Billboard has rolled out its Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list, spotlighting the artists who have shaped the past 25 years of popular music, and Eminem secured a spot at No.12.
That makes him one of only five hip hop acts to crack the list, joining Drake (No.4) and Kanye West (No.7), Jay-Z (No.16), and Lil Wayne (No.21). So, Eminem made it to the top three highest-ranked rappers on the list, which might feel ironic if you do not remember that Billboard already crowned Marshall the Greatest Pop Star in 2002.
While Billboard’s essay on Em leaned heavily on his early 2000s dominance, pointing to “The Eminem Show”, 8 Mile, and the cultural juggernaut that was Slim Shady at the time, it also acknowledged his staying power. His more recent successes, from “Music to Be Murdered By” and “Godzilla” to last year’s “The Death of Slim Shady” and its hit single “Houdini”, show that his fanbase remains as loyal as ever.
And beyond the stats, Billboard noted how Eminem’s influence has rippled through generations. From Kendrick Lamar and Logic to Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd, today’s stars continue to cite Slim as a major inspiration, showing that his legacy in both hip hop and pop culture is impossible to ignore.
But not impossible to try to undermine. So, not everyone agrees with where Eminem landed on the list. Some fans feel Eminem should have been ranked higher than Kanye West at No.7, pointing to the fact that the two share identical stats when it comes to No.1 singles (five each) and Billboard 200 chart-topping albums (11 apiece).
Kanye may edge him out in Grammy wins, but Em’s lasting global impact and commercial consistency have left plenty of people questioning Billboard’s math.
Maybe, not as many people are upset with this choice as with placing Beyoncé on top and pushing Taylor Swift to No.2, but this is the battle we are not going to get involved in.
You can see the full list and read the Eminem essay on the Billboard website.
