TEKASHI 6IX9INE, NICKI MINAJ: YouTube Bubble Burst

Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj’s new video for “Trollz” got a ton of views on the first day, but did it break a record?

The answer depends on who you ask. Tekashi and Nicki both bragged about having the “most views in hip-hop history in less than 24 hours” with 46 million. Nicki posted “thank you for watching” and celebrated the milestone on Instagram. But a spokesperson for YouTube says not so fast. 

“Videos eligible for YouTube’s 24-hour record debuts are those with the highest views from organic sources within the first 24 hours of the video’s public release… This includes direct links to the video, search results, external sites that embed the video and YouTube features like the homepage, watch next and Trending. Video advertising is an effective way to reach specific audiences with a song debut, but paid advertising views on YouTube will no longer be considered when looking at a 24-hour record debut.