What happened to Kendrick Lamar and SZA's hit "Luther"?

The hit single "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA departed the Billboard Hot 100 chart following rule changes that removed the record after 46 weeks, including 13 weeks at Number One.

Why is there no rap music in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40?

For the first time since 1990, the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart does not contain a single rap song. Instead, the space is occupied by pop hits from artists like Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, and Olivia Dean.

What types of songs are dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart?

The Billboard Hot 100 chart is now dominated by slow-burn hits, high-debuting pop songs, and collaborations between artists. Rap music has temporarily disappeared from the Top 40, with only a few records lingering just outside the top tier.

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Rap Music Disappears from Billboard Hot 100 as Pop Reigns Supreme

29 Oct

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Summary

Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther" removed from Billboard Hot 100
Top 40 on Hot 100 lacks a single rap song for first time since 1990
Slow-burn hits and high-debuting pop songs dominate the chart

Rap Music Disappears from Billboard Hot 100 as Pop Reigns Supreme

As of 2025-10-29T20:15:13+00:00, a significant change has occurred on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For the first time since 1990, the Top 40 no longer contains a single rap song. This shift is marked by the departure of Kendrick Lamar and SZA's hit single "Luther," which spent 13 weeks at Number One but was removed due to recent chart rule changes.

The space previously occupied by rap hits is now taken over by the entirety of Taylor Swift's album "The Life of a Showgirl," as well as popular tracks from artists like Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Kehlani, and Alex Warren. Additionally, the chart has seen a rise in slow-burn hits, such as Ravyn Lenae's "Love Me Not" and Leon Thomas' "Mutt," along with high-debuting pop songs like Justin Bieber's "Daises" and Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild."