Rap music has become one of the most popular music genres in the world since its origins in the 1970s. Like rock bands and pop stars, many famous rappers have headlined massive world tours over the years featuring their biggest hits. But what was the biggest rap tour of all time based on attendance, revenue, and cultural impact?
By Attendance
If judged solely by attendance, the current record-holder for the biggest rap tour is the European leg of the Stoney Tour by Post Malone in 2018. This tour hit 12 cities across Europe from February to March 2018, selling a total of 456,000 tickets. The tour kicked off in Dublin, Ireland on February 2nd with an attendance of 11,300. It continued with stops in the U.K., France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. The largest crowds came from Post Malone’s concerts in Paris on February 7th (34,000 fans) and Moscow on March 1st (35,000 fans).
| City | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin, Ireland | 3Arena | 11,300 |
| London, U.K. | The O2 Arena | 30,000 |
| Paris, France | AccorHotels Arena | 34,000 |
| Cologne, Germany | Lanxess Arena | 12,000 |
| Copenhagen, Denmark | Royal Arena | 10,500 |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Ericsson Globe | 11,500 |
| Moscow, Russia | Olimpiyskiy Stadium | 35,000 |
With 12 shows and 456,000 total attendees across Europe, this leg of Post Malone’s tour tops the list in terms of sheer attendance.
By Revenue
If measured by revenue, the current record-holder for the highest-grossing rap tour belongs to Drake. His Aubrey & The Three Amigos Tour with Migos in 2018 grossed $79 million across 43 shows in North America. This tour kicked off in Salt Lake City in July 2018 and hit major venues like Staples Center in Los Angeles and Madison Square Garden in New York City. The most lucrative stops were in Toronto ($10 million grossed) and New York ($11 million grossed). The tour was highly profitable for Drake and Migos, grossing an average of over $1.8 million per show.
| City | Venue | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | Vivint Smart Home Arena | $1 million |
| Los Angeles, CA | Staples Center | $7 million |
| Las Vegas, NV | MGM Grand Garden Arena | $3 million |
| Toronto, ON | Air Canada Centre | $10 million |
| New York City, NY | Madison Square Garden | $11 million |
Thanks to huge production values and Drake’s immense popularity, this tour set records in terms of revenue for a rap show.
By Cultural Impact
Measuring tours by their cultural impact and legacy opens up more possibilities. By this metric, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne Tour in 2011-2012 makes a strong case for being the biggest rap tour. Though less attended than Post Malone’s recent shows and lower-grossing than Drake’s, Watch the Throne profoundly shaped hip-hop culture and marked an important moment in rap history.
The tour featured Jay-Z and Kanye West, two rap titans sharing the stage for 42 nights across North America and Europe. It grossed a total of $75 million with over 1.3 million attendees. But more importantly, it captured two hugely influential rappers at the peak of their careers joining forces. Their performances of hits like “Ni**as in Paris,” “No Church in the Wild,” and “Otis” have become iconic moments in hip-hop. The tour also had an epic production, featuring intricate stage designs and pyrotechnics for an unforgettable stadium-rap experience.
Beyond the numbers, Watch the Throne engraved Jay and Kanye’s larger-than-life personas as a part of rap lore. It served as a cultural phenomenon that dominated conversations in the rap world. For many critics and fans, it exemplified the bombastic excess and glory of hip-hop in the early 2010’s. Watch the Throne was ultimately more than a series of concerts – it was a once-in-a-generation event that shaped rap culture.
Other Notable Tours
Many other rap tours can also claim to be one of the biggest based on various metrics:
- Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour (2016) – This tour brought together iconic acts like Diddy, Lil’ Kim, Mase, Faith Evans, and more who were part of Bad Boy Records’ classic era in the 1990s. It celebrated a hugely influential label and decade for rap.
- Up In Smoke Tour (2000) – Featured rap icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Cube, and others performing across North America. It helped cement West Coast rap’s enduring popularity.
- Rock the Bells (2004-2007) – This annual hip-hop festival toured from 2004-2007, featuring lineups packed with legendary rappers like Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Rage Against the Machine, and many more.
Conclusion
Evaluating the biggest rap tour comes down to which metrics are valued most. Post Malone drew the most attendees, Drake made the most money, and Watch the Throne made the biggest cultural impact. But numerous other rap tours can claim their own metrics of success.
Rap tours continue to break records and thrill audiences today. But the touring landscape is so expansive that no one tour definitively surpasses the rest on all fronts. The successes show rap’s ability to draw huge crowds and revenues while shaping pop culture. Debates over the “biggest tour” will likely continue for years as rap heavyweights keep raising the bar on scale and spectacle.
