The Billboard charts recently marked a significant milestone, revealing a notable decline in rap’s popularity. As of the week ending October 25, 2025, the Billboard Hot 100 chart displayed no hip-hop tracks in its Top 40 for the first time since February 2, 1990.
Historic Drop of Hip-Hop on Billboard
This historic absence of rap songs followed Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s 13-week number one single, “Luther,” which fell off the chart. The last time the Top 40 was void of hip-hop was when Biz Markie’s hit “Just a Friend” was at number 41.
- Last time rap went missing from Top 40: February 2, 1990
- Previous number one: Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther”
- Track duration on chart: 46 weeks
Despite this lack of representation at the top, several rap songs remain present further down the Hot 100. YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin'” is currently positioned at number 44, followed by Cardi B featuring Kehlani’s “Safe” at 48, and BigXthaPlug’s “Hell at Night” featuring Ella Langley at 49.
Analysis: Is Hip-Hop Losing its Dominance?
Billboard suggests that the disappearance of rap from the Top 40 reflects a broader trend of declining commercial power in the genre. Contributing to this shift is a recent rule change affecting chart eligibility criteria. Under these new guidelines, songs that fall below a certain position after a lengthy stay are labeled as recurrent and subsequently removed from the Hot 100. This change led to “Luther” exiting the Top 40.
| Song Title | Position | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Shot Callin’ | 44 | YoungBoy Never Broke Again |
| Safe | 48 | Cardi B (featuring Kehlani) |
| Hell at Night | 49 | BigXthaPlug (featuring Ella Langley) |
Ongoing Rivalries in the Rap Scene
The landscape of hip-hop continues to evolve. Kendrick Lamar’s recent album, “GNX,” has gained attention amid his ongoing feud with Drake. Their rivalry heightened with Lamar’s Grammy wins for the diss track “Not Like Us,” which aimed at Drake. This conflict has also led to legal actions, as Drake recently sued his record label, UMG Recordings, for alleged defamation linked to the promotion of Lamar’s track.
Although a federal judge dismissed Drake’s lawsuit—which did not name Lamar—it appears the battle between the two artists will continue, as Drake’s legal team plans to file an appeal.
As hip-hop navigates through these changes, the future of rap’s ruling status on the charts remains uncertain.
