Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 contains no rap songs for the first time since 1990

The baton passed from one hip hop who has been affected by another for more than thirty years has been deleted. Kendrick Lamar And SZA‘s hit single “Luther” left the Billboard Hot 100 following rule changes in the chart resulted in the record being removed after 46 weeks, of which the song spent 13 weeks at number one. The record was still a Top 40 hit – landing at No. 38 in its final week – but did not maintain a placement at No. 25 or higher after its 26th week on the chart, which according to the recurring rule change led to its rejection.

For the first time since 1990, the Top 40 of the Hot 100 does not contain a single rap song. The space is instead occupied by the entirety of Taylor Swift The life of a showgirl – now in its third week – as well as hits from Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Kehlani and Alex Warren, whose single ‘Ordinary’ spent 37 weeks on the chart.

A significant portion of the records in the Top 40 are slow hits, such as ‘Love Me Not’ by Ravyn Lenae or ‘Mutt’ by Leon Thomas. Others, like Justin Bieber’s “Daises” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” made high debuts and stuck around.

Yet there are still a few rap records just outside the Top 40 that could break through. YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Shot Callin,” which debuted on the Hot 100 in late September, has moved up to No. 43. There isn’t much competition in the genre. Other songs on the chart that qualify as rap — determined by songs that also qualify on the Hot Rap Songs chart, where “Luther” remains at number one — include BigXthaPlug and Ella Langley’s “Hell At Night” at No. 50, as well as Cardi B and Kehlani’s “Safe” at No. 57.

It’s worth noting that there are rappers on the Hot 100 who hold positions outside of rap music. Creator’s “Sugar on the Tongue,” Tyler, which appears on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, has spent 14 weeks on the chart with a peak position of No. 41 and a current position of 51. Further down, Doja Cat’s “Jealous Type” has fallen to No. 57 after peaking at No. 28 in September.