Popular Hip-Hop: Western Music Artist Rankings [2025]

Borro CassetteMaluma78rank/position

Maluma – Borro Cassette (Official Video)

One of Colombia’s most representative artists, Maluma.

Like Shakira, he is among the country’s best-selling artists and, as a singer-songwriter, has produced numerous hit songs.

Among his many classics, the one I especially recommend is “Borro Cassette.” Released in 2015, this track became a massive hit not only in Colombia but across Latin America.

A must-listen for fans of classic reggaeton!

Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronson79rank/position

Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (Official Video) ft. Bruno Mars

It’s a song called Uptown Funk, released in 2014.

Among Bruno Mars’s tracks, it might be one of the most popular.

The producer, Mark Ronson, makes little appearances in the music video, and the way he kind of blends into the background is so deadpan that it’s funny.

Watching the video with an eye out for Mark Ronson is one fun way to enjoy it!

Bad Bunny feat. DrakeM.I.A.80rank/position

BAD BUNNY x DRAKE – MÍA (Video Oficial)

Bad Bunny, a rapper from Puerto Rico, is a leading artist in Latin trap.

He also has close ties with reggaeton artists and has collaborated with figures like Daddy Yankee and J Balvin.

Thanks in part to these collaborations, he has released many reggaeton tracks as well.

One of his signature songs is Mia, which features the world-renowned rapper Drake.

Be sure to pay attention to the track that blends reggaeton and trap!

Billie JeanMichael Jackson81rank/position

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Official Video)

It’s impossible to sum up the achievements of Michael Jackson—the “King of Pop”—in a few sentences, but from his genius as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, the group he formed with his brothers as a child, to his record-breaking solo success that reshaped music history, his impact on popular music remains entirely undiminished even in the 2020s.

Picking just one song from his monumental discography—filled with mega-hits that everyone has surely heard at least once—is no easy task, but let’s highlight “Billie Jean,” the biggest hit of his career.

Released in January 1983 as a single from the historic, blockbuster 1982 album Thriller, it’s also the song during which he first unveiled his signature “moonwalk.” Its music video, which has surpassed one billion views on YouTube, was aired on MTV despite the channel’s then-reluctance to feature Black artists, making it a pioneering work in the music video boom of the 1980s.

With a disco-inflected rhythm built on simple bass and drums, sleek production, and a instantly memorable melody written by Jackson himself, the track may feel newly fresh to younger music fans today—especially in a decade where many hits draw on the disco and funk sounds of the ’80s.

Bad and Boujee (ft Lil Uzi Vert)Migos82rank/position

Migos – Bad and Boujee ft Lil Uzi Vert [Official Video]

Released by Migos, a quintessential act of trap music, this track celebrates the thrill of attaining a glamorous lifestyle and success.

Throughout the song, their lavish lives and materialistic values are on full display, offering a glimpse into the mindset of artists who gained wealth at a young age.

Dropped in October 2016 as the lead single from their second album, Culture, the song reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Its popularity wasn’t fleeting; it found broad acceptance through streaming and social media.

It’s a perfect pick when you want to turn up the energy at parties or gatherings with friends.

Dilemma ft. Kelly RowlandNelly83rank/position

Nelly – Dilemma (Official Music Video) ft. Kelly Rowland

Speaking of Nelly, it has to be this song! A collaboration with Kelly, formerly of Destiny’s Child, that shook the 2000s.

Set to a sweet, mellow groove, Kelly’s beautiful vocals and Nelly’s melodic rap blend perfectly.

It’s the ideal track to play while enjoying a sweet moment with your partner or family.

AnacondaNicki Minaj84rank/position

Nicki Minaj – Anaconda

Nicki Minaj, a globally renowned female rapper from Trinidad and Tobago.

Featured on her acclaimed album “The Pinkprint,” this track was released in August 2014.

The theme centers on a woman’s strength and self-confidence as she wields her allure to keep men off balance and maintain control—its provocative lyrics and sound have captivated many fans! The music video surpassed 100 million views in just 11 days after its release, and the scene in the film “Sing” where a character performs the song is also memorable.

When you want to get pumped up with powerful hip-hop, this track will have you moving, too!