Rap Disappears from Billboard Hot 100 for First Time Since 1990

In a major shift for music charts, the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 now contains no rap songs — a phenomenon not seen in over 35 years.

The change follows new charting rules that led to Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” falling off the list despite its long run.

What Changed & Why “Luther” Fell Off

The rule changes Billboard adopted remove older songs from the chart more aggressively when they slip below certain thresholds. In this case, “Luther”, which had occupied a spot in the Top 40, was reclassified and dropped, creating a void that no rap track stepped into.

Also notable: the dominance of Taylor Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl, which currently has multiple entries within the Top 40, makes room scarce for other genres.

A Historic Break in a Long Streak

Since February 1990, rap has always had at least one track in the Top 40. That streak ended this week.

The last rap song to sit just outside that boundary before the streak began was Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend”, which had hovered around the 40s before re-entering higher positions.

Where Rap Is Now

Though rap is absent from the Top 40, it’s not off the chart entirely. Some rap tracks linger just outside:

• YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin” is currently the highest-ranked rap song, landing at No. 44.
• Other tracks like Cardi B’s “Safe” (ft. Kehlani) and BigXthaPlug’s “Hell at Night” sit in the upper 40s as well.

What This Suggests for Hip-Hop & Charts

• Temporary vs structural: Some see this as a blip caused by rule tweaks; others view it as part of a longer decline in rap’s commercial dominance.
• Market share trends: Rap’s share of streaming and chart presence has already been slipping from its peaks of recent years.
• Genre crossover & influence: Even as pure rap entries decline, rap’s stylistic influence retains presence in pop, R&B, and genre hybrids.
• Chart gatekeeping & methodology: How Billboard defines “recurrent” songs or removes older entries now has a greater effect on what kinds of music rise or fade.

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