Eminem has once again proven his unmatched legacy in music history. The rap icon has officially become the first artist in history to have songs from four different decades—the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s—each surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
The milestone was achieved after his 1999 collaboration with Dr. Dre, “Forgot About Dre,” crossed the one billion-stream mark. The track, which appeared on Dre’s legendary album 2001, becomes Eminem’s 14th song to join Spotify’s billion-streams club. Other hits that have reached the same feat include classics such as “Without Me,” “Love The Way You Lie,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Godzilla.”
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Released as the second single from Dre’s 1999 album 2001 in early 2000, “Forgot About Dre” was initially meant to feature Snoop Dogg. However, after hearing Eminem’s sharp verse and rewrite, Dr. Dre decided to keep him on the final version — a creative decision that would go on to define one of hip-hop’s most iconic collaborations.
Produced by Dre himself, the song served as a fierce statement against critics who doubted the producer’s relevance after years away from the spotlight. Eminem’s explosive delivery and razor-sharp lyrics turned it into an instant classic. The single went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2001. Though it peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, its cultural and musical influence far outweighed its chart position. Today, more than two decades later, the track continues to thrive on streaming platforms, reintroducing a new generation of fans to the sound that helped redefine hip-hop in the early 2000s.
Eminem’s catalog remains one of the most streamed in the world, consistently ranking among Spotify’s most-played artists every year. The rapper currently boasts over 69 million monthly listeners, a figure that highlights his continued global relevance. In addition to “Forgot About Dre,” other billion-stream hits span his prolific career: “Without Me” (2002), “Lose Yourself” (2002), “Love The Way You Lie” (2010), and “Godzilla” (2020).
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