Billboard’s new Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists & Albums of the 21st Century charts have confirmed what the world already knows — the Caribbean has been a driving force in global music this century. Four of the region’s biggest exports — Shaggy, Sean Paul, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj — secured places on the definitive rankings, cutting through an era dominated by U.S. rap and R&B superstars.
RIHANNA (MULTIPLE ALBUMS RANKED)
Barbados’ National Hero Rihanna flexes her dominance with multiple placements ranking No. 8 on the Top Artists of the 21st Century list. While Loud (No. 63), Good Girl Gone Bad (No. 47), ANTI (No. 27), Unapologetic (No. 94), and Talk That Talk (No. 60) all earned spots on the Top Albums Of The 21st Century list.
NICKI MINAJ (NO. 46 ALBUM – PINK FRIDAY)
Trinidad-born Nicki Minaj ranks at No. 17 on the Top Artists List and enters the album list with her debut Pink Friday at No. 46 — the project that introduced the world to her animated flows, alter egos, and chart-topping run.
SEAN PAUL (NO. 87 ARTIST)
Sean Paul stands tall as the only Jamaican on the Top Artists list at No. 87. He did not make the Top Albums list.
SHAGGY’S HOTSHOT (NO. 91 ALBUM)
Shaggy’s Hotshot, released 25 years ago with hits like It Wasn’t Me and Angel, lands at No. 91 among the Top Albums. Released August 9, 2000, the multi-platinum-selling project sold over 8.5 million units in the US and 12 million copies worldwide. The Billboard No. 1 album is the highest selling album by a dancehall artist of all time.
Lil Baby claims the crown as My Turn ranks No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums of the 21st Century chart, a 100-position retrospective covering 2000 through 2024. Originally released in 2020, the album was powered by hits like “Woah,” “The Bigger Picture,” and “Sum 2 Prove,” plus a deluxe edition that kept momentum high. It logged six weeks at No. 1, was the year’s top R&B/hip-hop album in 2020, and made history with 128 total weeks in the chart’s top 10 — the most ever for a male artist in the list’s history.
How the Rankings Were Calculated
The retrospective rankings reflect overall performance on the weekly Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Artists chart between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 28, 2024. Albums earn points from chart position, longevity, and streaming/consumption activity over time. Only projects released during this period were eligible, though older titles that charted within the timeframe contributed to artist calculations. The result is a cumulative snapshot of staying power, impact, and popularity, balancing short-term dominance with long-haul consistency.
