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Billboard Hot 100 Sees First Rap-Free Top 40 Since 1990

10/30/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Billboard Hot 100 top 40 has no rap songs for the first time since 1990, due to chart rules classifying songs as recurrent.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Luther' spent 13 weeks at No. 1 and was removed from the top 40 under the recurrent rules.
The change shows rap's market share decline, from nearly 30% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.

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Story summary

The Billboard Hot 100 top 40 has no rap songs for the first time since 1990, due to chart rules classifying songs as recurrent.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Luther' spent 13 weeks at No. 1 and was removed from the top 40 under the recurrent rules.
The change shows rap's market share decline, from nearly 30% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.