American rapper Kendrick Lamar has been crowned Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of 2024, marking a historic milestone in his illustrious career. The 37-year-old artist achieved the honor thanks to a stellar year on the Billboard Hot 100, fueled in part by his much-publicized hip-hop feud with Canadian rapper Drake.
Lamar dominated the charts with multiple hit releases during the rivalry, including his chart-topping single Not Like Us, which secured the number-one spot and captivated fans worldwide. His achievement makes him the first rapper to claim this title since Drake did so in 2018, solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Meanwhile, Mariah Carey’s holiday classic All I Want For Christmas Is You has tied the record for the longest-running number-one song in Billboard Hot 100 history. Sharing the 17-week record are Lil Nas X’s genre-defying Old Town Road and Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy).
The shared distinction highlights an important cultural moment: all the longest-running chart-topping songs in Billboard Hot 100 history are by Black lead artists.
2024 has been a banner year for Lamar, Carey, and the broader landscape of music, celebrating groundbreaking achievements and cultural milestones in equal measure.
