“I wanna be a streamer one day too. I heard They pay better than rap.” This was a message platinum-selling rapper Polo G posted on his Instagram Stories back in January.
The post included a laughing-face emoji, suggesting he might have been joking, but there’s often truth in jest. In 2025, the influence and financial power of a popular streamer have grown to heights not seen before. And while the idea that streamers are the new rappers might be an exaggeration, it’s clear that the two have become intertwined. In many ways, streaming and hip-hop share a similar ecosystem, with overlapping audiences—mainly young males with time to kill.
Over the last decade, streaming has evolved from being primarily video-game-based to a platform that encompasses all of pop culture. We’ve now reached a point where we have the “hip-hop streamer.” Adin Ross, who at 24 is already an OG in the space, is widely credited with bridging the gap between these worlds first when he hosted Lil Tjay on his Twitch stream in 2021. Since then, the relationships have grown even tighter; whether it’s Kai Cenat or Ross, rappers have regularly embraced streamers when rolling out their albums. And now, thanks in large part to the recent success of the FaZe Clan-affiliated Plaqueboymax, we’re seeing streamers add a new wrinkle: actively getting involved in the creative process and joining rappers as they make music live online.
So, what is a “hip-hop streamer”? And what does “power” mean in this context? The figures on our list are content creators who spend a significant portion of time on their platform engaging with rap culture—whether that’s commenting on news, premiering new music, hanging out with rappers, or even recording music. This is distinct from streamers who occasionally mention hip-hop but primarily focus on other topics (we’re thinking of you, Duke Dennis.) And we are not speaking of rappers who game and stream but don’t cover the happenings of hip-hop much (hi, Tee Grizzley.) In our eyes, a hip-hop streamer has to dedicate the majority of their content to hip-hop.
As for “powerful”—we’re ranking streamers based on their impact and influence, as well as their ability to transcend streaming culture. In short: Their hip-hop moments regularly go viral and make the news cycle.
With that being said, here are the 10 most powerful hip-hop streamers right now.
Platform: Twitch
Followers: 2M Twitch; 2.92M YouTube
Known For: Comical reaction videos and reviews
Im_Dontai gives that “best friend with elite music taste” energy to every stream he’s on. The Virginia-based YouTuber and Twitch streamer has been reacting to movies, TV shows, video games, and music for a decade now, and has become one of the most consistent music-adjacent creators in the space. During the height of the SoundCloud era, Dontai’s friendship with XXXTENTACION was a catalyst to his connection and passion for hip-hop. A decade’s worth of album reviews, song reactions, and more not only made Dontai one of YouTube’s most popular commentators but also allowed him to find a foothold in this current “golden age” of streaming we’re experiencing. And despite touching on various forms of entertainment, Dontai has been able to hold hip-hop close, and his content now reflects that.
He has been able to bridge a gap to the next generation of hip-hop without feeling like he’s trying too hard. Dontai is just being Dontai: He will roast and do funny impersonations of his chat. He’ll scream (just like you) when he hears Kendrick Lamar’s vicious Drake diss “Euphoria” for the first time. Living in the moment, he has the charisma—and frankly, the comedic chops—to turn a 5-minute diss track into an hourlong roast session.
His opinion is his own, and he definitely voices it as a recurring judge on Plaqueboymax’s popular competition series Song Wars. Dontai’s respect from the online community is just as resounding and homegrown as his longtime loyal fanbase. Always able to find a pocket within any talking point, Dontai can jump from reacting to Kendrick’s GNX to a cypher from Underground Sound, often blending wit with sharp analysis. —Jon Barlas
Platform: Twitch
Followers:1.6M Twitch; 1.76M YouTube
Known For: Animated reaction videos, judging song battles
YourRAGE doesn’t need to have a bunch of A-list rappers on his streams in order to make an impact in the hip-hop world. He does it in other ways.
Sometimes he reacts to new music on stream, sharing his opinions on everything from the underground to the mainstream. Other times, he hosts AUX Battles, engaging with his YRG community as he pits songs against each other. And more recently, he’s been getting involved with the Song Wars phenomenon. In December 2024, Rage went head-to-head with Plaqueboymax in a Song Wars challenge, alongside each of their respective communities.In the standout moment of the battle, he connected with Benji Blue Bills and BNYX for a song called “Aye Rage,” anchored by a shout-out to Rage on the hook.
The song immediately impressed the panel of judges, who told him, “You need to drop this ASAP!” So he did.
Making an appearance in the music video as well, Rage was a big part of the reason the song became a hit, showing his surging power in the rap world. Hip-hop still makes up a relatively modest percentage of the total content YourRAGE makes, but he has the potential to rise a lot higher on this list if he keeps at it. —Eric Skelton
Platform: Kick
Followers:396K Kick; 886K YouTube
Known For: Creating experiential content with rappers
At the start of the year, N3on revolutionized the idea of what it means to “pass the whip test.” While riding around live on Kick with ex-G League basketball player LiAngelo Ball, N3on nodded his head as the burgeoning rapper premiered his 2000s-inspired debut track “Tweaker.” Almost immediately, memes began to flood the internet, marking rap’s first big moment of 2025.
Yes, the song is catchy and fun, but the moment also speaks to N3on’s growing influence within the hip-hop streaming universe. His placement on this list is complicated: N3on, who streams on Kick—a platform he himself calls the “dark web of the internet”—has a history of trolling, saying offensive shit, and engaging in bullying behavior. He recently told Complex that he was denouncing his farming ways, saying, “It’s funny for a second, but then it leads to absolutely nothing. It doesn’t get you far, and it’s not good energy to be around.”
N3on’s streams cover a wide range of topics, and he walks the fine line between being a hip-hop streamer and an everyday content creator who dabbles in hip-hop. Still, it’s hard to ignore his impact on the genre. Beyond just Gelo, N3on had several viral hip-hop moments this year: He made songs with Babytron and Dave Blunts, spent an afternoon with Lefty Gunplay at Universal Studios, and even shut down Kensington, Philadelphia, with buzzing drill rapper Skrilla.
That stunt didn’t lead to the same kind of pandemonium as Kai Cenat’s 2023 Union Square incident, but it did stir up enough attention to make local news. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
Platform: YouTube
Followers:4.06M YouTube; 530K Twitch
Known For: Vlogging and making music on stream
If there’s anyone that’s been able to balance hip-hop and streaming seamlessly, it’s DDG. As one of the only creators on the list with real skin in the game as an artist—he scored a Billboard Hot 100 placement with “Moonwalking in Calabasas” in 2020—the Pontiac, Michigan-born rapper, YouTuber, and Twitch streamer has helped pioneer the blueprint of how hip-hop is being platformed today. His career as a creator may have started as “Day in the Life” vlogs, but looking back, DDG’s ability to parlay his success on YouTube into a rap career has certainly paid off. After all, he became the first rapper to film a music video in space, documenting the entire journey for his fans online.
DDG has been able to exponentially grow his Twitch following in recent years, especially in 2023. While his main YouTube channel acts as a hub for all of his music, DDG didn’t fully take advantage of Twitch years ago until “Pink Dreads” really hit. The song, which was made live during an In the Booth session, was just as big of a moment for DDG as it was for Plaqueboymax—it felt like Max was showing respect to DDG’s longevity as a rapper and content creator. Despite tension with the song’s producer, the success of “Pink Dreads” marks a turning point in both rap music and the evolution of streaming, and it’s thanks to creators like DDG that the line between these two worlds continues to grow and evolve.
Recently, he has been kicking it with Bhad Bhabie, locking in with EST Gee, and debuting new music, including a song about his son, Halo. His next big step: gearing up to make an entire album live on Twitch. A clear sign he is truly embodying the title of content creator. —Jon Barlas
Platform: YouTube
Followers:4.95M YouTube; 525K Twitch
Known For:Hilarious reaction videos
Zias! and B.lou are really OGs in the hip-hop YouTube content space. Last year, they branched out onto Twitch, and a large portion of their audience has followed them there. This is largely thanks to their chemistry, natural comedic timing, and the fact that they provide sheer entertainment power.
What makes their content so entertaining is how they riff off each other and keep the energy high throughout their streams. Zias! and Blou’s reaction to “Not Like Us” was hall-of-fame stuff, a moment so potent it was named in Drake’s initial defamation lawsuit against UMG—which is a testament to the kind of influence and power they have. And even after they were named in the suit, they still kept it a stack when reacting to Drake and Partynextdoor’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U.
Zias! and B.lou have a way of talking about rap in the same manner you would with your homies when you’re all chilling at home, which is why their content feels so relatable. Their bread and butter is reacting to popular music, but they are also tapped into the underground. Like others on this list, they are also frequent judges on Plaqueboymax’s Song Wars series and continue to be some of the most recognizable creators in hip-hop. —Jordan Rose
Platform: YouTube
Followers: 187K YouTube; 94.2K Twitch
Known For: Having fleshed-out takes and reactions to new rap releases
A significant number of hip-hop streamers have built their following by getting rappers to appear on their channels. Shawn Cee stands out because he’s amassed a following purely off his music opinions. That’s not just a testament to his ability to keep his audience engaged for hours, but also to how well he communicates his taste. He gained most of his following on YouTube first, and has been steadily growing his Twitch and streaming presence over the past few years. (Though he has less than 100,000 Twitch followers, an hour-long clip out review of Kendrick Lamar’s GNX has nearly a million views on YouTube.)
When you tune into a Shawn Cee stream, you’re not getting a baseless rant about why a rapper is “trash.” His takes rarely feel contrarian or like rage bait. Instead, he presents well-thought-out counterpoints—like when he questioned the ethics around Kendrick using AI in “The Heart Part 5” video or when he critiqued J. Cole’s recent attempts at a comeback.
In a hip-hop media landscape overflowing with shallow takes, Shawn Cee’s content is a breath of fresh air—even if you don’t necessarily agree with him. —Jordan Rose
Platform: Kick
Followers: 1.5M Kick; 4.54M YouTube
Known For: Hangout sessions with some of your favorite rappers and commentary on big hip-hop moments
Adin Ross’ influence is undeniable. Any streamer will tell you that he was the first to consistently bring popular rappers on Twitch for viral content back in 2021, which paved the way for guys like Kai Cenat to do the same thing. Adin has stepped away from the hip-hop world a bit in recent years, doing streams with everyone from Jon Jones to Donald Trump, but he still jumps back in to shake things up from time to time.
He recently hosted a holiday giveaway stream with Drake, had a back-and-forth feud with Ye, and went viral (again and again) for his commentary on the Kendrick-Drake beef. And who could forget his chaotic stream with Playboi Carti, which was kind of a disaster, but still generated more chatter (and views) than damn near every traditional rap interview in the past year?
Adin Ross is a controversial figure who ruffles a lot of feathers for what he says on stream—especially as he’s become more involved in the political world—but he’s carved out a valuable corner of the internet for himself, and his impact is indisputable. In the face of criticism, he’s seemed to embrace the role of a villain lately, doubling down on his opinions and happily going against the grain. So far, it’s working. —Eric Skelton
Platform: Rumble
Followers: 99K Rumble; 899K YouTube
Known For: Reporting and providing commentary on hip-hop figures and moments
There are hip-hop streamers who have become more famous, and there are creators doing more innovative things live, but DJ Akademiks remains the top dog when it comes to delivering hip-hop news. What sets Akademiks apart is his ability to discuss the underbelly of hip-hop while maintaining access to mainstream artists, blending both worlds in a way that resonates with his audience.
He was the big media winner during the Drake and Kendrick beef last year, positioning himself as a central figure in most conversations and being mentioned in multiple songs. But he’s also considered an authority when speaking—often haphazardly—about charges rappers are fighting (his coverage of the Lil Durk fed case comes to mind). To his credit, he still has access to some of the most famous rappers right now, including Drake and Playboi Carti, making it hard to ignore the updates he randomly dishes out.
I should add, one of Ak’s most viral moments of the year was a low point. Back in January, a genuinely uncomfortable situation arose when clips went viral of him on live with 15-year-old streamer NourGxd. Akademiks peppered the teenager with questions about his sex life and, at one point, offered to send exotic dancers to his house. Even Max, who has a relationship with Akademiks, spoke out about the incident.
He responded with a mix of remorse (“I am wrong. I will be better. This is a teachable moment.”) and defiance, at times seeming irritated by how a moment on stream became clipped-out fodder for mainstream media. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
Platform: Twitch
Followers: 1.7M Twitch; 1.34M YouTube
Known For: For making songs on stream, taking viewers inside the recording process
If you’re a rapper in 2025, a Plaqueboymax stream is likely part of your music rollout plan. Max has always had a natural talent for both music and engineering, and now he’s leading the streaming world into its next era by taking a procedural approach. When rappers join him for his In The Booth series, they don’t just perform—they actually create music with Max live on stream. Max broadcasts his screen and engineers the session on Twitch, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the music-making process. He’s already had a number of songs take off, including “Pink Dreads,”which became a minor hit at the start of the year.
He’s also been at the center of some of the most viral rap storylines so far this year. He made headlines in January after getting in a back-and-forth with Lil Tjay, who wouldn’t stop smoking weed during one of his streams. And even before that, Max was going viral almost every other day, with clips of his streams with 41 and Cash Cobain and the Slizzies constantly popping off on the timeline.
The guest appearances are also getting more impressive. He’s had everyone from Wiz Khalifa to UK stars like Central Cee and Skepta on his streams recording music. And that’s just In The Booth. I didn’t even get to the just-as-popular Song Wars series, where artists go head-to-head playing music for a panel of virtual judges. That series has helped launch hits—e.g., 41’s “Chill Guy”—and even escalated a minor rap beef between Jace! and Toosii.
At the rate he’s going, Max is going to be No. 1 on next year’s list. —Jordan Rose
Platform: Twitch
Followers:16.5M Twitch; 12.2M YouTube
Known For: Making high-energy content with rappers
During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, Lil Yachty gave Kai Cenat his flowers. He called the 23-year-old content creator the “Drake of streaming” before explaining the appeal of streaming personalities in general: “I appreciate these kids just going in front of their computers and being themselves.”
Kai is on track to become the first truly transcendent superstar streamer, largely due to the power of simply being himself. While he’s been a well-known figure for years, his popularity skyrocketed last fall during his record-breaking month-long subathon, Mafiathon 2. Not only did he set a new record by gaining 728,535 followers in a single stream, but the event also served as a platform for some of the biggest rappers in the game.
During the biggest moment of his career, hip-hop was front and center and the moments were endless: Snoop Dogg rolling a blunt in record time; Quavo rapping his verse on Post Malone’s “Congratulations” while Kai hyped him up; NLE Choppa, DDG, and Kai freestyling together; G Herbo tearfully reflecting on the death of his father while hugging his son Yosohn; Lil Yachty randomly pointing out that Kai’s Roche Bobois couch probably cost $30K; Sexyy Red playing the extreme noodle-hitting game; and Lil Uzi Vert passing Kai $50k like it was pocket change. I can keep going here.
This is what makes Kai different. While most streamers are connected to the fringes of rap—kicking it with street rappers, making songs with regional figures, or hosting hangout sessions with artists that blur the line between caricature and MC—Kai has captured the attention of the biggest names in hip-hop, and they typically enter his world on his terms.
This brings us back to the Yachty quote we highlighted earlier: When you’re spending hours streaming, it’s hard to fake the funk. The best thing Kai has going for him is that he’s authentically himself and he seems like a pretty good hang—you believe him when he’s clowning, just as much as you believe him when he’s being motivational. And his more forthcoming nature, or willingness to be critical, hasn’t hurt his status. Lil Baby essentially dismissed Kai’s lukewarm review of WHAM, but it ended up sparking the broader conversation the internet had about the album.
And this ability to be a trusted source for celebrities doesn’t seem to be slowing down. This week, Carti essentially confirmed he was dropping I Am Music when he pinned a message from Kai—”Friday?”—on his Instagram. Carti then hopped into his DMs, replying simply with, “Friday.”
The best part? We got to watch it all unfold live. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
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