Rap Missing from Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 for First Time Since 1990

For the first time in over three decades, no rap songs appear in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, a surprising turn for a genre that has dominated pop culture for years.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Luther, which spent 13 weeks at number 1, has now dropped off entirely.

The highest-ranking rap track is YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Shot Callin at number 44, followed closely by Cardi B and BigXthaPlug just outside the Top 40.

Industry observers say the change reflects evolving tastes in music.

Taylor Swift’s new album The Life of a Showgirl claims twelve Top 40 spots, while pop country hits from Post Malone and Shaboozey are gaining momentum.

Shifts in streaming habits, fewer viral rap moments on TikTok, and stricter Billboard rules have also played a role.

Rap’s share of US music consumption has dipped from nearly 30 percent in 2020 to around 24 percent in 2025, its lowest in almost a decade.

Rap has shaped slang, fashion, and youth culture for years, but new sounds from Afrobeat and country pop to EDM are now reaching broader audiences.

Despite the setback, insiders say rap’s dominance is not over.

Upcoming releases from Drake, Ice Spice, and Lil Baby could bring the genre back into the Top 40.

As one analyst told Complex, “Hip hop’s dominance might be pausing, but it is not disappearing, it is evolving.”

This week’s chart milestone signals a shift in pop music, but for now, rap remains a vital, evolving force in the industry.