Drake Beats Kendrick Lamar to Major Spotify Milestone, but Kendrick Holds Strong in Another Category

Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s ongoing rivalry continues to capture the attention of the hip-hop world, and while Kendrick may have emerged victorious in their high-profile battle, Drake is still claiming significant victories in the streaming world. The two rap titans have often been compared and contrasted, with their musical differences adding fuel to the fire of their competition.

In 2025, Drake secured a monumental win, albeit by a narrow margin, when he became the first rapper to hit one billion streams on Spotify. Though Kendrick Lamar reached the same milestone just two days later, it was Drake who narrowly beat him to the punch, hitting the billion mark in 27 days compared to Kendrick’s 29. This achievement solidifies Drake’s massive presence in the streaming era, a platform he has helped dominate for years.

Despite this streaming success, Kendrick is no slouch himself. In January 2025, Lamar claimed the title of the most monthly listeners on Spotify, racking up an impressive 81 million, while Drake followed closely behind with 73 million. It’s clear that both artists continue to enjoy immense popularity and remain at the top of their game, even as they push their creative boundaries.

Kai Cenat Reflects on the Battle

Amid the ongoing tension between Drake and Kendrick, streamer Kai Cenat recently revisited their rap feud, calling it one of the most exciting moments of his career. During a candid conversation with Billboard, Cenat reflected on the sheer buzz and excitement surrounding the back-and-forth between the two rappers.

Cenat, who has a solid connection with Drake, was quick to show his admiration for Kendrick’s lyrical prowess, admitting that despite his friendship with Drizzy, he believed Kendrick won the battle. He expressed how much fun he had during the week of the beef, noting how his streaming numbers spiked as fans flocked to his platform to hear his reactions to the diss tracks.

“That was the most fun experience I’ve had,” Cenat shared. “I was literally hopping on stream and had like 60,000 viewers. As soon as they dropped, my shit was spiked to like 100,000. It was a good week. Everybody had their opinions.”

Cenat was also quick to appreciate the overall significance of the moment, highlighting the back-to-back releases from both artists and how it dominated the conversation in hip-hop for weeks.

Drake’s Legal Battles Amid the Beef

In an unexpected turn of events, Cenat’s name was recently mentioned in a defamation lawsuit filed by Drake against Universal Music Group (UMG), the rapper’s longtime record label. The suit claims that UMG removed copyright restrictions from Kendrick’s diss track “Not Like Us” on YouTube and Twitch, which allegedly allowed the song to spread rapidly and with defamatory intent. Cenat’s video reaction to the track was referenced in the lawsuit, which led to some confusion on his part.

Upon learning that his name was involved, Cenat was initially bewildered, asking his viewers, “Wait, why am I in this shit?! Wait, hold on! I’m getting sued?” However, after reading through the details, Cenat realized that he wasn’t the target of the suit but was simply mentioned in relation to how the track’s content spread across platforms. His reaction to the situation was a mix of confusion and relief, as he jokingly clarified that he wasn’t being sued.

“Wait, I’m good! I’m alright! So he’s just using us as examples of spreading misinformation type shit?” he said, noting that all of his content related to the beef was monetized.

The Ongoing Rivalry

While Drake and Kendrick continue to top charts and rack up impressive milestones, their rivalry remains a defining narrative in hip-hop. For Drake, his one-billion-stream achievement on Spotify highlights his incredible reach and relevance in the modern music landscape, while Kendrick’s record-breaking monthly listeners underscore his continued cultural influence.

Both artists are undeniably at the top of their game, with their respective fanbases fiercely loyal. But as Cenat’s reflection on the battle reveals, it’s the moments of tension and competition between these two stars that elevate the stakes of their careers, keeping fans on the edge of their seats for what’s next.

Whether Drake is narrowly edging out Kendrick in the streaming race or Kendrick is dominating with more monthly listeners, one thing is clear: this is a rivalry that is far from over. And with both artists continuing to release chart-topping music, their dominance in the streaming world is likely to persist for years to come.