The Best Pop Stars of the 21st Century Podcast: Shakira (No. 17) & Jay-Z (No. 16)

On this week's (September 6) episode of the Biggest Pop Stars of the 21st Century podcast, we take a look at a pair of enduring all-time greats: Latin queen Shakira and rap GOAT Jay-Z.

First, host Andrew Unterberger is added Billboard EspañolIsabela Raygoza and Sigal Ratner-Arias to trace Shakira's journey from Colombian rocker to global pop star to Latin pop elder. We cover what made her such a huge presence in early '00s pop music, how she was able to meet American pop icons like Beyoncé and Rihanna in collaborations, and why you should kind of throw chart stats out the window when judging her overall legacy. Of course, we also discuss her most recent (and most triumphant) comeback, where she fought through personal turmoil and emerged with a pair of 2020s smashes bigger than most creators half her age could manage.

Then (at point 38:38), Billboard Hip-Hop's Angel Diaz and Michael Saponara pause to quote a scripture from Jay Hova's Book. We start with how Jay-Z was already well on his way to all-time great status by the turn of the millennium, but try to capture how his early 00s run helped bring not only his career but also all of hip-hop. to new heights in pop music and pop culture. Then we discuss his retirement (and the first of many comebacks), his career-defining relationships with Beyoncé and Kanye West, and his sometimes divisive later work – before asking if Jay might have still a classic in it.

Listen to our latest below, catch up on our past episodes here and be sure to subscribe Bulletin board'small The biggest pop stars of the 21st century series wherever you take your podcasts! (New episodes will be revealed every Friday, after we publish our two new Top Pop Star rankings for that week.)