Rap leaves Top 40: What's changed in the Billboard 100

For the first time in 40 years, there is not a single rap track on the Billboard 100 ranking above No. 40. The highest position is the 44th place occupied by YoungBoy Never Broke Again's "Shot Callin". Cardi B and BigXthaPlug close the first triad, ranking 48th and 49th.

The reason for this cardinal change was the revision of the rules of Billboard, which involves the classification of hits as “recurrent” (Recurrent), to get rid of songs, the relevance of which has long passed. For example, Teddy Swims’ popular hit “Lose Control”, which for a long time held the top positions in the chart.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther" are missing from the Hot 100. Other reasons include a general decline in commercial rap, possibly triggered by industry players (particularly the escalating conflict between Lamar and Drake).

There is a lack of fresh rap links capable of consistently delivering hits, while most are now “ageing millennials”. Moreover, radio stations and the judicial system are “growing Baba Yagi” in the rap industry – young performers often face problems, which negatively affects their careers. The industry seems no longer interested in their development, preferring to use virality and word of mouth for promotion.

As a result, in the Top 40, rap music is present in abundance, but it is performed mainly by pop-sowers, R&B artists such as Justin Bieber and Chris Brown, “taking” the original finds of the genre.