Latest news with #TopRapAlbums
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kendrick Lamar's ‘GNX' Makes History As Longest-Running No. 1 Album On Billboard Top Rap Albums Chart
Kendrick Lamar has made history as GNX becomes the longest-running No. 1 album to top Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart. The award-winning LP has topped the chart for 22 weeks, taking the crown from Pop Smoke's posthumous album, Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon which held the spot for 21 weeks. GNX was named Album of the Year at the 2025 BET Awards and is a strong contender for the 2026 Grammys. When he accepted his win back in June, Lamar expressed, 'I ain't been here in a long time, but I always kept it in my heart. BET always make sure that they representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent and that's real, true, down-to-earth music that people can feel. So, I always give my heart to BET.' The rapper and SZA also have the highest grossing co-headlining tour in history. Their Grand National Tour has grossed over $256 million, averaging $11.1 million per show and they've sold a whopping total 1.1 million tickets across their domestic trek. During their Maryland stop in mid-June, SZA praised her longtime collaborator onstage. 'I thought it was just a jam session. [but] he put me onto the biggest moment of my life. This is also the biggest moment of my life,' said the SOS singer while getting emotional. 'I'm so thankful, and I'm so thankful to y'all.' The two shared a loving hug before continuing the show. Lamar's GNX came two years after Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. In a February interview with Apple Music, he explained how GNX came about. '[With] GNX, I felt it was just a perfect time 'cause not only the energy was lost, but it was an energy that was bubbling inside of me as well. I wanted to go back to the forefront of the bite and the grit of rap […] It was a great transition from 'Mr. Morale,' because that was my most intimate. I wanted to go inside my psyche and my withdrawals and see how it connects with the public and who can relate. So, during this time around I think it was necessary to come out of that cocoon and feel like, 'Okay, I've arrived now. I can spread my wings and show every state of who I am as far as Kendrick Lamar.''More from Drake-UMG Court Hearing Dives Into Context And Success Of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" Clipse, Pharrell Preview Kendrick Lamar's Highly Anticipated "Chains & Whips" Verse I Took My Compton A** To Toronto For The Kendrick Lamar Concert. Here's What Happened
Hypebeast
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "luther" Becomes Longest-Running No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs Chart
Summary Kendrick LamarandSZAcontinue their record-breaking run as'luther'achieves a new chart feat. Billboardreports that theirGNXcollaboration is now the longest-running No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in history. It logged its record 27th week atop the chart, overtaking the 26-week reign of Dot's own'Not Like Us.''luther' earned 12.8 million US streams, 53.1 million in airplay audience and 1,000 sales downloads. The announcement arrives shortly afterGNXitself logged themost weeks at No. 1on the Top Rap Albums chart at 22 weeks. Lamar and SZA's 'Grand National Tour' also recently became thehighest-grossing joint tourin history.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kendrick Lamar Breaks Two More Billboard Rap Charts Records With ‘GNX' & ‘Luther'
Kendrick Lamar adds to his collection of Billboard chart records not once, but twice this week as his latest studio album GNX and his SZA collaboration 'Luther' become the longest-running No. 1s in the history of the Top Rap Albums and Hot Rap Songs chart, respectively, on the lists dated July 5, 2025. Top Rap Albums launched in June 2004, and Hot Rap Songs began in March 1989. More from Billboard Kendrick Lamar & SZA's Grand National Tour Just Broke an All-Time Record Foo Fighters Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Debut Album With Emotional New Track 'Today's Song' At First, Kapo 'Didn't Dare' to Release Afrobeat Music, But Then He Leaned Into 'What Truly Made Me Feel Most Unique' GNX rebounds from the runner-up slot to capture an unprecedented 22nd week at No. 1 on Top Rap Albums. It passes the previous titleholder, Pop Smoke's Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, and its 21-week run that wrapped in April 2021. For its coronation week, GNX earned 31,000 equivalent album units in the tracking week of June 20-26, according to Luminate, an 8% decline from its total in the prior tracking frame. As GNX asserts its supremacy on Top Rap Albums, here's a review of the albums with the longest runs at No. 1 in the chart's 21-year history. Weeks at No. 1, Album Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 122, GNX, Kendrick Lamar, Dec. 7, 202421, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke, July 18, 202019, Recovery, Eminem, July 10, 201018, Heroes & Villains, Metro Boomin, Dec. 17, 202216, Take Care, Drake, Dec. 3, 201114, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Eminem, Dec. 23, 2013 GNX opened atop the Top Rap Albums chart dated Dec. 7, 2024, as Lamar's sixth No. 1. Its surprise arrival capped a high-profile 2024 for the rapper, whose feud with Drake and resulting diss track battle — including the runaway hit 'Not Like Us' — was among the year's defining music storylines. Joining the album achievement, Lamar and SZA's single 'Luther' snatches its share of Billboard history with a record 27th week at No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs. Lamar, however, keeps the baton, as 'Luther' passes 'Not Like Us,' which spent 26 weeks at the summit in 2024-25. The song's landmark week comes through a combination of 12.8 million official U.S. streams (down 8%), 53.1 million in airplay audience (down 1%) and 1,000 sales downloads (down 17%). As 'Luther' shuffles the leaderboard, let's recap the songs with the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs. Weeks at No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 127, 'Luther,' Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Dec. 21, 202426, 'Not Like Us,' Kendrick Lamar, May 18, 202420, 'Old Town Road,' Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, April 13, 201919, 'Industry Baby,' Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, Aug. 7, 202118, 'Hot Boyz,' Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott feat. Nas, Eve & Q-Tip, Nov. 27, 199918, 'Fancy,' Iggy Azalea feat. Charli xcx, May 3, 201418, 'Hotline Bling,' Drake, Oct. 10, 201517, 'Panda,' Desiigner, April 23, 201617, 'Mood,' 24kgoldn feat. iann dior, Oct. 24, 2020 In addition to ruling Hot Rap Songs, 'Luther' likewise leads Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a 27th week, extending its record for the most time at No. 1. (It nabbed the standalone title in its 23rd week, beating 'Not Like Us.') The single topped the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks in March and through May, easily the longest stay of both Lamar and SZA's careers. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
From Suplexes to Sixteens: John Cena's ‘You Can't See Me Album,' 20 Years Later
When John Cena dropped his 2005 debut album, You Can't See Me, critics wondered if the wrestling powerhouse had more brawn than bars. What began as a perceived gimmick evolved into a two-decade-long run, marked by unfiltered charisma, sharp wit and unshakeable confidence. Sure, his popularity and in-ring dominance made him box office gold, but when he unleashed his mic skills — especially over Jake One's soulful beats — Cena cemented himself as the godfather of the rap-wrestling crossover. Released on May 10, 2005, You Can't See Me — a collaboration with his cousin, fellow rapper TradeMarc — debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, also reaching No. 3 on Top Rap Albums — proof Cena had real appeal on the mic. Even while locking up with heavyweights like Triple H, Randy Orton, and The Undertaker each week, Cena carried that same grit and resilience into the booth. On tracks like 'Just Another Day' and 'If It All Ended Tomorrow,' Cena's raw candor and introspection made him surprisingly easy to root for. As he raps on the latter: 'You the new kid, now you gettin' some shine/ When every vet sayin' that it's not yo' time/ My hustle is non-stop and it's not yo' grind/ Plus I hear very clear, I'm not so blind.' More from Billboard Alice in Chains Cancel Tour After Drummer Sean Kinney's 'Medical Emergency' - UPDATE 'Monster' Hit: Volbeat Tops Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart Jackson Wang Talks Inspiration for 'MAGIC MAN 2': 'What Do I Want to Say as a Person?' And though Cena was dubbed WWE's Superman, his rap heroics on You Can't See Me became every critic's kryptonite. His bravado and swagger leglocked the doubters into submission. The album's title track became his armor — its hook both a taunt and a shield — as he swatted away skepticism with a single phrase: 'You can't see me.' The song became both a gift and a curse: a champion's anthem and rallying cry, but also a punchline for detractors who turned it into an easy jab, diminishing Cena even as he continued to dominate. Now on his final lap as a professional wrestler, Cena's recent partnership with Travis Scott — rap's latest generational leader — speaks volumes about his influence across both arenas. WWE is in the midst of a renaissance, with pop culture once again reinvigorated by its presence. Hip-hop's footprint in the ring is larger than ever: WaleMania just celebrated its 10th anniversary at WrestleMania, while wrestlers like Montez Ford and Trick Williams proudly showcase their rap chops with original music, and genre superstars like Drake, Metro Boomin, Lil Yachty, and Quavo now flood wrestling arenas with the same fervor and excitement as the everyday diehards beside them. Much of this stems from Cena's early efforts to meld both worlds — what began as a desperate bid to save his WWE career ended up bridging a gap between music and wrestling, one that remains tightly connected to this day. And while we may never get another album from the 48-year-old multi-hyphenate, You Can't See Me still deserves a spin — for everything it gave to hip-hop, wrestling, and pop culture at large. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
