No Rap Songs Are in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40 for the First Time Since 1990

[MicIsGod]

I think an under discussed reason for that is that they keep getting burned by these dudes killing each other and OD’ing

Could be that. Could be the overall disinterest in dealing with what comes with some hip hop acts. The labels aren’t putting the money in it is what I want people to get. Nothing on that top 40 is organic. It’s all marketing spend.

 

[Zero]

Yall really didn't perma ban these plants?

 

[VegetasHairline]

Yall really didn't perma ban these plants?

They don't post anywhere else but The Booth either.

 

[M4T]

I think an under discussed reason for that is that they keep getting burned by these dudes killing each other and OD’ing

Yeah, this idea that the labels want rappers to die so they don't have to be pay them is ridiculous. They want artist that can at least drop 5 albums without dying.

 

[T.H.E. Goat]

I don't put much faith in rap songs charting anymore as we know how these labels get down with bots, stream farms, and bundles.

 

[coldcall]

We need Jay-z to come save us

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Hiphop returned to the streets/underground. No more suits or corporations that’s what bruhs been asking for right…

How could that be if all these nikkax have signed their name away in blood? lol

 

[dubsmith_nz]

I think the bigger issue is on a mainstream level the artists getting promoted by labels and media are more in the vein of Mims or Trinidad James than a J Cole or Kendrick.

They're 1 hit wonders, who make popcorn music for the moment with minimal talent. Like how does Ice Spice get so much media and attention off the back of 1 or 2 fluke hits.

There is plenty of great music getting dropped this year, but most of it flies under the radar mainstream wise and comes from already established artists. Evidence, Gibbs, 2 Chainz, Mobb, Ghost etc.

 

[tysigna]

I think the bigger issue is on a mainstream level the artists getting promoted by labels and media are more in the vein of Mims or Trinidad James than a J Cole or Kendrick.

They're 1 hit wonders, who make popcorn music for the moment with minimal talent. Like how does Ice Spice get so much media and attention off the back of 1 or 2 fluke hits.

There is plenty of great music getting dropped this year, but most of it flies under the radar mainstream wise and comes from already established artists. Evidence, Gibbs, 2 Chainz, Mobb, Ghost etc.

I feel like a lot of you only read the title and completely ignored the recent billboard changes.

"Recent rule changes to Billboard’s Hot 100 methodology did play a part in the streak coming to an end. For the chart dated Oct. 25, descending songs were deemed recurrent and removed from the chart if they had exceeded certain durations on the chart"

Billboard hot 100' top 40 is now exclusively for brand new songs.

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/22/g-s1-94489/billboard-hot-100-chart-changes-songs

"Billboard has revised its system of removing songs from the Hot 100 singles chart once they've gotten too old to qualify as contemporary hits."

This is why Not Like Us, which is the highest charting rap song on right now on some streaming services, won't chart next week...not because it doesn't have enough points, but because it's now too old according to the new rules.

"The powerful change is designed to end the long reign of older smashes"

 

[tysigna]

This basically confirms that Kendrick ft Sza's Luther and Bruno Mars x Lady Gaga song are gonna be among the last lasting hits we'll ever see on the billboard...

 

[DMGAINGREEN]

We need Jay-z to come save us

Jay Z is one of the main reasons hip hop is in the state it’s in now , his goofy gatekeeping ass lol

 

[Revolutionary]

I feel like a lot of you only read the title and completely ignored the recent billboard changes.

"Recent rule changes to Billboard’s Hot 100 methodology did play a part in the streak coming to an end. For the chart dated Oct. 25, descending songs were deemed recurrent and removed from the chart if they had exceeded certain durations on the chart"

Billboard hot 100' top 40 is now exclusively for brand new songs.

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/22/g-s1-94489/billboard-hot-100-chart-changes-songs

"Billboard has revised its system of removing songs from the Hot 100 singles chart once they've gotten too old to qualify as contemporary hits."

This is why Not Like Us, which is the highest charting rap song on right now on some streaming services, won't chart next week...not because it doesn't have enough points, but because it's now too old according to the new rules.

"The powerful change is designed to end the long reign of older smashes"

This... don't even know what some people are arguing about lol.

Billboard basically announced they changed their formula, and you got some ppl in here talking about labels not putting money on hip hop or whatever lol...how do you want a hip hop track to chart on the billboard hot 100 that now only take new releases into account, when there hasn't been any major release for a while

 

[VegetasHairline]

Unlike you mentally ill bozo bots, most people don't care about the Billboard 100 or their rule system.

 

[ManBearPig]

this is a perfect time for Lil Uzi Vert to make a comeback

 

[Jaguar93]

How could that be if all these nikkax have signed their name away in blood? lol

Not the underground