Eminem is the favorite male artist among Gen-Z

Nearly 30 years after his debut, Eminem still dominates the charts and the favorite artists lists. The Detroit rapper has showcased a kind of longevity that’s very rare in the music industry, which no one can argue. While his continued popularity can be equated to his elite body of work, Eminem’s ability to connect with Gen-Z is truly a marvelous feat.

Luminate Index recently released a list of the favorite musical acts among Gen-Z audiences. Rihanna sits at the top of the list, despite not releasing an album since 2016. She is followed by Taylor Swift, which shouldn't be a surprise.

Eminem is ranked third overall but is the highest-ranked male artist on the list. Luminate Index has prepared the list based on several key factors. As per chart data, streaming numbers, social media footprint, public awareness and perception count, while audience engagement has been taken into consideration to decide the order of the list.

What’s shocking here is that Eminem had some harsh words to say about the Gen-Z audience in the recent past. The 52-year-old had issues with how they criticize hip-hop. On “Realest” he said, “Gen Zers actin' like rap experts zip up your gaps and close your mouths / B---h, you ain't been on this planet long enough to tell me how rap's supposed to sound.”

He took another shot at Gen-Z and the cancel culture on "Trouble," off The Death of Slim Shady album. It seems like the people who are outraged at Eminem and hip-hop are only a small fraction of the Gen-Z audience because according to the data, he's their favorite male artist across genres. Eminem is followed by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to complete the top five.

Three other rappers have made their way into the top 10 of this list. Juice WRLD, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar hold the eighth, ninth, and tenth spots respectively.