Drake’s “One Dance” Becomes the First Rap Song to Hit 1 Billion Streams on Spotify
Drake just etched his name even deeper into hip-hop history.
His 2016 hit “One Dance” has officially surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, becoming the first rap song ever to reach that milestone on the platform. Nearly a decade later, the record continues to prove its longevity and cultural impact.
A Defining Moment for Rap in the Streaming Era
When “One Dance” dropped as part of Views, it didn’t sound like traditional rap records dominating radio at the time. Instead, Drake leaned into Afrobeat and dancehall influences, delivering a global sound that pushed hip-hop beyond regional boundaries.
That risk paid off — and ultimately helped reshape how rap could exist on a worldwide scale.
Why This Milestone Matters
Being the first rap song to hit 1 billion streams isn’t just a stat — it represents a turning point. It showed that hip-hop could dominate streaming platforms globally, not just domestically.
After “One Dance,” the door opened wider for international sounds, cross-genre records, and streaming-first rap releases.
Longevity Over Hype
What makes this achievement more impressive is time. “One Dance” wasn’t driven by viral moments or short-term trends — it lived on through playlists, clubs, radio, and cultural memory.
That kind of sustained relevance is rare.
HipHoppyro Take
“One Dance” reaching 1 billion streams as the first rap song to ever do so confirms what fans already knew: Drake didn’t just dominate the streaming era — he helped define it.
Numbers fade. Impact doesn’t.
Hip Hop Today 
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