No Hip-Hop Songs in US Top 40 for First Time Since 1990 Due to Billboard Rule Changes

For the first time since 1990, no hip-hop or rap songs are featured in the Billboard Hot 100's top 40 chart due to a recent rule change that removes songs labeled as “recurrent” after 26 weeks if they fall below position 25. Kendrick Lamar and SZA's hit "Luther," which spent 13 weeks at Number One, was removed after 46 weeks despite still being in the top 40, leading to the absence of rap in the top 40 for the week of October 29, 2025. This development has sparked debate about the commercial decline of rap music and its cultural impact, with some viewing it as a positive cultural shift and others expressing skepticism about the genre's future in mainstream charts. Despite the decline in chart presence, rap remains influential culturally, with many iconic rap songs and artists never reaching the top 40 but still defining the genre's legacy. The current situation highlights a potential shift in popular music tastes, with other genres like K-pop and Latin music gaining prominence. Several rap songs remain just outside the top 40, indicating the genre may still re-emerge in the charts.