According to Billboard, an era is ending: For the first time since 1990, no rap song is in the top 40. This is due to the methodology – but also to a decline in the genre.
For the first time in 35 years, no rap track is in the top 40 of the Billboard charts after Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” fell from the Hot 100.
Editorial recommendations
According to Billboard, the genre’s highest-ranking song on the Oct. 25 Hot 100 was YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin'” – although it only came in at No. 44. Cardi B’s “Safe” (featuring Kehlani) and BigXthaPlug’s “Hell at Night” (featuring Ella Langley) followed at Nos. 48 and 49.
It started in 1990 with Biz Markie
“When was the last time there were no rap songs in the Top 40 of the Hot 100? You have to go back to February 2, 1990, when the highest-charting rap song was Biz Markie’s eventual Top 10 hit ‘Just a Friend,’ which had just climbed to No. 41 on the chart,” Billboard reports. “The following week, ‘Just a Friend’ jumped to No. 29, beginning a streak of rap songs in the Top 40 of the Hot 100 that would last 35 years, eight months and three weeks.”
Change in chart methodology
That time is now over. The reason for the latest drop is primarily a change in the regulations in the Billboard Hot 100 methodology: For the charts from October 25th, songs that slipped down the rankings were classified as recurring and removed from the charts if they had exceeded a certain time on the charts and at the same time fell below certain updated chart thresholds, according to Billboard – for example if they fell below number 25 after more than 26 weeks in the charts were. This change led to the elimination of “Luther,” which had fallen to No. 38 in its 46th week of charting on the previous week’s Hot 100, according to Billboard.
Commercial decline
But even regardless of this rule change, there is a commercial decline in the genre. Hip-hop’s market share in the US peaked at nearly 30% in 2020. By 2023 it fell to just over 25% and was at 24% for the week of October 23, 2025. In the Hot 100 of the corresponding week five years ago (October 24, 2020), there were still 16 rap songs in the top 40, two years later (October 28, 2023) there were only eight.
However, numerous rappers jumped to the genre’s defense. Producer Alchemist wrote on social media: “The fact that there is no rap in the top 40 has nothing to do with whether the music is good or not.”
Smino said: “In case you haven’t noticed, rap is finally underground again.” Rome Streetz agreed, saying, “Maybe it’s just me, but I never looked at the Billboard charts to find the rap I should listen to. My favorite rap songs probably weren’t on the charts in the first place.” And Mikey Rocks criticized: “No songs on the Billboard charts? Yes, rap has a problem… but only for YOU. You haven’t learned anything, you have no appreciation for music as an art form. You were only focused on copying what makes the most money. You have no real interest outside of the aesthetics of rap.”