Hip-hop’s dominance on the charts has hit a rare pause. For the first time since the late ’80s, no rap songs appeared in the Billboard Top 30. Analysts say the shift stems from pop’s resurgence, streaming algorithm changes, and a fragmented fanbase spread across short-form content instead of albums. While some see it as decline, others call it an evolution—where the culture’s heartbeat is now on TikTok, YouTube, and VR stages instead of traditional charts.
Tags: hiphop, charts, Billboard, culture, streaming, industry, analysis
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