Hip-Hop Hits a Milestone: No Rap Songs in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 for First Time in 35 Years
In a landmark moment for the hip-hop genre, for the first time since February 1990, no rap or hip-hop tracks appear in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The week-ending chart dated October 25, 2025, shows the longest stretch in three and a half decades without a rap song in the Top 40. The absence is triggered by multiple factors—but most directly by a recent methodology change from Billboard that triggered the exit of Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s track Luther, which had been lingering on the chart for many weeks but dropped below the new threshold and was removed.
What changed?
Billboard implemented new rules about when songs become “recurrent” (and are therefore removed from the Hot 100) based on how far they have descended and how long they have been on the chart. The revised criteria include:
- A song falling below No. 25 after 26 weeks.
- A song below No. 50 after 20 weeks.The result: “Luther” peaked at No. 38 in its final week and was declared recurrent under the new rules—thus it dropped off.
Why this matters
- The rap genre has been a staple of the Top 40 for over 35 years, and its disappearance from that zone marks a symbolic moment.
- The absence suggests a potential shift in mainstream music consumption: while hip-hop remains culturally dominant in many arenas, its commercial representation at the very top of the singles chart is under pressure. One source noted hip-hop’s U.S. market share falling from nearly 30 % in 2020 to about 24 % in 2025.
- For artists, labels, producers and content creators (such as yourself), this moment triggers questions about how hip-hop tracks are charting, whether streaming behavior, marketing, genre crossover, or radio play are shifting.
What’s next for hip-hop?
While the Top 40 snapshot looks bleak for rap this week, opportunities remain:
- Several rap tracks are just outside the Top 40 (for example, YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin” sat at No. 44).
- The chart rules change means that songs previously able to “hang on” are now more likely to cycle off, making room for fresh entries—but also raising the bar for what counts as a breakout.
- The situation could prompt the hip-hop community—artists, labels, influencers—to rethink strategy: streaming only, viral campaigns, shorter releases, or hybrid genre formats may gain more focus.
Final thoughts
For your readers, the “Plugheads”, this is a moment of both challenge and possibility: the commercial map for hip-hop is shifting, but creativity and innovation remain as strong as ever. The absence of rap in the Top 40 doesn’t mean the genre is dead—it means chart dynamics are changing, and those who pay attention early may gain the advantage.