From Billie Eilish to Ice Spice, the 2000s babies have been making their presence known across the entertainment industry over the past few years. Bridging the worlds of Twitch livestreams and music is 21-year-old streamer and content creator Kai Cenat.
Earlier this week (Aug. 4), Cenat made national headlines when a giveaway he organized in Union Square, Manhattan, devolved into a riot that injured several people and damaged countless pieces of property. Cenat was taken into custody by the NYPD and charged with first-degree rioting, inciting a riot, and unlawful assembly. 65 of the hundreds of people present were arrested for the participation in the riot.
While the unfortunate failure of his giveaway gifted many people their first introduction to Kai Cenat, the streamer’s 23 million-strong follower total across social media platforms proves how deeply he and his content have penetrated both Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Hailing from The Bronx, New York, Cenat is the most-subscribed Twitch streamer of all time, and the winner of streamer of the year at the 12th Annual Streamy Awards. Cenat has also crossed over into music, releasing several like 2022’s “Bustdown Rollie Avalanche” (with NLE Choppa) and this year’s “Dogs” (with IShowSpeed). This May, Cenat performed the intro for the Fast X soundtrack, which peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard 200.
Kai Cenat’s combination of comedy, gaming, and music, specifically hip-hop and R&B, have helped him grow into one of the most influential content creators for the next generation — and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by some of music’s biggest stars.
Spurred by a genuine love for Cenat and knowledge of his powerful social media reach, several key artists across contemporary hip-hop, pop and R&B have streamed with the cross-platform powerhouse.
Here are 15 musicians who have streamed and collaborated with Kai Cenat:
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Lil Uzi Vert
Kai Cenat was one of the many social media personalities that made cameos in Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock” music video, and the streamer was able to turn that experience into some exclusive behind-the-scenes content featuring the Philly rapper. Throughout the video, Uzi takes Cenat through the making of their 2023 MTV VMAs-nominated music video.
This year (Feb. 11), “Just Wanna Rock” became Uzi’s seventh Hot 100 top ten hit from 106 total entries. They have also three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including Pink Tape, which became the first hip-hop album to top Billboard’s marquee albums chart in 2023.
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Drake
During a livestream with 21 Savage last November, Drake joined via FaceTime and pledged to pay Kai Cenat $121,000, provided that he beat 21 Savage in a game of NBA 2K. “But, if 21 wins, then me and you have to do something for the kids … We have to go and give back,” the “Search & Rescue” rapper said.
Drake has earned 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 from 298 entries. He most recently visited the summit alongside Future and Tems with last year’s “Wait For U.” On the Billboard 200, the hip-hop icon has sent twelve titles to the top of the chart, including last year’s joint album with 21 Savage, Her Loss.
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Adele
Alright, so technically, Adele didn’t really stream with Kai Cenat, but she did make a brief appearance on his broadcast! In April, the streamer linked up with sports agent Rich Paul, and his girlfriend, none other than Grammy-winning superstar Adele, FaceTimed him during the stream. “Hi, darling!” Adele said to a shell-shocked Cenat, as he peered over Paul’s shoulder.
Adele has earned five No. 1 hits on the Hot 100, including “Someone Like You” and “Easy on Me.” On the Billboard 200, the British powerhouse has sent three consecutive albums to the chart’s summit.
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Bobby Shmurda
Kai Cenat has collaborated with “Hot N—a” rapper Bobby Shmurda on multiple occasions. From blind dates to dance lessons, the two New York stars have provided a steady stream of content for both of their fan bases. In one video, Cenat even “returned” the snapback Bobby famously threw in the air in his much-memed “Hot N—a” music video.
Bobby Shmurda has charted a trio of tracks on the Hot 100: “Hot N–a” (No. 6), “STOOPID” (No. 25, with 6ix9ine), and “Bobby Bitch” (No. 92).
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NLE Choppa
“Walk Em Down” rapper NLE Choppa and Kai Cenat are frequent collaborators across streaming and music. From sleepovers to double dates, content from the pair’s link-ups appears on both of their official YouTube channels. Last year, the “Shotta Flow” rapper even guested on Kai’s debut single, “Bustdown Rollie Avalanche.” The song’s official music video has amassed over 12 million views on YouTube.
NLE Choppa has earned 12 entries on the Hot 100, the highest of which is this year’s “Slut Me Out” (No. 28). On the Billboard 200, the Memphis rapper has notched one top ten title from five entries, 2020’s Top Shotta (No. 10).
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Nicki Minaj
In May, hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj joined Cenat for a joint Instagram Live, which she referred to as a “semi-episode of Queen Radio.” During the live, Minaj promised to “definitely come by” Cenat’s show, and the streamer listened intensely as she explained the concept of astrological star signs and gave him some romance advice.
Nicki Minaj has earned a whopping 132 entries on the Hot 100, including the No. 1 hits “Super Freaky Girl,” “Say So” (with Doja Cat), and “TROLLZ” (with 6ix9ine).
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Lil Baby
Last October, superstar rapper Lil Baby joined Cenat for a stream, in which the collaborators flaunted their immediate success on the Twitch charts and lamented about the popular dance crazes they still had to learn. For Baby, the two dances he wanted to learn were the griddy and getting sturdy.
Lil Baby has earned 13 top ten hits on the Hot 100, from 136 overall entries. On the Billboard 200, the rapper has notched three No. 1 albums from six top ten entries, including 2020’s My Turn and last year’s It’s Only Me.
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21 Savage
Last November, Grammy-winning rapper 21 Savage joined Kai Cenat for a three-and-a-half-hour livestream. During the stream, 21 and Cenat chopped it up about hookah and drill music, and played lots of NBA 2K.
21 Savage has charted 85 songs on the Hot 100, including the No. 1 singles “Rockstar” (with Post Malone) and “Jimmy Cooks” (with Drake). On the Billboard 200, he has earned three No. 1 albums: 2019’s I Am > I Was, 2020’s Savage Mode II (with Metro Boomin), and last year’s Her Loss (with Drake).
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Toosii
During one especially viral in stream in April, Raleigh (via Syracuse) rapper Toosii uncovered a curious stain on Cenat’s carpet while dancing with him in his room. Thanks to hilarious footage of the two stars getting sturdy and attempting backflips, Toosii’s stream was a particularly memorable one in Cenat’s catalogue.
This year, Toosii earned his first career Hot 100 entry with “Favorite Song,” which eventually peaked at No. 5. On the Billboard 200, both of his studio albums have reached the top 20: 2020’s Poetic Pain (No. 17) and 2023’s Naujour (No. 19).
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GloRilla
Back in May, Grammy-nominated Memphis rapper GloRilla linked up with Cenat for an Instagram Live that was almost entirely focused on the streamer flirting with her. From flexing his biceps to complimenting her tattoos, Cenat tired his best to rizz up the “Tomorrow 2” rapper.
GloRilla has earned three entires on the Hot 100: “Tomorrow 2” (No. 9, with Cardi B), “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” (No. 42, with Hitkidd), and “On What U On” (No. 56, with Moneybagg Yo). On the Billboard 200, her Anyway… Life’s Great project peaked at No. 11.
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A Boogie wit da Hoodie
Despite his eye-popping streaming success, Kai Cenat always puts on for his city. Last year, he pranked New York rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie in a “fake producer” video, in which the “Jungle” rapper attempted to lay some bars over a purposely poorly mixed beat.
A Boogie wit da Hoodie has earned 35 entries on the Hot 100, including “Look Back at It” (No. 27), “My S–t” (No. 86), and “Hello” (No. 83, with Pop Smoke). On the Billboard 200, he has scored four top ten albums, including the No. 1 record Hoodie SZN (three weeks).
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Blueface
In another stream that pulled blockbuster cross-platform engagement numbers, “Thotiana” rapper Blueface crossed paths with Cenat. In the stream, Blueface brought along his then-girlfriend Chrisean Rock, who threw a chair at Cenat’s wall, putting a hole through his room. Naturally, that particularly clip spawned weeks of discourse and explosive engagement across social media.
Blueface has earned three career entries on the Hot 100, the highest of which remains 2019’s “Thotiana” (No. 8). On the Billboard 200, the L.A. rapper has charted three titles, peaking with 2019’s Famous Cryp (No. 29).
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Lil Yachty
Over the course of a four-hour livestream with Cenat, Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Yachty revealed that he doesn’t “really eat fruits or vegetables like that” and attempted the viral trend of putting rubber bands around a watermelon until it explodes. Naturally, Yachty had his hookah on hand for when the watermelon finally burst into half, knocking Cenat to the ground. On a different stream, Yachty even played unreleased music for Cenat and his millions of Twitch viewers.
Lil Yachty has earned 18 entries on the Hot 100, including the top ten hits “Broccoli” (No. 5, with D.R.A.M.) and “iSpy” (No. 4, with KYLE). On the Billboard 200, the songwriter and producer has notched three top ten titles from nine overall entries, including 2017’s Teenage Emotions (No. 5), 2018’s Lil Boat 2 (No. 2), and 2023’s Let’s Start Here (No. 9).
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Polo G
From regular gaming streams to prank videos, Kai Cenat’s streaming catalog boasts nearly every kind of video content in existence — including mukbangs. Popularized by South Korean content creators in the early 2010s, mukbang videos find creators consuming copious amounts of food while speaking to their audience. In a video uploaded last June, Chicago rapper Polo G joined Cenat for a Chick-fil-A mukbang. During the video, Cenat revealed his plans to break into the acting world, and Polo teased a possible remix of “Bustdown Rollie Avalanche.” Cenat also appeared in the music video for Polo G’s “Distraction,” which has collected over 26 million views on YouTube since its release last June.
Polo G has earned 48 entries on the Hot 100, including the No. 1 hit “Rapstar,” which spent two weeks at the summit. On the Billboard 200, he has sent each of his three studio albums to the chart’s top ten: 2019’s Die a Legend (No. 6), 2020’s The GOAT (No. 2), and 2021’s Hall of Fame (No. 1).