For the first time in 35 years, the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40 chart lacks any rap songs, signaling a potential shift in the genre's commercial dominance. The last time this occurred was on February 2, 1990, marking the end of a significant era for hip-hop.
The absence of rap in the upper echelons of the chart became official with the chart dated October 25, 2025. This shift was triggered when "Luther," the hit song by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA, fell off the chart due to Billboard's new recurrence rules. "Luther" had previously held the No. 1 spot for 13 weeks. In its final week, "Luther" finished at No. 38 but failed to reach No. 25 after 26 weeks, leading to its removal based on the updated guidelines.
Billboard's new methodology removes songs that have been on the chart for an extended period and have fallen below a certain position. The updated rules stipulate the removal of songs based on chart descent: below No. 5 after 78 weeks, No. 10 after 52 weeks, No. 25 after 26 weeks, and No. 50 after 20 weeks. "Luther," in its 46th week, was one of eight songs affected by this rule change.
Following "Luther"'s departure, the highest-ranking rap song is YoungBoy Never Broke Again's "Shot Callin," sitting at No. 44, followed by Cardi B's "Safe" (feat. Kehlani) at No. 48, and BigXthaPlug's "Hell at Night" (feat. Ella Langley) at No. 49.
This absence of rap songs in the Top 40 coincides with a decline in hip-hop's market share in the U.S., which has fallen from nearly 30% in 2020 to 24% in 2025, according to Luminate data. In October 2020, 16 of the Top 40 songs were rap, but by 2023, that number had decreased to eight.
Some scholars suggest that "musical gentrification," where hip-hop's core elements are diluted and integrated into other genres, has contributed to this shift. This dilution makes hip-hop's influence pervasive but often uncredited. Music historian Zachary Diaz described hip-hop as being "everywhere but nowhere," while Ohio State professor Treva Lindsey cautioned that mainstream rap might be "gasping for creative breath".
Despite the current chart situation, many believe that hip-hop culture remains vibrant in underground scenes, social movements, and global adaptations. Lindsey notes that "Hip-hop's decline is in the mainstream industry—not in the culture itself". While the charts may not reflect hip-hop's previous dominance, its evolution continues, potentially paving the way for a new musical renaissance.
The current Billboard Top 40 is heavily populated by new tracks from Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl," leaving limited space for rap hits to rebound. The top songs in the US include "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift, "Golden" by HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami, and "Ordinary" by Alex Warren.
Kendrick Lamar, despite "Luther"'s departure, has had a successful year. The album featuring "Luther," GNX, became the longest-running No. 1 album on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. Lamar also headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show and won a Grammy in all five categories he was nominated for.
