Lamar’s groundbreaking year cements his dominance in both hip-hop and pop music
Kendrick Lamar has earned the top spot on Billboard’s annual Greatest Pop Star by Year list, marking a remarkable achievement in his career. The publication’s editorial team recognized Lamar’s cultural and commercial impact throughout 2024, noting how the rapper not only reminded fans of his peak success but also pushed new creative boundaries.
Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger praised Lamar’s ability to achieve unprecedented heights within the hip-hop genre, which had seen some decline in mainstream appeal in recent years. “He showed that he was capable of hitting heights no other rapper had reached this decade,” Unterberger wrote. “He could dominate the streets, the charts, and everywhere in between with equal sun-blocking vastness.”
Other notable figures on the list include Sabrina Carpenter at No. 2 and Taylor Swift at No. 3, with Beyoncé securing the No. 8 spot. Shaboozey was named Rookie of the Year, and Drake, despite receiving an honorable mention, was awarded Top Rap Artist at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards earlier this month—beating out Lamar, his longtime rival.