From Jay-Z’s iconic Empire State of Mind to Fetty Wap’s massive hit Trap Queen to Post Malone’s genre-blending Sunflower, rap has always been a genre that moves at the speed of light, constantly evolving and producing new superstars. The 2010s were no exception, as the decade saw a wave of fresh talent storm the charts and change the game forever (for instance household names like Drake, Nicki, Big Sean, and Future, among many others, charted for the first time). But who were the cream of the crop? The ones who left their mark and cemented their place in rap history? Well, buckle up rap fans, because we’ve got the answer!
Alright folks, it’s time to find out who really ran the charts during the 2010s in the rap game! Using a point-based ranking system, we’ve scoured the charts, analyzed the numbers, and listened to the lyrics to bring you the definitive list of the top 25 rap artists of the 2010s based on data. From innovative newcomers to veteran heavyweights, these are the artists who dominated the decade and earned their place at the top and did it throughout the entire decade.
We took a deep dive into the Billboard Hot 100, the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and other key music charts to see which artists made the most noise. We counted their entries, checked their peak positions, and used a secret point-based system to crown the chart-topping champions.
The Top 25 Rap Artists of the 2010s
So, sit back, grab some popcorn, and get ready to find out who really had the golden touch when it came to hit-making in the rap world during the 2010s! Here are the top 25 rap artists of the 2010s decade and their points:
- Drake – 5868 Points
- Lil Wayne – 2446 Points
- Nicki Minaj – 2064 Points
- Post Malone – 1576 Points
- Big Sean – 1123 Points
- Kanye West – 1038 Points
- Future – 949 Points
- Chris Brown – 909 Points
- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – 898 Points
- Swae Lee – 895 Points
- Pitbull – 887 Points
- Rick Ross – 877 Points
- Jay-Z – 874 Points
- Wiz Khalifa – 858 Points
- Quavo – 823 Points
- Rihanna – 816 Points
- Eminem – 744 Points
- Cardi B – 733 Points
- 2 Chainz – 715 Points
- Fetty Wap – 672 Points
- Offset – 665 Points
- J. Cole – 641 Points
- DJ Khaled – 637 Points
- Travis Scott – 610 Points
- Kendrick Lamar – 608 Points
Each Artist, Their Top Year, Top Songs, and More
1) Drake – See Drake’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2010
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): BedRock (Young Money featuring Lloyd, Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, and Jae Millz)
Decade Score: 10/10 (only Drake and Nicki Minaj went 10 for 10 in the 2010s)
Potency Score: 5.9
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #1 (of 55) – BedRock (Young Money featuring Lloyd, Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, and Jae Millz)
- 2011: #1 (of 50) – I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
- 2012: #1 (of 52) – The Motto (Drake featuring Lil Wayne)
- 2013: #2 (of 54) – Started From The Bottom (Drake)
- 2014: #3 (of 62) – Believe Me (Lil Wayne featuring Drake)
- 2015: #2 (of 58) – Hotline Bling (Drake)
- 2016: #1 (of 68) – Too Good (Drake featuring Rihanna)
- 2017: #18 (of 63) – Fake Love (Drake)
- 2018: #1 (of 55) – God’s Plan (Drake)
- 2019: #5 (of 54) – Sicko Mode (Travis Scott featuring Drake)
2) Lil Wayne
Best Year Based on Score: 2011
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
Decade Score: 9/10
Potency Score: 5.9
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #2 (of 55) – Right Above It (Lil Wayne featuring Drake)
- 2011: #2 (of 50) – I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
- 2012: #4 (of 52) – The Motto (Drake featuring Lil Wayne)
- 2013: #13 (of 54) – Love Me (Lil Wayne featuring Drake and Future)
- 2014: #17 (of 62) – Believe Me (Lil Wayne featuring Drake)
- 2015: #5 (of 58) – Only (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown
- 2016: #15 (of 68) – Sucker For Pain (Imagine Dragons featuring Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, and X Ambassadors)
- 2017: #10 (of 63) – I’m The One (DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil Wayne)
- 2018: #36 (of 55) – Mona Lisa (Lil Wayne featuring Kendrick Lamar)
- 2019: DNR (Did Not Rank)
3) Nicki Minaj – See Nicki’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2011
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Moment 4 Life (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
Decade Score: 10/10 (only Drake and Nicki Minaj went 10 for 10 in the 2010s)
Potency Score: 5.5
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #3 (of 55) – Your Love (Nicki Minaj)
- 2011: #3 (of 50) – Moment 4 Life (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
- 2012: #6 (of 52) – Make Me Proud (Drake featuring Nicki Minaj)
- 2013: #47 (of 54) – Tapout (Rich Gang featuring Lil Wayne, Birdman, Future, Mack Maine, and Nicki Minaj)
- 2014: #7 (of 62) – Anaconda (Nicki Minaj)
- 2015: #3 (of 58) – Only (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown)
- 2016: #14 (of 68) – Down In The DM (Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj)
- 2017: #23 (of 63) – Rake It Up (Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj)
- 2018: #10 (of 55) – FEFE (6ix9ine featuring Nicki Minaj and Murda Beatz)
- 2019: #33 (of 54) – Hot Girl Summer (Megan Thee Stallion featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign)
4) Post Malone – See Posty’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2019
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Psycho (Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
Decade Score: 5/10
Potency Score: 6.3
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: #37 (of 58) – White Iverson (Post Malone)
- 2016: #30 (of 68) – White Iverson (Post Malone)
- 2017: #4 (of 63) – Congratulations (Post Malone featuring Quavo)
- 2018: #2 (of 55) – Psycho (Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
- 2019: #1 (of 54) – Sunflower (Post Malone featuring Swae Lee)
5) Big Sean
Best Year Based on Score: 2012
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Mercy (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
Decade Score: 8/10
Potency Score: 5.5
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: #7 (of 50) – My Last (Big Sean featuring Chris Brown)
- 2012: #5 (of 52) – Mercy (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
- 2013: #27 (of 54) – All Me (Drake featuring 2 Chainz and Big Sean)
- 2014: #19 (of 62) – I Don’t F**k With You (Big Sean featuring E-40)
- 2015: #10 (of 58) – I Don’t F**k With You (Big Sean featuring E-40)
- 2016: #63 (of 68) – Back Up (DeJ Loaf featuring Big Sean)
- 2017: #24 (of 63) – Bounce Back (Big Sean)
- 2018: #51 (of 55) – Big Bank (YG featuring 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Nicki Minaj)
- 2019: DNR
6) Kanye West
Best Year Based on Score: 2012
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Mercy (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
Decade Score: 8/10
Potency Score: 5.3
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #39 (of 55) – Forever (Drake featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem)
- 2011: #4 (of 50) – All Of The Lights (Kanye West)
- 2012: #3 (of 52) – Mercy (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
- 2013: #38 (of 54) – Clique (Kanye West featuring Jay-Z and Big Sean)
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: #41 (of 58) – All Day (Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom, and Paul McCartney)
- 2016: #22 (of 6) – Pop Style (Drake featuring Jay-Z & Kanye West)
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: #33 (of 55) – I Love It (Kanye West featuring Lil Pump)
- 2019: #36 (of 54) – Follow God (Kanye West)
7) Future
Best Year Based on Score: 2016
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Low Life (Future featuring The Weeknd)
Decade Score: 9/10
Potency Score: 4.6
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: #31 (of 50) – Racks (YC featuring Future)
- 2012: #36 (of 52) – Turn On The Lights (Future)
- 2013: #11 (of 54) – Love Me (Lil Wayne featuring Drake and Future)
- 2014: #36 (of 62) – Move That Doh (Future featuring Pharrell, Pusha T, and Casino)
- 2015: #19 (of 58) – Jumpman (Drake and Future)
- 2016: #2 (of 68) – Low Life (Future featuring The Weeknd)
- 2017: #15 (of 63) – Mask Off (Future)
- 2018: #44 (of 55) – King’s Dead (Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar featuring Future and James Blake)
- 2019: #52 (of 54) – Die For Me (Post Malone featuring Future and Halsey)
8) Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Best Year Based on Score: 2013
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Thrift Shop (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)
Decade Score: 4/10
Potency Score: 7.3 (highest potency score of top 25)
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: #39 (of 52) – Thrift Shop (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)
- 2013: #1 (of 54) – Thrift Shop (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)
- 2014: #30 (of 62) – White Walls (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring ScHoolboy Q and Hollis)
- 2015: #24 (of 58) – Downtown (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz)
- 2016: DNR
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: DNR
9) Swae Lee
Best Year Based on Score: 2019
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Sunflower (Post Malone featuring Swae Lee)
Decade Score: 6/10
Potency Score: 6.2
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: #23 (of 62) – No Type (Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi)
- 2015: #17 (of 58) – No Type (Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi)
- 2016: #23 (of 68) – Black Beatles (Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi featuring Gucci Mane)
- 2017: #6 (of 63) – Unforgettable (French Montana featuring Swae Lee)
- 2018: #32 (of 55) – Sunflower (Post Malone featuring Swae Lee)
- 2019: #4 (of 54) – Sunflower (Post Malone featuring Swae Lee)
10) Pitbull – See Pitbull’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2014
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Timber (Pitbull featuring Ke$ha)
Decade Score: 6/10
Potency Score: 6.1
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #54 (of 55) – Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor) (Pitbull featuring T-Pain)
- 2011: #15 (of 50) – Give Me Everything (Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer)
- 2012: #42 (of 52) – Don’t Stop The Party (Pitbull featuring TJR)
- 2013: #6 (of 54) – Feel This Moment (Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera)
- 2014: #2 (of 62) – Timber (Pitbull featuring Ke$ha)
- 2015: #11 (of 58) – Time Of Our Lives (Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo)
- 2016: DNR
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: DNR
11) Jay-Z
Best Year Based on Score: 2013
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Holy Grail (Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake)
Decade Score: 8/10
Potency Score: 5.7
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #19 (of 55) – Empire State Of Mind (Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys)
- 2011: #11 (of 50) – Ni**as in Paris (Jay-Z and Kanye West)
- 2012: #7 (of 52) – Ni**as in Paris (Jay-Z and Kanye West)
- 2013: #5 (of 54) – Holy Grail (Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake)
- 2014: #44 (of 62) – Holy Grail (Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake)
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #11 (of 68) – Pop Style (Drake featuring Jay-Z and Kanye West)
- 2017: #54 (of 63) – The Story Of O.J. (Jay-Z)
- 2018: #44 (of 55) – Apes**t (Jay-Z and Beyonce)
- 2019: DNR
12) Chris Brown
Best Year Based on Score: 2011
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Look At Me Now (Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes)
Decade Score: 7/10
Potency Score: 5.3
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #47 (of 55) – Make A Movie (Twista featuring Chris Brown)
- 2011: #5 (of 50) – Look At Me Now (Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes)
- 2012: #30 (of 52) – Another Round (Fat Joe featuring Chris Brown)
- 2013: #53 (of 54) – Show Me (Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown)
- 2014: #8 (of 62) – Show Me (Kid Ink featuring Chris Brown)
- 2015: #9 (of 58) – Only (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown)
- 2016: #52 (of 68) – Do You Mind (DJ Khaled featuring Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, August Alsina, Jeremih, Future, and Rick Ross)
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: DNR
13) Wiz Khalifa – See Wiz’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2015
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): See You Again (Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth)
Decade Score: 7/10
Potency Score: 6.3
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #40 (of 55) – Black And Yellow (Wiz Khalifa)
- 2011: #10 (of 50) – Black And Yellow (Wiz Khalifa)
- 2012: #22 (of 52) – Work Hard, Play Hard (Wiz Khalifa)
- 2013: #19 (of 54) – 23 (Mike WiLL Made-It featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, and Juicy J)
- 2014: #18 (of 62) – 23 (Mike WiLL Made-It featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, and Juicy J)
- 2015: #6 (of 58) – See You Again (Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth)
- 2016: #16 (of 68) – Sucker For Pain (Imagine Dragons featuring Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, and X Ambassadors)
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: DNR
14) Rick Ross
Best Year Based on Score: 2011
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
Decade Score: 7/10
Potency Score: 5.1
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #12 (of 55) – Aston Martin Music (Rick Ross featuring Drake and Chrisette Michele)
- 2011: #6 (of 50) – I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
- 2012: #11 (of 52) – Pop That (French Montana featuring Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne)
- 2013: #27 (of 54) – U.O.E.N.O. (Rocko featuring Future and Rick Ross)
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #46 (of 68) – Purple Lamborghini (Skrillex featuring Rick Ross)
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: #53 (of 55) – What’s Free (Meek Mill featuring Rick Ross and Jay-Z)
- 2019: #15 (of 54) – Money In The Grave (Drake featuring Rick Ross)
15) Quavo
Best Year Based on Score: 2017
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): I’m The One (DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil Wayne)
Decade Score: 4/10
Potency Score: 5.2
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #47 (of 68) – Pick Up The Phone (Young Thug featuring Travis Scott and Quavo)
- 2017: #1 (of 63) – I’m The One (DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil Wayne)
- 2018: #10 (of 55) – Stir Fry (Takeoff, Quavo, and Offset)
- 2019: #34 (of 54) – Pure Water (Mustard featuring Takeoff, Quavo, and Offset)
16) Rihanna – See Rihanna’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2014
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): The Monster (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
Decade Score: 7/10
Potency Score: 6.4
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #14 (of 55) – Love The Way You Lie (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
- 2011: #43 (of 50) – Fly (Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna)
- 2012: #16 (of 52) – Take Care (Drake featuring Rihanna)
- 2013: #14 (of 54) – Bad (Wale featuring Tiara Thomas or Rihanna)
- 2014: #12 (of 62) – The Monster (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #8 (of 68) – Too Good (Drake featuring Rihanna)
- 2017: #41 (of 63) – Loyalty. (Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna)
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: DNR
17) Eminem – See Em’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2014
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): The Monster (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
Decade Score: 9/10
Potency Score: 5.7
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #10 (of 55) – Love The Way You Lie (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
- 2011: #33 (of 50) – Lighters (Eminem and Royce Da 5’9″ featuring Bruno Mars)
- 2012: #48 (of 52) – My Life (50 Cent featuring Eminem and Adam Levine)
- 2013: #7 (of 54) – Berzerk (Eminem)
- 2014: #6 (of 62) – The Monster (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
- 2015: #54 (of 58) – Phenomenal (Eminem)
- 2016: DNR
- 2017: #44 (of 63) – Walk On Water (Eminem featuring Beyonce)
- 2018: #36 (of 55) – Killshot (Eminem)
- 2019: #40 (of 54) – Homicide (Logic featuring Eminem)
18) Cardi B – See Cardi’s Artist of the Decade Article
Best Year Based on Score: 2018
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): I Like It (Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin)
Decade Score: 3/10
Potency Score: 5.7
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: DNR
- 2017: #8 (of 63) – Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) (Cardi B)
- 2018: #3 (of 55) – I Like It (Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin)
- 2019: #13 (of 54) – Please Me (Cardi B featuring Bruno Mars)
19) 2 Chainz
Best Year Based on Score: 2012
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Mercy (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
Decade Score: 5/10
Potency Score: 4.6
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: #2 (of 52) – Mercy (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
- 2013: #9 (of 54) – F**kin Problems (A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar)
- 2014: #29 (of 62) – All Me (Drake featuring 2 Chainz and Big Sean)
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #63 (of 68) – No Problem (Chance The Rapper featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz)
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: #54 (of 55) – Big Bank (YG featuring 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Nicki Minaj)
- 2019: DNR
20) Fetty Wap
Best Year Based on Score: 2015
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Trap Queen (Fetty Wap)
Decade Score: 2/10
Potency Score: 6.3
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: #1 (of 58) – Trap Queen (Fetty Wap)
- 2016: #29 (of 68) – 679 (Fetty Wap featuring Remy Boyz )
- 2017: DNR
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: DNR
21) Offset
Best Year Based on Score: 2018
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): ZEZE (Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott and Offset)
Decade Score: 4/10
Potency Score: 4.8
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #60 (of 68) – Bad And Boujee (Takeoff, Quavo, and Offset featuring Lil Uzi Vert)
- 2017: #2 (of 63) – Bad And Boujee (Takeoff, Quavo, and Offset featuring Lil Uzi Vert)
- 2018: #4 (of 55) – ZEZE (Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott and Offset)
- 2019: #21 (of 54) – ZEZE (Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott and Offset)
22) J. Cole
Best Year Based on Score: 2013
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Power Trip (J. Cole featuring Miguel)
Decade Score: 7/10
Potency Score: 4.8
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: #27 (of 50) – Work Out (J. Cole)
- 2012: #10 (of 52) – Nobody’s Perfect (J. Cole featuring Missy Elliott)
- 2013: #13 (of 54) – Power Trip (J. Cole featuring Miguel)
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: #56 (of 58) – Apparently (J. Cole)
- 2016: # DNR
- 2017: #37 (of 63) – Deja Vu (J. Cole)
- 2018: #38 (of 55) – ATM (J. Cole)
- 2019: #11 (of 54) – Middle Child (J. Cole)
23) DJ Khaled
Best Year Based on Score: 2011
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
Decade Score: 7/10
Potency Score: 6.1
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: #36 (of 55) – All I Do Is Win (DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Rick Ross)
- 2011: #8 (of 50) – I’m On One (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
- 2012: #35 (of 52) – Take It To The Head (DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne)
- 2013: #52 (of 54) – No New Friends (SFTB Remix) (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: #9 (of 68) – For Free (DJ Khaled featuring Drake)
- 2017: #12 (of 63) – I’m The One (DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil Wayne)
- 2018: DNR
- 2019: #45 (of 54) – Wish Wish (DJ Khaled featuring Cardi B and 21 Savage)
24) Travis Scott
Best Year Based on Score: 2019
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): Sicko Mode (Travis Scott featuring Drake)
Decade Score: 5/10
Potency Score: 5.8
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: DNR
- 2013: DNR
- 2014: DNR
- 2015: #35 (of 58) – Antidote (Travis Scott)
- 2016: #28 (of 68) – Antidote (Travis Scott)
- 2017: #42 (of 63) – Portland (Drake featuring Quavo and Travis Scott)
- 2018: #5 (of 55) – Sicko Mode (Travis Scott featuring Drake)
- 2019: #6 (of 54) – Sicko Mode (Travis Scott featuring Drake)
25) Kendrick Lamar
Best Year Based on Score: 2017
Biggest Song for Best Year (Score): HUMBLE. (Kendrick Lamar)
Decade Score: 5/10
Potency Score: 4.9
Year by Year Rank (and Biggest Song from Each Year):
- 2010: DNR
- 2011: DNR
- 2012: #31 (of 52) – Swimming Pools (Drank) (Kendrick Lamar)
- 2013: #8 (of 54) – F**kin Problems (A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar)
- 2014: #51 (of 62) – i (Kendrick Lamar)
- 2015: DNR
- 2016: DNR
- 2017: #7 (of 63) – HUMBLE. (Kendrick Lamar)
- 2018: #23 (of 55) – LOVE. (Kendrick Lamar featuring Zacari)
- 2019: DNR
In Conclusion – Started From The Bottom, Now We’re Here
And there you have it, folks – the top 25 rap artists who ruled the charts during the 2010s! From Drake to Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar to Post Malone, we’ve seen some incredible talent take the music world by storm during to 2010s.
A key takeaway that needs to be highlighted is the dominance through and through by the Cash Money/Young Money crew. Not only did they claim the top 3 spots, but they did so in impressive fashion. Lil Wayne brought a handful of artists into the 2010s and Drake and Nicki Minaj never looked back.
The 2010s were a time of incredible growth and creativity in the rap genre, and there were so many artists who left their mark on the industry. From the old-school legends to the new-school innovators, there were plenty of talented artists who helped to shape the rap landscape during the decade.
And who knows what the future holds for the genre? With the rise of SoundCloud, TikTok and streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, we’ve already seen how quickly new artists can rise to fame and capture the hearts of fans all over the world. So keep your ears open and your playlists updated, because you never know when the next big thing in rap will drop a chart-topping banger that will have us all singing along.
In the words of the Drizzy Drake, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.” And who knows where we’ll be ten years from now. Thanks for joining us on this journey through the top 25 rap artists of the 2010s, and here’s decades more of amazing rap music!
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