A landmark change in Billboard’s chart methodology has ended a three-and-a-half-decade streak for rap music, leaving the Hot 100 Top 40 without a single hip-hop track following the exit of Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther.”
For the first time in 35 years, the **Billboard Hot 100** Top 40 no longer features a single **rap song**. This historic shift occurred after **Kendrick Lamar’s** popular track, **”Luther,”** featuring **SZA**, was removed from the chart, marking the end of a decades-long run for the genre in the upper echelons of popular music. The catalyst for this monumental change was a series of new guidelines implemented by **Billboard**, redefining how songs are deemed eligible to remain on its highly influential charts.
The End of an Era: Rap’s Hot 100 Streak Snapped
The **35-year streak** officially concluded on October 29, 2025, when **Billboard** announced the removal of **Kendrick Lamar** and **SZA’s “Luther”** from the Hot 100. This departure was not due to a sudden drop in popularity but rather a direct consequence of **Billboard’s rule changes** for recurrent songs. The track finished at No. 38 in its final week but failed to meet the new threshold of being above No. 25 after 26 weeks on the chart.
Previously, **Billboard** removed songs that fell below No. 25 after 25 weeks or No. 50 after 20 weeks. The updated parameters for chart descent are significantly stricter:
- Below No. 5 after 78 weeks
- Below No. 10 after 52 weeks
- Below No. 25 after 26 weeks
- Below No. 50 after 20 weeks
Despite the song’s exit from the Top 40, **Kendrick Lamar** has had an undeniably successful year. His album, GNX, made history by becoming the longest-running No. 1 album on the **Billboard** Top Rap Albums chart. Furthermore, Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show and swept all five Grammy categories for which he was nominated, showcasing his continued critical acclaim and widespread influence. This context highlights that “Luther’s” removal was a technicality of chart mechanics, not a reflection of his artistic standing.
A Shifting Landscape: Pop’s Reign and Rap’s Resilience
The current chart landscape paints a picture of dominant **pop music**. Artists like **Taylor Swift** have seen immense success, with every track from her recent album, The Life of a Showgirl, appearing on the chart. Other pop powerhouses such as **Justin Bieber**, Olivia Dean, and Alex Warren, whose single “Ordinary” has impressively spent 37 weeks on the chart, also maintain strong positions.
This shift isn’t an isolated incident but rather indicative of a broader trend. **Billboard** suggests that the absence of **rap songs** in the Hot 100 Top 40 is “the latest sign of a recent dip in rap’s commercial dominance.” While **hip-hop** reached a market peak in 2020, it has experienced a gradual decline since then. In October 2020, there were 16 **rap songs** in the Top 40; by 2023, that number had been cut in half, illustrating a clear deceleration in market share, as reported by **Billboard**.
Despite **rap music’s** absence from the Top 40, several tracks are still holding strong lower down the chart and could potentially make a comeback. As of the October 25 Hot 100, these include:
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin” at No. 44
- **Cardi B’s** “Safe” (featuring Kehlani) at No. 48
- **BigXthaPlug’s** “Hell at Night” (with Ella Langley) at No. 49
This shows that while the very top of the charts has momentarily shifted, **hip-hop’s** presence remains robust, with artists continually connecting with audiences.
Looking Back: The Last Time Rap Missed the Top 40
To understand the significance of this event, one must look back to the last time **rap music** was entirely absent from the **Billboard Hot 100** Top 40. This occurred during the first week of February 1990. At that time, **Biz Markie’s** iconic hit **“Just a Friend”** was bubbling under the Top 40 at No. 41. However, the very next week, the track surged to No. 29, quickly reinstating **hip-hop’s** presence and beginning the **35-year streak** that has just concluded. This historical context underscores the rarity of such a moment, confirming its status as a significant marker in music industry trends. For more details on the historical shift, refer to the official Billboard report.
What This Means for the Future of Hip-Hop on the Charts
The departure of **rap songs** from the **Billboard Hot 100** Top 40 sparks considerable discussion within the music community. While some might interpret it as a sign of fading influence, the genre’s history suggests a cyclical nature of commercial dominance. **Hip-hop** has consistently adapted and evolved, navigating shifts in listener preferences and industry dynamics.
This moment could serve as a catalyst for innovation and a resurgence. The strong performance of **Kendrick Lamar’s** album and the consistent presence of other **rap artists** just outside the Top 40 indicate that the talent and audience are very much present. It’s also important to remember that chart positions are influenced by many factors, including new artists, album cycles, and indeed, chart rule changes. As **People** reported, the removal of “Luther” was primarily due to the new guidelines, despite its ongoing popularity. Read more about the context on People.
For a genre that has defined generations and profoundly shaped global culture, this brief absence from the **Billboard Hot 100** Top 40 is likely a temporary pause rather than a definitive end. The resilience and creative energy of **hip-hop** artists and their dedicated fanbase suggest that a powerful comeback, much like **Biz Markie’s** in 1990, is not only possible but probable.
