Key Highlights
- No rap songs in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time since February 2, 1990.
- This occurred due to rule changes that deemed certain descending songs recurrent and removed them from the chart.
- The last rap song to be in the top 10 was Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther,” which fell off the Hot 100 on October 25, 2025.
- This marks a decline in rap’s commercial dominance, with its market share slipping from nearly 30% in 2020 to just over 25% in 2025.
The End of an Era for Rap on the Billboard Hot 100
On October 9, 2025, at the BET Awards held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Kendrick Lamar and SZA performed their hit song “Luther,” which had been reigning as the top single on the Billboard Hot 100 for an unprecedented 13 weeks. However, this performance marked a significant moment for rap music: with “Luther” falling off the chart dated October 25, there were no rap songs in the top 40 of the Hot 100 for the first time since February 2, 1990.
The highest-ranking rap song on that week’s chart was YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin,” at No. 44. Cardi B’s “Safe” (featuring Kehlani) and BigXthaPlug’s “Hell at Night” (featuring Ella Langley) also ranked in the 40s, at Nos. 48 and 49, respectively. The streak of rap songs in the top 40 had lasted for a remarkable period—35 years, eight months, and three weeks.
The Rule Changes That Ended Rap’s Dominance
Recent rule changes to Billboard’s Hot 100 methodology played a significant role in ending this long-standing streak. For the chart dated October 25, descending songs were deemed recurrent and removed from the chart if they had exceeded certain durations on the chart while also falling below certain updated chart thresholds. This particular change resulted in “Luther” being removed from the top 40 of the Hot 100 after spending 46 weeks on it.
With “Luther” and seven other songs going recurrent, there was extra opportunity for songs below them to rebound into the top 40 or reach it for the first time. However, no rap songs were close enough to the threshold to make that jump, further highlighting a recent dip in rap’s commercial dominance.
A Decline in Rap’s Market Share
The lack of rap songs in the Hot 100’s top 40 is not just an isolated incident but part of a broader trend. Hip-hop’s overall market share reached its peak in 2020, when it nearly hit 30%. However, by 2025, this figure had dropped to just over 25%, and it has remained steady at that level so far.
Five years ago, on the equivalent chart week (dated October 24, 2020), a staggering 16 of the top 40 songs were rap songs.
Two years ago (October 28, 2023), this number had dropped to eight. The industry is currently in an interesting period with some of its biggest names like Drake and Kendrick Lamar somewhat dormant. Nonetheless, recent months have seen significant releases from Cardi B and BigXthaPlug.
The Future of Rap on the Billboard Hot 100
Despite this notable decline, the rap world is not entirely without major releases. Both Cardi B and BigXthaPlug have released new albums since August, and even without a new album, Drake has been releasing steady singles since announcing his upcoming “Iceman” album in July.
“Luther” remains the most recent rap song to appear in the Hot 100’s top 10, last doing so on the chart dated August 2, when it ranked at No. 9 before falling to No. 12 the next week. The closest another rap song got to the top 10 was BigXthaPlug’s “All the Way” (featuring Bailey Zimmerman), which peaked at No. 4 in April and briefly reached No. 22 on September 6.
For now, the rap song-less streak continues for a second week as no rap songs rank in the Hot 100’s top 40 this week (dated November 1, 2025). However, “Shot Callin” does show some progress by breaking into the region, climbing to No. 43.
