In the past 20 years, the music industry has changed a lot. The way we consume music has changed so much in such a short amount of time. Streaming has taken over the industry. There is so much music being put out than ever before. Fans are also consuming music faster. But, with all these changes happening, two artists have beat the odds to become superstars in such a trying time in music. I am talking about Lil Wayne and Drake.

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne is no stranger to anyone that has heard any hip-hop music in the past decade. He started his career when he was just eight years old.

Since then, he has immersed an extensive catalog of 13 studio albums (all of which have been certified gold or platinum) and 24 mixtapes.

Wayne has sold over 100 million records worldwide. He has the most Hot 100 appearances among solo acts, beating Elvis Presley with 137 songs. His artist, Drake, has since surpassed him. It should be noted that with streaming being a major force in pushing music today, notching a Hot 100 appearance has become a simple feat to achieve). Wayne has 20 top 10 hits and three No.1 hits. He also had the most consecutive weeks on the Hot 100 with an astounding 326 weeks (Drake, however, surpassed him with 431 weeks). Wayne has a total 56 single certifications which are more than any rapper and most pop artists in the industry.

He is 24-time Grammy nominated and five-time winner.

Despite his legal battles that have crippled his career for the past three years, he is still breaking records all around the industry. Lil Wayne is genuinely a rap legend. Lil Wayne is notoriously known for his larger than life persona, lyrical metaphors, and pioneering the use of auto-tune in the new generation of music.

Lil Wayne changed the game by giving his fans free music on the internet. He was the first mainstream artist to embrace the internet. The continuous release of free music has built up a dedicated fan base that he still possesses to this day.

From his “Young Money” imprint that gave birth to superstars such as Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga to his business ventures such as Truk Fit clothing line, Wize & ope watches, Supra Chimera sneakers, and Young Money APAA Sports Agency.

Lil Wayne is indeed a force to reckon with.

Drake

When he started his career, you could surely tell that Drake was meant for bigger things. Drake has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. He’s only released four studio albums, two commercial mixtapes, one extended play, and one Playlist, all of which debuted at No. 1 and have been certified platinum.

Drake has seven consecutive No. 1 albums. He holds the title for the most Hot 100 appearances among solo acts beating his mentor Lil Wayne with 154. He also has the most consecutive weeks on the Hot 100 with 431 weeks. He also holds the title for most songs charting at the same time with 24. His most successful album to date is his fourth album “Views,” released in 2016, which sat at No.

1 for 10 weeks, becoming the first album in 10 years to achieve that feat. He also scored his first solo No. 1 single “One Dance,” which also sat at No. 1 for 12 weeks. Since then, he has broken streaming records all over the place. He is the most streamed artist of our time. Through his career, he’s embarked on six headlining tours across the world, which have been commercially successful.

Drake is a multi-talented artist and a commercial force. If Drake keeps up his streak of success, he will become one of the best selling artists of all time. Coming up under the wings of rap legend Lil Wayne, he’s achieved more than his mentor ever did. Lil Wayne once said that he wanted Drake to do better than he ever did.

Drake is famous for his versatility and charisma. He’s creative and sophisticated in his writing. He has been credited for innovating a “hyper-reality rap” which focuses on themes of celebrity lifestyle being distinct from real life. Drake’s career is only at the beginning, and he has a long way to go. I mean, the dude can act, rap, sing, and dance. What more can you ask of an artist?
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