Drake Ranked No. 2 on Billboard's Top Artists of the 21st Century Chart
The Weeknd and Justin Bieber also rank in the top 10 of the new chart, which measures performance from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024. Find out which other Canadian artists made the mark here.
Drake
Drake just earned a major distinction to start the year. The Toronto rapper has been ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Artists of the 21st Century chart.
He falls just one spot behind Taylor Swift, who takes the top crown, and one above Rihanna at No. 3.
The just-released chart tallies the first 25 years of the 21st century, tabulating performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart from the start of 2000 through the end of 2024.
Drake is undoubtedly one of the biggest artists of the streaming era, setting multiple records for his near-unmatched popularity.
Dating to his 2009 breakthrough, Drake dominated with 13 No. 1s on both the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Hot 100 No. 1 songs chart through the first 25 years of the century. The pop/hip-hop cornerstone also amassed a record 78 Hot 100 top 10s. In 2021, he became the first artist since The Beatles in 1964 to lock down the Hot 100’s top five in a single week.
Drake isn't the only Canadian artist achieving heights on the 21st century chart. His former friend/collaborator The Weeknd is at No. 6. Since he burst onto the Billboard charts in 2011, he's had four Billboard 200 No. 1 albums and seven Hot 100 No. 1 songs through the first 25 years of the century.
Justin Bieber also hits the top 10, coming in at No. 8. The Stratford, Ontario-born pop star has been a chart mainstay since his early teen years, ringing up eight No. 1s on both the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Hot 100 No. 1 songs chart through the first 25 years of the century. 2015’s Purpose spun off his first three Hot 100 leaders: “What Do U Mean?,” “Sorry” and “Love Yourself.”
Other Canadians on the chart include rockers Nickelback (No. 26), Avril Lavigne (No. 47), Michael Bublé (No. 67) and Shawn Mendes (No. 91). Check out the full 100-entry Top Artists of the 21st Century chart here.
With files from Gary Trust and Billboard.com
