Taylor Swift Helped The Hottest Rapper In The World Hit No. 1 For The First Time A Decade Ago

A decade ago, Taylor Swift was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. It seems that not much has changed in 10 years, as the singer-songwriter continues to dominate the global music industry, albeit in slightly different ways.

In the spring of 2014, Swift was heavily promoting her album 1989, her first pure pop project. The title had already produced a number of smashes, and Swift was not slowing down.

On the chart dated June 6, 2015, “Bad Blood” rocketed from No. 53 to No. 1 on the Hot 100. As it did, Swift added to her growing collection of champions, while the artist featured on the tune earned his first.

When “Bad Blood” bolted to the summit on the Hot 100, Kendrick Lamar collected his first champion on the list of the most-consumed songs in the nation. Prior to that point, he had proved himself to be not just a superstar, but one of the most interesting musicians in hip-hop. He’d earned critical acclaim and commercial success, but he had yet to top the Hot 100. Much of Lamar’s output by that point had been his own, as he was not yet a big enough draw for well-known acts outside of the rap vertical to recruit. Swift jumped on his growing popularity and talent, and his verse on “Bad Blood” lent the track some credibility.

The collaboration turned the pop tune into a hip-hop/pop hybrid, making it more palatable for a larger audience. Lamar’s presence certainly helped Swift send “Bad Blood” to No. 1 on the Hot 100. It’s not clear if the tune would have ruled the ranking had it remained a solo affair, but the combination was smart for both acts.

Before “Bad Blood,” Swift had topped the Hot 100 three times. She earned her first No. 1 in 2012 with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” from her album Red. 1989 produced a trio of winners ahead of “Bad Blood,” with “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” both reaching the top position in 2014.

Once “Bad Blood” took over the charts in America and became the biggest song, both artists won. Swift showed just how huge 1989 was with a third No. 1, and it wouldn’t even be the last big hit from the project.

Lamar demonstrated that, in addition to being a beloved and respected rapper, he had what it takes to produce pop hits as well — or at least be involved in them. He also showed that his star power had reached a point where even the biggest names in the industry came to him for a verse, which is a highly desired position for any hip-hop artist.

“Bad Blood” went on to score a pair of Grammy nominations. While Swift and Lamar lost Best Pop Duo/Group Performance to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, the track claimed Best Music Video. Lamar even beat himself that year, as his own “Alright” was nominated at the same time in that vertical.

In the decade since “Bad Blood” took over the Hot 100, both artists have added to their list of Hot 100 rulers. Swift has more than doubled her total accumulation of winners on the chart, adding eight more champions to her total following “Bad Blood.” Lamar has collected five additional leaders, including three in 2024 alone.

If “Bad Blood” did not exist, both Swift and Lamar would still be superstars. They would both continue to rack up hits and win Grammys, but the tune is still important to both of them, and it ranks among their most successful on the Hot 100, even a decade on.