google.com/amp/s/www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/amp34196326/kid-cudi-we-are-who-we-are-hbo-interview-2020

This article is part of the reason I made this thread in the first place. The writer mentions him as “arguably the biggest rapper the world”

Furthermore the thread is asking where the narrative came from and why

point being trav aint on drakes level

and cardi big brah

She's got bigger hits, but not a bigger artist. i don't think those are the same thing

Drop that to 21 and below for Drake

Trav's not, but he's the level below. there's really not many other people to compare him to.

Drake is so much bigger than everyone, including Trav, 2 or 3 times as big, but he's one of the only people above Trav right now.

If it's about being 2/3/4 then there's no need to mention Drake because he isn't in that convo.

Drake will eventually slow down. And Trav could be #1 but I think there's some downplaying of the distance between them right now.

the distance is big but if drake slowed down, trav wouldn't need to be that much bigger than he is now to be #1 cos trav could be the next biggest star in hip hop, without being the biggest in music like Drake is.

for yall who aint seen it

for yall who aint see it

Bro do you seriously care about what Brendan Klinkerberg from f***ing Esquire magazine thinks?????????

Also, maybe people who say that view Drake as a popstar (which he is) in his own realm (which he also kinda is)

And where do you think the narrative came from? He's top 3 and the numbers prove it. He, Kendrick & Drake

She's the bigger artist. The only real argument for Travis is that Astroworld did bigger numbers than IoP but that was two years ago. As of today she has more monthly listeners on Spotify.

And as far as marketability she's up there with Travis if not higher. She's turned down the Super Bowl halftime show and had multiple Super Bowl commercials from Pepsi and Amazon

Trav is Cole level in term of fandom.

narrative?

So does Nicki tho. i don't think she's bigger than Trav, didn't she have to cancel dates? most people don't have her in a top 5 conversation right now

who do you think would do better album numbers and tour numbers out of those 3, i think that's the two things that have to count. i think their music might be fairly equal. Trav's always in the spotify top 20 with them

Cardi's a much bigger personality and celebrity but Travis is the bigger artist musically and has more fans.

It's kind of like how Kanye's a bigger personality than Eminem but Em outsells him every time.

Can't disagree with anything you're saying.

Except I think we are years away from this happening. Drake at some point slowing is certain. But we also don't know if Trav is going to go up or maintain. But it's looking good for him.

We're talking about him being the biggest rapper in present. Goosebumps is 3+ years old.

The past 2 years the only notable big hit he's had as lead artist with real staying power is Sicko Mode. He released other singles from Astroworld, he released an EP, and he has released multiple loosies and none of the singles since have stuck.

Trav does have an arena tour on his belt though.

Even with the success of WAP, I don't think Cardi could do one yet.

I think Cardi’s tour would easily outsell Trav’s. If only purely for the demographics. I think the album sales are going to be pretty equal. At least as far as streaming numbers.

Cardi could definitely do one. She could’ve done one after IoP. Hell, Khalid and Gambino have arena tours these days. Cardi just hates touring. She says she’s can get paid more just for playing festivals.

my point is people want to play trav's music a lot. he's not a one hit wonder. you're making it sound like Sicko Mode is a Tuesday situation lol.

he's got to be one of the top 5 most-played rappers in the world right now, that makes you one of the biggest rappers. he's not as big as drake tho and i don't think anyone not trolling says that

Travis is third biggest rapper in usa afer drake and kendrick

Yes I am aware he has other well known songs that are staples, but the past years streak has been terrible for someone if we are considering them "the biggest rapper" alive.

Like think about how Drake had: God's Plan, Nice for What, In My Feelings, One Dance, Hotline Bling, etc that had staying power and were massive in a 3 year span

Eminem in his prime had: Lose Yourself, Stan, The Real Slim Shady, Without Me, Cleaning Out My Closet, Sing for the Moment, etc that had staying power and were massive in a 3 year span

T.I. had Whatever You Like, Live Your Life, Dead & Gone, etc.

Nelly had Hot in Herre, Dilemma, Country Grammar, Ride with Me, etc.

Travis got SICKO MODE.... goosebumps.... and what else? The Scotts is barely known. Highest in the Room barely known. These prime career staples?

astroworld outsold invasion of payola first week and outsold overall