Rap music has dominated not just the sound waves but rescripted live concert shows. Some of the most massive names in the industry have turned their world tours into huge, mega events, drawing millions of fans and astounding revenues.
Let’s now delve into the top five most lucrative rap tours in history, exploring the artists, their creative processes, and how they catered to their loyal fanbases through electrifying performances and powerful lyrics.
1. Drake & 21 Savage: “It’s All A Blur Tour”
Drake has always been one of the defining figures of hip-hop, but his teaming with 21 Savage to create the “It’s All A Blur Tour” took things a notch higher. Beginning this July 2023, this tour was huge, pulling in an astonishing $320.5 million across 56 shows in North America. It supported 2022’s joint album Her Loss and Drake’s For All the Dogs from this year and helped him concoct a setlist both nostalgic and fresh.
First performed was “Look What You’ve Done,” a song not heard live in the voice of Drake for over a decade. Its raw emotional depth resonated with the fans and consolidated Drake’s commitment to delivering real-life lyrics. And they wanted more-the popular demand forced the addition of other dates to this tour.
This made the tour even more meaningful with the concert performances reflecting Drake’s personal thoughts on such questions about life and legacy, and how he felt his career in music was panning out. Mixing this with immaculate staging and vocal delivery, Drake secured himself in the upper echelons of the music industry.
2. Kendrick Lamar: “The Big Steppers Tour”
Kendrick Lamar’s “The Big Steppers Tour” has shone in ways not necessarily because of its high grossing but, rather, due to its cultural resonance. Complementing his critically acclaimed set Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022), Kendrick’s tour crossed continents-from Milan in the initiating leg to the concluding leg in Mexico City for 103 dates.
This was a world tour that grossed well over $110.8 million, with Kendrick delivering electric performances of tracks such as “HUMBLE.” and “Alright.” He is one artist celebrated for his lyrical genius; this tour surely represented that very fact.
By nature, in his music, he addresses identity, morality, and the notion of social justice, while on stage, he is nothing short of an appeal to action. But what really made this tour special was how Kendrick‘s abilities make big arena tours feel incredibly intimate. His stage presence and his capability for connection with fans even in large all-encompassing venues showed why he is one of the most respected artists of his generation.
3. Travis Scott: “Circus Maximus Tour”
Travis Scott’s full-scale “Circus Maximus Tour” started in October 2023 and has not yet concluded, it has already made its record. Supporting his long-awaited album Utopia, the tour has grossed more than $154 million with over 1.2 million fans attending 63 shows so far.
Travis Scott is an artist who bases his performances on the energy of high magnitude. The tour did not disappoint an ounce.
Supporting acts like Don Toliver and Sheck Wes made for a wildly talented show. But it’s Scott’s big-as-the-universe stage presence and the ability to transport fans into his world that really makes this tour one to always remember. The biggest moment of the tour came when Scott headlined his largest show to date in Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium and brought the house down with electric performance after electric performance.
4. Nicki Minaj: “Pink Friday 2 World Tour”
The “Pink Friday 2 World Tour” by Nicki Minaj will no doubt be another milestone in her already illustrious career. While the tour will only get underway sometime in 2024, anticipation has already reached fever pitch. Supporting her forthcoming album Pink Friday 2, the tour has already been hyped by its guest performers lineup: Lil Uzi Vert, Future, and even Drake on select dates.The tour consists of 50 shows across North America, Europe, and Oceania and grossed over $108 million.
Known for her enunciative lyrics and stage presence that demands full command, Nicki Minaj is sure to deliver a show that celebrates both former hits like “Starships” and the new bangers off Pink Friday 2. Lovers of Nicki Minaj are highly awaiting the creative energy she brings into every performance-a deliverance of constant boundary-pushing and proof of an artistically versatile professional.
5. 50 Cent: “The Final Lap Tour”
Rounding out the top five is 50 Cent’s “The Final Lap Tour”, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his iconic album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. This tour reached three continents with a total of 105 shows and grossed over $100 million. He was celebrating his legacy just as much as bringing it to life, while 50 Cent gave fans a show they would remember, dropping hits like “In Da Club” and “Many Men,” sprinkled with plenty of surprise guest appearances.
One of the most memorable came via Eminem in Detroit. For longtime fans, the tour was a nostalgia trip; for a new generation of hip-hop listeners, it was an introduction. While 50 Cent has spoken about winding down his music career, “The Final Lap Tour” proved his effect in this rap game is still not over.
These five tours transcend simply being concerts; they’re cultural events that reflect hip-hop’s creative evolution. From Drake’s personal reflections to the socially conscious lyrics of Kendrick Lamar and the boundary-pushing performances of Travis Scott, they evoke how rap artists continue to shape and dominate the live music scene.
With grossing millions and selling out nearly in every venue across the world, it can readily be seen that rap music’s power concerning pop culture influence is as strong, if not stronger, than ever.
