Is Rap Music Missing the Beat?

By Amie Ahn Dec. 10, 2025 

The dropping of Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s 13-week No. 1 hit “luther” from the Billboard Hot 100 marked the first time in over 35 years without a single rap song ranked among the top 40 most popular songs in the U.S. The two-week drought was brought to an end by Megan Thee Stallion’s new song “Lover Girl,” which ranked No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart, but the absence nonetheless ignited debate over whether the rap genre is in decline, or simply evolving.  

The disappearance of “luther” from the Billboard Top 40 was directly caused by Billboard’s new rules for the Hot 100 chart. The organization changed its policy regarding the removal of recurrent songs once they no longer qualify as “contemporary hits,” per NPR. Prior to the rule change, songs were dropped from the Hot 100 if they dropped below No. 25 after 52 weeks, or below No. 50 after 25 weeks. The new rules enforce stricter standards for songs, dropping songs that fall below No. 10 after 52 weeks, below No. 25 after 20 weeks or below No. 5 after 78 weeks. In addition, Billboard also pointed out the decline of rap’s commercial dominance and market share as a key reason for the lack of rap songs on the recent Hot 100.  

According to musicologist and historian Zachary Diaz on Newsweek, a contributing factor to the perceived decline of hip-hop is “musical gentrification,” which causes the distinction between hip-hop and other genres to become increasingly blurred. Musical gentrification is when corporations and significant music label companies target viral popularity—especially fame on social media platforms—for profits. This shift may push newer hip-hop artists to pursue viral hits at the expense of authenticity and cultural value. Due to this consequent increasing fusion of hip-hop with other music genres, the definition of hip-hop has become unclear for many, with its most distinctive characteristics being muted to blend with other genres, per Newsweek. 

“Rap has lost its original value in some ways, as certain songs nowadays are just meaningless lyrics or profanity, as opposed to older rap music which was often more uplifting and empowered listeners,” Sophomore Daniela Cardenas Rojo said. 

Hip-hop and rap music first emerged in the early 1970s, serving as minimalist lyric-centered music which contrasted with the multi-layered house music trending at the time. Hip-hop grew from African American, Afro-Caribbean and Latino communities within cities that were often plagued with poverty, and entered the mainstream in its “Old School” period as major record and film producers began seeing commercial potential in the genre. 

“Old School” rap had more party-focused lyrics and simpler rhymes in comparison with rap in its “New School” era, which added more complex beats and a greater rock influence. Increasingly, a variety of rap styles, including “conscious” rap and “gangsta” rap, as well as the incorporation of varying combinations of R&B, funk and jazz styles, began to coexist in the hip-hop picture. Artists increasingly used their lyrics to bring forth issues of racial injustice and inequality.  

Some say that the grayer lines between hip-hop and other genres is a natural part of the genre evolving and adapting to the current musical picture. 

“Rap music is not on a downfall; although the genre today may be different and feel heavily commercialized, many rap artists nonetheless put a lot of care into their songs and create work that is meaningful to them. The current era is just bringing a large variety of styles to the table,” Junior Lasya Madineni said.  

While rap music’s absence from the top charts is sparking claims of a decline in rap, the ever-changing culture of rap music and the music industry always leaves room for debate on its identity and cultural value.

---

About the Contributors

Amie Ahn

community news & feature world editor

Amie Ahn is a junior at Leland High School and a page editor for The Charger Account. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, binging kdramas, and dancing.