For the first time in more than 35 years, no rap songs appear in the Billboard Hot 100's top 40. The streak came to an end on the chart dated Oct. 25, 2025, following the fall of Kendrick Lamar and ...

As one long-running hip-hop smash goes recurrent on the chart, the Hot 100's top 40 does not boast a single rap song, ending a streak that's lasted for over 35 years. By Andrew Unterberger With ...

From Kendrick's GNX domination to GloRilla's string of radio hits, which rappers have the strongest chances at next year's ceremony? By Kyle Denis From record-breaking tours to seismic comebacks, it’s ...

All of the greatest genres in music history have an origin story. And many believe that the origins of hip-hop can be traced to one particular performance back in 1973. Hip-hop music was an inevitable ...

Inspired by a new book tracing four pivotal years in the city’s history, hear a playlist of songs from the dawn of hip-hop that were swirling at the time. By Jonathan Mahler This is Jonathan Mahler. I ...

Week in and week out, there are plenty of brand-new rap songs, no matter the time of year. It can be really difficult to stay aware of what's out and also what's hot, so XXL decided to make things ...

We live in the Dot era. After demolishing rap rival Drake last year, Kendrick Lamar’s victory lap has dominated 2025 and the current hip-hop landscape. Super Bowl performance. More Grammy wins. “Not ...

This month YouTube’s most successful stationary mic platform On The Radar Radio savvily diversified. While the channel started with more boilerplate interview and trending news coverage, the channel’s ...

From MPCs to FL Studio sessions, one thing remains consistent across generations of Hip Hop and R&B: The power of the sample. With that said, few eras have been mined more heavily than the 1980s. With ...

Sampling is an art that has a history from the past to the present and remains a significant part of hip-hop’s creative DNA. Artists have consistently demonstrated a masterful ability to honor their ...

Was February unseasonably warm where you live too? I think that's why the past month felt especially turnt up — not only are the days longer, but it's 66 and sunny out. I didn't take a week off work, ...

You know how the cliché goes: rappers want to be basketball players, and basketball players want to be rappers. This has been a truism since the '90s, when rap really started taking off as a ...