Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster” has moved past Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s “Stuck with U” on Spotify. The gap is small, but it hides a bigger story about longevity.
The Spotify race
“The Monster” now stands at 1,462,269,983 Spotify streams. That puts it ahead of “Stuck with U”, which has 1,462,149,952 streams. The gap is still narrow, at just 120,031 streams, but the daily numbers make the change more meaningful. “The Monster” is currently gaining around 590,766 streams a day, while “Stuck with U” is gaining around 417,979, according to Kworb’s Spotify data for Eminem and Ariana Grande.
Monstrous hit
Released on The Marshall Mathers LP 2, “The Monster” followed the huge success of Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie”. However, the song’s mood is quite different. Instead of reflecting on an interpersonal relationship, both artist look inward. Eminem raps about fame and the pressure of constant competition that were taking a toll on his sanity. Meanwhile, Rihanna carries one of the most recognisable hooks of that era, written by Bebe Rexha.
The single became an instant hit. It spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, won the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and was later certified 8x Platinum in the US.
Quarantine ballad
The pop hit “Stuck with U” has a different backstory. Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber released it in May 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were starting to feel real. It was aimed at listeners living through lockdowns and isolation. Built as a soothing ballad, the song doubled as a charity effort, with proceeds going to the First Responders Children’s Foundation. The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified double platinum by the RIAA.
The long race
The success of “Stuck with U” was boosted by two massive pop fanbases, its charity campaign, and most of all by capturing the mood of the moment. Perhaps this is exactly what put an expiration date on the song.
On the other hand, “The Monster” keeps drawing steady streams more than a decade after release. So, this change in ranking is not a fluctuation but the result of two contrasting approaches to creativity. This is how an Eminem and Rihanna hit has outlasted its chart cycle and continues to be relevant for hundreds of thousands of people who press play every day.