Eminem in the top ten most streamed artists on Spotify, despite only releasing two new tracks in 2022

Hip-hop artist Eminem has been listed in Spotify’s ten most streamed artists in the world so far in 2023, boasting 2.17 billion plays on the streaming giant and only a stone's throw away from pipping Shakira into the number eight position in the list, released by Spotify Daily Data. It’s an impressive feat also, given that Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, only released two singles he performed lead on throughout 2022.

The majority of his plays, according to The Guardian, have stemmed from his greatest hits album, Curtain Call, which was released in all the way back in 2005 and focuses on his first four albums released through Aftermath/Interscope - The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show and Encore. The five most popular songs currently listed for Eminem on his Spotify page all come from his first four albums, which Curtain Call happens to also include. 

Pushed for an answer, The Guardian spoke to a number of young music fans who were born after the first wave of Eminem-mania who responded that his lyrics then seemed to resonate with them almost 18 years later since the release of the first of two greatest hits compilation from the artist (last year saw the release of Curtain Call 2, tracing his career post Relapse and Recovery), leading to the assumption that Eminem’s renewed popularity has fallen into the recent revival of “Y2K” chic.

Eminem of course was an integral part of the 2000’s zeitgeist, becoming both a popular figure among hip-hop fans thank in part of the production work of Dr. Dre, who himself was going through a purple patch after the release of his comeback album, 2001, and his controversial nature both throughout his music and his persona.

Many will remember the cause celebre when Eminem first performed in the UK during the height of his popularity, dressed in dungarees, a hockey mask and chainsaw, playing up to the moral panic that surrounded him and his second major studio album.

Curtain Call has already achieved Diamond status in the United States, a feat that can only be achieved when an artist sells 10,000,000 units, while in the United Kingdom the greatest hits compilation entered 9 x platinum status, having shifted 2.7 million albums on our shores alone. GIven that the greatest hits is home to all six of Eminem’s number one singles he had in the United Kingdom also, it’s far to say for a younger generation it is a great jumping off point to delve more into the rappers work - unless your a Machine Gun Kelly fan, in which case perhaps that Eminem beef might put you off a little. 

No surprises though that Taylor Swift topped the chart for the most streamed artists in 2023, as she undertakes her celebrated “Era’s” world tour, while Bad Bunny has surpassed The Weekend and Drake as the most listened to hip-hop artist so far this year, with another appearance at this weekend’s Coachella Festival set to earn a couple more million listens as the Spanish-language rapper goes from strength to strength.

The most streamed artists on Spotify so far in 2023:

1. Taylor Swift —5.76 billion
2. Bad Bunny — 5.03 billion
3. The Weeknd — 4.66 billion
4. Drake — 3.58 billion
5. SZA — 2.79 billion
6. Feid — 2.53 billion
7. 21 Savage — 2.29 billion
8. Shakira — 2.2 billion
9. Eminem — 2.17 billion
10. Rihanna — 2.12 billion