For the first time in over three decades, not a single rap song is charting inside the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 — a shift that’s got music fans everywhere talking.

It’s official — there are no rap songs charting within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 this week, marking the first time this has happened in over 35 years. The last time rap was completely absent from the top 40 was way back in February 1990.

This week’s chart is instead dominated by pop, country, K-pop, and R&B, with artists like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Olivia Dean, and Sabrina Carpenter taking over. It’s a major moment for pop’s resurgence, but also a reminder of how much the rap landscape has shifted in recent years.

While hip-hop still has a strong presence outside the top 40 — and continues to thrive on streaming and TikTok — it’s wild to think that a genre that once ruled the charts has hit this kind of dry spell. Will it be a temporary dip or a sign of changing tides? Only time (and a few fire drops) will tell.

Ileyah

Ileyah is a mom, a writer and a musician. She loves late nights and gluten free snacks.