Kendrick Lamar Dominates Rap Charts in 2025 Amid Drake’s Streaming Success

Kendrick Lamar has capped off a landmark year in hip-hop, holding four of the most popular rap songs in 2025, according to Billboard. The rankings, released Tuesday, place Lamar and SZA’s collaboration “Luther” at the top spot. Following closely are Lamar’s solo tracks “TV Off,” “Not Like Us,” and “Squabble Up.” He also claims the ninth spot with “Peekaboo,” underscoring his dominance in the genre.

Drake appears at number five with his single “Nokia,” highlighting the ongoing rivalry between the two artists. The remainder of the top 10 includes BigXthatPlug’s “All The Way,” Tyler, The Creator’s “Sticky,” GloRilla and Sexyy Red’s “Whatchu Kno About Me,” and Doechii’s “Denial Is a River.”

The rankings sparked conversation online after Kurrco shared the list on X, formerly Twitter. Fans debated Lamar’s influence and Drake’s potential to reclaim the crown with his upcoming album Iceman. One user wrote, “The Kendrick Lamar influence can’t be denied, he will sweep the Grammy,” while another commented, “Need Iceman to drop so Kendrick can know who the real king is.”

Apple Music also released its top songs of 2025 through its “Replay” feature, which summarizes users’ most-streamed tracks with audio and visual highlights. Drake emerged as the most-streamed artist of the year on the platform. His collaborative album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U with PartyNextDoor, released in February, produced hits including “Nokia,” “Gimme a Hug,” and “Somebody Loves Me.” Drake has continued his momentum by releasing singles for his upcoming album Iceman, such as “What Did I Miss?,” “Which One” featuring Central Cee, and “Dog House” featuring Yeat and Julia Wolf.

While Drake led overall streams, Kendrick Lamar maintained a strong presence on Apple Music. “Luther” ranked among the platform’s most-streamed singles, confirming Lamar’s ability to sustain commercial success alongside critical acclaim.

The 2025 rankings illustrate a year of competition and collaboration, with Lamar dominating the rap charts and Drake maintaining widespread streaming appeal. Both artists continue to shape the sound and direction of contemporary hip-hop, keeping fans engaged across multiple platforms.