroiled in their own controversies, Kanye West (9.67 billion) and Travis Scott (8.41 billion). Aforementioned Kendrick Lamar charted at fifth with 6.91 billion streams, while Eminem secured the fourth spot with 8.12 billion.

These results may seem surprising given the swirl of controversies, but they align with Drake‘s status as a top-tier artist. His extensive catalog of hits is deeply embedded in millions of playlists, ensuring continued traction. These are not just songs people casually listen to – they’re staples in global streaming culture. As long as listeners still enjoy his tunes, his music’s enduring popularity will overshadow the headlines.

However, his dominance showed signs of cracking. While his peers in the top five experienced significant year-over-year growth (18%-41%), Drake‘s streams dropped by nearly 2 billion, from 14.03 billion in 2023 to 12.11 billion in 2024. Although still at the top, his reign was undeniably bruised.

Second rapper to surpass 170 million album sales

Drake‘s record-breaking performance on streaming platforms over the last decade, combined with strong pure sales in his earlier years, has propelled him into the upper echelon of the best selling artists ever.

Just yesterday, Billboard ranked him as the second-biggest artist of the 21st century, behind Taylor Swift and ahead of Eminem. Predictably, this led to sensationalist headlines proclaiming Drake as the “biggest rapper since 2000.”

It’s worth noting that Billboard bases these rankings on US chart performance, not global sales. While the title “Drake is the rapper with the most U.S. chart points since 2000” may be accurate, it lacks the same clickbait appeal.

Nonetheless, Drake‘s global achievements are indisputable. Surpassing 170 million equivalent album sales places him ahead of legends like Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, and Billy Joel. Among all artists, he ranks 21st; among solo male artists, 8th; and among rappers, 2nd – trailing only Eminem. Below is the top five of latter list.

The best selling rappers of all-time (EAS = Equivalent Album Sales)

Can Drake catch Eminem in sales?

While Drake reigned supreme in the 2010s, Eminem was the undisputed king of the 2000s. Even today, Eminem’s catalog remains a global force. In the US, Drake has overtaken Eminem in sales, but worldwide, the latter’s influence remains unmatched.

The numbers reveal a daunting gap: Drake still trails Eminem by nearly 55 million equivalent album sales. That’s significant – but not insurmountable. Drake currently adds nearly 20 million sales per year, compared to Eminem‘s 12 million. At this pace, Drake could theoretically close the gap within seven years.

However, this projection comes with caveats. For Drake, at 38, maintaining his current performances will become increasingly difficult as age and controversy weigh on his career. By contrast, Eminem’s catalog shows remarkable stability, benefiting from a legacy bolstered by nostalgia and consistent appeal across generations.

This is where Drake’s feud with Kendrick Lamar could leave a lasting mark. The conflict adds immense pressure to Drake’s next release, which will serve as both a musical statement and a test of his resilience. If initial numbers fall short, media backlash could snowball, damaging his long-term standing and curbing his ability to stay in the top tier of global sellers.

What’s next for Drake?

Even if catching Eminem proves elusive, Drake is on track to break the monumental 200 million sales barrier within a couple of years. This would further solidify his place in music history, elevating him among the industry’s most elite.

Drake also has a strong chance of entering the all-time top 10 best-selling artists. Frank Sinatra, currently ranked 8th with 234 million sales, faces stiff competition in the coming years. Taylor Swift, Eminem, and eventually Drake are all poised to surpass him, reshaping the rankings of music’s greatest legends.

For now, though, Drake remains a formidable force. His catalog’s enduring popularity and his ability to weather storms – whether personal or professional – ensure that he’ll stay relevant in an ever-changing landscape. The next chapter of his career will be a pivotal moment for the Canadian superstar.

How to keep track of album sales and streaming data

If you would like to keep track of these statistics all year long, use ChartMasters’ tools to search for extensive detailed data about an artist’s success and reach. Streaming data, which now accounts for the majority of sales, is updated daily.