There Is No Rap Song In The Top 40 In 35 Years

 

For the first time in 35 years,  the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated October 25, 2025, had no rap songs in the top 40. The last time this happened it was February 2, 1990. 

The highest rap track was NBA YoungBoy's song "Shot Callin" at No. 44, followed by Cardi B's "Safe" (featuring Kehlani) at No. 48 and BigXthaPlug's "Hell at Night" (featuring Ella Langley) at No. 49. Back in February 1990, the top rap song was Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" at No. 41. This marked the start of the long streak, reflecting hip-hop's rise in mainstream pop culture.

The absence of rap music in the top 40 highlights a broader decline in rap's chart dominance in recent times. Hip-hop's market share in the United States declined from nearly 30% in 2020 to 24% by October 2025. Rap went down from 16 top 40 rap songs in October 2020 to none now.