Is Rapper Drake Officially More Famous Than The Beatles?
If someone asked what Drake and The Beatles have in common, it would be tough to come up with anything besides that both rose to fame in the music industry. However, the rapper and the iconic British band had actually been neck and neck for a while in one category — and Drake just officially surpassed The Beatles in a big way. But is he more famous?
The Beatles are arguably the most iconic band of all time
It’s hard to believe there could be anyone in the world who hasn’t heard of The Beatles. The rock band took over the music scene in the 1960s, and though they were only together for about eight years, they left a legacy behind. No band has ever been able to surpass the sales record The Beatles set back in their hay day, and it’s thanks to hits such as “Hey Jude,” “Come Together,” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” To this day, they’re relevant; a brand new movie, “Yesterday,” hits theaters on June 28, and it tells the story of a world where nobody had ever heard of the group.
Drake stepped onto the music scene with his hit ‘Best I Ever Had’
There are few similarities between Drake and The Beatles; one is a Canadian rapper and the other is a rock band from the U.K. But they both have left a lasting impression on the music scene. Drake was previously an actor who starred in the Canadian television series Degrassi. From there, he went on to test the waters in the hip hop industry. He released his first single, “Best I Ever Had,” in 2009. And over the last 10 years, he’s become one of the most successful artists hip hop has ever seen.
Drake just officially surpassed The Beatles in Top-10 Billboard Hot 100 Hits
While older generations might argue that music today is nothing like it used to be, Drake would beg to differ; he just officially passed The Beatles in top-10 Billboard Hot 100 hits. The rock band had 34 hits during their eight-year reign, and Drake now has 35. In 2018, Drake passed the band for most top-10 hits in a single year. The Beatles held steady at 10 (a record that was in place for 54 years), until Drake came along last year with 11. It’s hard to imagine that artists who are different in almost every way could have so much in common within the music industry.
Drake is here for the long term — but we wouldn’t say he’s more famous (yet)
Though Madonna still holds the overall record, Drake just pushed The Beatles down to no. 3 while he sits in the no. 2 spot for most-ever top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney are the only Beatles still alive today, though neither of them have congratulated Drake on passing them. There likely isn’t any distaste, though; it’s possible the men haven’t even gotten word about Drake’s accomplishment. Based on this record, it’s evident that Drake will be relevant in the music industry for decades to come, the same way The Beatles still are. But at the end of the day, the rock band is probably still a little more known than the rapper.
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