Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Billboard Names Kendrick Lamar No. 4 on Its Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 List

The ranking reflects a 2025 defined by GNX’s chart sweep, a most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance, Grammy triumphs.

Overview

  • Billboard unveiled Kendrick Lamar at No. 4 in its editorial countdown of the 10 Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 on Jan. 27.
  • He earned five Grammys for “Not Like Us,” taking record of the year, song of the year, best rap song, best rap performance, and best music video.
  • He headlined Super Bowl LIX’s halftime show, described by Billboard as the most watched to date, which drove the biggest post-halftime chart gains the outlet has tracked.
  • His album GNX debuted at No. 1 as “Luther” with SZA led the Hot 100 for 13 consecutive weeks, with a post–Super Bowl surge returning four songs to the top five and 13 to the Hot 100.
  • The Grand National Tour with SZA finished as 2025’s top-grossing hip-hop tour, while coverage also reports roughly 2.98 billion Spotify streams for GNX and a reported DrakeUMG lawsuit tied to “Not Like Us.”