In the world of lyric annotation website Rap Genius, hip-hop’s 2013 heavyweights proved hard to shake in 2014. Beyoncé and Drake, both artists who released albums in the latter half of 2013, have topped the lists of most-viewed songs and artists in 2014, respectively.
Beyoncé’s Drunk in Love single, featuring a rap verse by her husband Jay Z, has racked up more than 7m views on the site. It was released as the lead single from the singer’s self-titled album in December 2013, accompanied by a black-and-white video directed by Hype Williams.
For hip-hop purists cradling their heads in their hands over a pop star’s dominance on the list, it might be related to listeners wanting to verify the song’s unexpected allusion to a dramatised scene of domestic violence between Tina Turner and her former partner Ike Turner. Or, it might just come from fans eager to get every last word right when singing along to the single in the club.
Drake was last year’s most-viewed artist on Rap Genius, although he didn’t release an album in 2014. His most recent full-length release, Nothing Was the Same, came out in September 2013 but Drake kept fans’ appetites for new music sated throughout 2014.
He released a slew of songs as free downloads on SoundCloud, and announced details of his forthcoming album Views from the 6 in July 2014. He also helped launch the online career of rapper iLoveMakonnen, after remixing song Tuesday and signing Makonnen to his label OVO Sound.
Elsewhere on Rap Genius’s list, younger and newer artists climbed up the ranks with their viral hits. Bobby Shmurda’s much-Vined single Hot Nigga snagged the number three spot on the most-searched song list and duo Rae Srummerd (that is indeed ‘ear drummers’ spelt backwards) came in at number 13 with No Flex Zone.
See both most-searched lists below.
Most-searched song in 2014
- Beyonce ft Jay Z – Drunk In Love
- Eminem – Rap God
- Bobby Shmurda – Hot Nigga
- Rich Gang – Lifestyle
- Beyonce – Partition
- Drake – 0-100/The Catch Up
- Lil Wayne ft. Drake – Believe Me
- The Weeknd ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Wiz Khalifa – Or Nah Remix
- Kendrick Lamar ft. MC Eiht – m.A.A.d city
- Big Sean ft. E-40 – I Don’t Fuck With You
- T.I ft.Young Thug – About The Money
- Jhene Aiko – The Worst
- Rae Sremmurd – No Flex Zone
- Childish Gambino – V. 3005
- Nicki MInaj – Lookin’ (Lookin’ Ass Niggas)
- Rae Smremmurd – No Type
- Eminem ft. Rihanna – The Monster
- Jay Z ft. Beyonce – Part II: On The Run
- Drake – Trophies
- Kanye West ft. Charlie Wilson – Bound 2
Most-searched artist in 2014
- Drake
- Eminem
- Beyonce
- Kanye West
- Kendrick Lamar
- Childish Gambino
- Jay Z
- Lil Wayne
- J. Cole
- The Weeknd
- Nicki Minaj
- Rick Ross
- Schoolboy Q
- Jhene Aiko
- Rich Gang
- Chief Keef
- Chris Brown
- Big Sean
- Chance The Rapper
- A$AP Rocky
