Since his debut, Drake has shattered numerous chart records and now crowns Billboard’s Top Artists of the 2010s recap. Drake is the most decorated artist in Billboard Music Awards history, so it makes sense that he’s officially Billboard’s Artist of the Decade.
Honored at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Drake’s OVO team, along with his parents, presented him with the prestigious award.
“I’m really self-conscious about my music, and even if I do a good job, I always wonder how I could have done it better,” Drake said in his acceptance speech. “I rarely ever celebrate anything. And just for anyone watching this wondering how this happened, that’s really the answer — it’s being so unsure how you’re getting it done that you just kinda keep going in the hopes of figuring out the formula.”
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Drake’s dominance during the 2010s wins him top honors in the overall top artist category, which ranks the best-performing artists based on activity on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and the Billboard 200 albums tally, as well as social media data and touring revenue from Billboard Boxscore, during the decade. After first appearing on Billboard charts in 2009, Drake banked nine Billboard 200 No. 1s in the 2010s, first leading with his debut 2010 studio LP, Thank Me Later, and most recently reigning with 2019’s Care Package. He also scored six Hot 100 No. 1s in that span. Since his debut, he has obliterated numerous chart records, including the most Hot 100 top 10s (45, to-date) and overall entries (232).
In March, Drake became the first artist to enter the Hot 100 chart at Nos. 1, 2, and 3 simultaneously, with “What’s Next” leading the pack. “Wants and Needs” debuted at No. 2, while his Rick Ross-assisted track “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” landed at No. 3.