"Drake looks like a simp"- Billboard trolls Drake over Rihanna ranking in greatest pop stars list, enrages fans

Modified Dec 04, 2024 10:42 GMT

Billboard’s “Greatest pop stars of the 21st century” list has seemingly sparked backlash online after the publication shared their opinions as to why Rihanna held the third position, with Drake following her in the fourth place. Netizens have since taken to social media to opine that Drizzy was getting “blackballed” by the music industry.

While discussing Rihanna’s position on the list, Billboard revealed on their podcast that she takes the position as she has 14 number one hits, the most of this century, while Drake has 13. They went on to say on their podcast:

“You know where Drake doesn’t win the match-up with Rihanna? Every single time those two people have been in the same room their entire careers. Every one of their live performances, every one of their music videos... any time those two people [Drake and Rihanna] are together, Rihanna looks like the most glamorous and most desirable woman on the planet, and Drake looks like a simp basically.”

The publication’s podcast hosts went on to mention that Drake’s number one hits—What’s My Name and Work, both of which feature Rihanna—were her eighth and fourteenth hit songs, respectively. The hosts then opined:

“Rihanna’s Cleopatra in 21st-century music. She’s burnt into your brain. None of her No. 1s are cheap. She’s timeless. Drake’s good, but Rihanna? She’s unforgettable.”

Netizens were not pleased to hear the publication call Drake a “simp.” Some comments online read:

Netizens react to Billboard’s podcast comments about the two singers (Image via Instagram)

Several internet users opined that they were displeased to see Drake seemingly get thrashed online following his rap battle with Kendrick Lamar. Some comments online were as follows:

Many were of the opinion that the music industry was manipulating Drizzy’s likeability with listeners. Some comments read:

Inside Drake and Rihanna’s relationship as Billboard discusses their placements on the list

For those uninitiated, Champagne Papi and Rihanna had been involved in a tumultuous relationship between 2005 and 2018. The duo first met in 2005 during the filming of the latter’s Pon De Replay song, at a Toronto restaurant. They went on to go on public dates in 2009, in places like New York City, following Rihanna’s public spat with Chris Brown.

However, matters took a turn in 2010 when Drizzy admitted to feeling like he was being used by Rihanna. In an interview with The New York Times, Champagne Papi said:

“I was a pawn. You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I’ve done to so many women throughout my life which is show them quality time then disappear.”

However, the same year, they reunited for RiRi’s What’s My Name? song, which soared to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The following year, Rihanna and Drizzy teamed up for the latter’s Take Care track.

In 2013, Drizzy commented on his relationship with Rihanna during a conversation with Ellen DeGeneres by saying:

“Yeah great girl! We had our moment and [I’ll] always support and have love for her.”

They went on to collaborate on tracks like Work and Too Good in the following years, with Drizzy giving a heartfelt speech about RiRi during the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2016 by saying:

“She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old, she’s one of my best friends in the world. All my adult life, I’ve looked up to her even though she’s younger than me. She’s a living, breathing legend in our industry.”

However, in 2018, Rihanna told Vogue that the duo did not have a friendship anymore and that the MTV VMAs speech back in 2016 “was probably the most uncomfortable part.”

Meanwhile, Beyoncé grabbed the first spot on the much debated Billboard list.

Edited by Udisha