Every year, YouTube releases its list of top creators and offers a cultural snapshot of what captured our attention. It reflects who shaped the jokes we repeated, the challenges we tried, the music we streamed, and the digital worlds we escaped into. The 2025 list does all of that, but it also exposes a clear reality. Out of the 10 most influential creators of the entire year, only two Black creators appear: IShowSpeed and CoryxKenshin.
In a landscape powered by massive digital audiences, global fandoms, and billion-view moments, their inclusion carries weight. The absence of more Black peers also raises important questions. However, their rise demonstrates what Black creators continue to accomplish, even within an industry that often overlooks their contributions.
What The 2025 Top Creators List Reveals About YouTube
According to YouTube’s official 2025 Trending report, the platform has entered a new moment in which creators shape pop culture in real time. YouTube explains that even cultural phenomena that did not begin on the platform, including “Squid Game” and “KPop Demon Hunters,” turned into global moments because creators expanded those universes through skits, recreations, and fancam-inspired content.
The report also notes that many of the year’s most-talked-about games were not produced by major studios. They came from creators working inside Roblox on projects like “Grow a Garden” and “Steal a Brainrot.”
Yet the top creators list remains far from diverse. According to The Hollywood Reporter, MrBeast continues to dominate the No. 1 spot, maintaining a streak that began in 2020. The rest of the list features a mix of established names and rising channels. Only IShowSpeed and CoryxKenshin represent the depth of engagement and global influence that Black creators and Black digital culture generate.
IShowSpeed
IShowSpeed’s third-place ranking is a direct result of his focus, consistency, and bold approach to content creation. According to a previous AFROTECH™ report, IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., earned his first $1 million at 16. He explained on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast that he became fully committed to streaming during his sophomore year of high school. He said that he gave up on school and poured everything into daily livestreams.
This commitment required difficult choices. His mother grew uncomfortable with his streaming habits and issued an ultimatum that he would have to leave her home if he didn’t quit streaming. With only 2,000 subscribers at the time, he chose to move to Detroit to live with his father. In his own words, once he begins something, he does not stop.
This mindset shaped the creator he became. YouTube’s 2025 report notes that IShowSpeed pushed the limits of the platform by launching nonstop 24/7 IRL livestreams across the country, which helped earn the No. 3 spot on the top creators list.
IShowSpeed also avoids unnecessary excess. AFROTECH™ reported that his first major spending choice was a home for his mother. He said he was never focused on buying chains, clothes, or cars. He simply had money and kept working.
CoryxKenshin
CoryxKenshin’s No. 8 placement reflects the impact of a creator who built more than a channel; he built a community. According to YouTube’s 2025 report, CoryxKenshin’s fan base purchased hundreds of thousands of copies of his self-published manga series, which is a rare achievement in the gaming world.
A Sports Illustrated profile positions CoryxKenshin as both a gaming legend and a cultural staple for many fans, especially Black Gen Z viewers. The article describes how viewers grew up watching him navigate horror games, tell stories, and create a space that felt like a combination of humor, comfort, and emotional honesty.
CoryxKenshin’s content created connection. His energy, editing style, and willingness to share personal reflections made many viewers feel seen. According to the profile, his videos often felt like a safe space for fans seeking joy or relief.
While exploring their individual achievements, this moment calls attention to the reality that Black creators continue to anchor major fandoms and shape culture. Their presence on the list is powerful, but the absence of more Black creators is meaningful.
