Hot Rap Songs is a record chart published by the music industry magazine Billboard which ranks the most popular hip hop songs in the United States. Introduced by the magazine as the Hot Rap Singles chart in March 1989, the chart was initially based solely on reports from a panel of selected record stores of weekly singles sales. The first song to reach number one on Hot Rap Singles during the 2000s was "Hot Boyz" by Missy Elliott featuring Nas, Eve and Q-Tip, which spent a record 18 weeks atop the chart from December 1999 to March 2000.
As a response to the music industry's move away from physical retail-available singles in the late 1990s, Billboard revamped the chart from a sales-based chart to an airplay-based chart in 2002. Named Hot Rap Tracks, the new chart's rankings were based on each track's estimated audience, as monitored by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems from a panel of 134 radio stations. Speaking of the changes, Billboard stated that the new chart "more accurately reflects rap's most popular acts." The first number-one song to benefit from the changes was "I Need a Girl (Part One)" by P. Diddy featuring Usher and Loon, which rose from number twenty to the top spot the week the changes took effect.
By the end of the 2000s, 89 singles had topped the Rap Songs chart, with the final number-one hit being "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys. "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, which originally topped the chart for 10 weeks from November 2004 to January 2005, was the number-one single on the Billboard decade-end Rap Songs chart. The top Rap Songs artist of the 2000s was 50 Cent, who attained seven number-one singles during the decade—"In da Club", "21 Questions", "Magic Stick", "P.I.M.P.", "Candy Shop", "Hate It or Love It" and "Just a Lil Bit"—and tied with Bow Wow and Kanye West for the most number-one singles for any artist during this period.
Number-one singles
| † | Billboard year-end number-one single |
| ‡ | Billboard decade-end number-one single |
| ↑ | Return of a single to number one |
| Contents |
|---|
| ← 1990s • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010s → |
| Single | Artist | Reached number one | Weeks at number one |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Hot Boyz" † | Missy Elliott featuring Nas, Eve and Q-Tip | November 27, 1999 | 18 | |
| "Whistle While You Twurk" | Ying Yang Twins | April 1, 2000 | 2 | |
| "Wobble Wobble" | 504 Boyz | April 15, 2000 | 6 | |
| "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" | Nelly | May 27, 2000 | 4 | |
| "Flamboyant" | Big L | June 24, 2000 | 3 | |
| "Callin' Me" | Lil Zane featuring 112 | July 15, 2000 | 5 | |
| "Bounce with Me" | Lil' Bow Wow featuring Xscape | August 19, 2000 | 2 | |
| "Callin' Me" ↑ | Lil Zane featuring 112 | September 2, 2000 | 1 | |
| "Bounce with Me" ↑ | Lil' Bow Wow featuring Xscape | September 9, 2000 | 7 | |
| "Move Somethin'" | Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek (Reflection Eternal) | October 28, 2000 | 1 | |
| "It's OK" | Slimm Calhoun featuring André 3000 | November 4, 2000 | 2 | |
| "Souljas" | Master P | November 18, 2000 | 1 | |
| "Baby If You're Ready" | Doggy's Angels featuring LaToiya | November 25, 2000 | 8 | |
| "Oh No" | Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg | January 20, 2001 | 1 | |
| "Baby If You're Ready" ↑ | Doggy's Angels featuring LaToiya | January 27, 2001 | 1 | |
| "Ms. Jackson" | Outkast | February 3, 2001 | 3 | |
| "It Wasn't Me" | Shaggy featuring Ricardo "Rikrok" Ducent | February 24, 2001 | 2 | |
| "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" | Lil' Bow Wow | March 10, 2001 | 4 | |
| "What Would You Do?" | City High | April 7, 2001 | 6 | |
| "My Baby" † | Lil' Romeo | May 19, 2001 | 10 | |
| "Purple Pills" | D12 | July 28, 2001 | 3 | |
| "My Projects" | Coo Coo Cal | August 18, 2001 | 4 | |
| "Raise Up" | Petey Pablo | September 15, 2001 | 10 | |
| "Dansin wit Wolvez" | Strik 9ine | November 24, 2001 | 6 | |
| "Round and Round" | Jonell featuring Method Man | January 5, 2002 | 8 | |
| "Lights, Camera, Action!" | Mr. Cheeks | March 2, 2002 | 8 | |
| "Feels Good (Don't Worry Bout a Thing)" | Naughty by Nature featuring 3LW | April 27, 2002 | 5 | |
| "Ballin' Boy" | No Good | June 1, 2002 | 1 | |
| "I Need a Girl (Part One)" | P. Diddy featuring Usher and Loon | June 8, 2002 | 1 | |
| "Oh Boy" / "The ROC (Just Fire)" | Cam'ron featuring Juelz Santana / Cam'ron featuring Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek |
June 15, 2002 | 4 | |
| "Hot in Herre" † | Nelly | July 13, 2002 | 7 | |
| "Dilemma" | Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland | August 24, 2002 | 10 | |
| "Work It" | Missy Elliott | November 2, 2002 | 12 | |
| "Air Force Ones" | Nelly featuring Kyjuan, Ali and Murphy Lee | January 25, 2003 | 2 | |
| "In da Club" † | 50 Cent | February 8, 2003 | 12 | |
| "21 Questions" | 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg | May 3, 2003 | 7 | |
| "Magic Stick" | Lil' Kim featuring 50 Cent | June 21, 2003 | 5 | |
| "Right Thurr" | Chingy | July 26, 2003 | 4 | |
| "P.I.M.P." | 50 Cent | August 23, 2003 | 2 | |
| "Get Low" | Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins | September 6, 2003 | 2 | |
| "Shake Ya Tailfeather" | Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee | September 20, 2003 | 3 | |
| "Get Low" ↑ | Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins | October 11, 2003 | 1 | |
| "Damn!" | YoungBloodz featuring Lil Jon | October 18, 2003 | 1 | |
| "Stand Up" | Ludacris featuring Shawnna | October 25, 2003 | 8 | |
| "The Way You Move" | Outkast featuring Sleepy Brown | December 20, 2003 | 5 | |
| "Slow Jamz" | Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx | January 24, 2004 | 7 | |
| "One Call Away" | Chingy featuring J-Weav | March 13, 2004 | 3 | |
| "Tipsy" | J-Kwon | April 3, 2004 | 5 | |
| "Overnight Celebrity" | Twista | May 8, 2004 | 8 | |
| "Slow Motion" | Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim | July 3, 2004 | 6 | |
| "Lean Back" † | Terror Squad | August 14, 2004 | 12 | |
| "Drop It Like It's Hot" ‡ | Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell | November 6, 2004 | 10 | |
| "Lovers and Friends" † | Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Usher and Ludacris | January 15, 2005 | 8 | |
| "Candy Shop" | 50 Cent featuring Olivia | March 12, 2005 | 6 | |
| "Hate It or Love It" | The Game featuring 50 Cent | April 23, 2005 | 4 | |
| "Just a Lil Bit" | 50 Cent | May 21, 2005 | 9 | |
| "Let Me Hold You" | Bow Wow featuring Omarion | July 23, 2005 | 7 | |
| "Like You" | Bow Wow featuring Ciara | September 10, 2005 | 4 | |
| "Gold Digger" | Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx | October 8, 2005 | 4 | |
| "Soul Survivor" | Young Jeezy featuring Akon | November 5, 2005 | 6 | |
| "I Think They Like Me" | Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat and Bow Wow | December 17, 2005 | 2 | |
| "Grillz" | Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali and Gipp | December 31, 2005 | 10 | |
| "Lean wit It, Rock wit It" | Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Lil Peanut and Charlay | March 11, 2006 | 7 | |
| "What You Know" | T.I. | April 29, 2006 | 6 | |
| "It's Goin' Down" † | Yung Joc | June 10, 2006 | 9 | |
| "Shoulder Lean" | Young Dro featuring T.I. | August 12, 2006 | 3 | |
| "Pullin' Me Back" | Chingy featuring Tyrese | September 2, 2006 | 6 | |
| "Money Maker" | Ludacris featuring Pharrell | October 14, 2006 | 7 | |
| "Shortie Like Mine" | Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown and Johntá Austin | December 2, 2006 | 7 | |
| "We Fly High" | Jim Jones | January 20, 2007 | 3 | |
| "Runaway Love" | Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige | February 10, 2007 | 5 | |
| "This Is Why I'm Hot" | Mims | March 17, 2007 | 7 | |
| "I'm a Flirt" | R. Kelly featuring T.I. and T-Pain or Bow Wow featuring R. Kelly | May 5, 2007 | 5 | |
| "Party Like a Rockstar" | Shop Boyz | June 9, 2007 | 7 | |
| "Make Me Better" † | Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo | July 28, 2007 | 6 | |
| "Shawty" | Plies featuring T-Pain | September 8, 2007 | 3 | |
| "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" | Soulja Boy | September 29, 2007 | 5 | |
| "Good Life" | Kanye West featuring T-Pain | November 3, 2007 | 9 | |
| "Low" | Flo Rida featuring T-Pain | January 5, 2008 | 11 | |
| "Independent" | Webbie featuring Lil Phat and Lil Boosie | March 22, 2008 | 4 | |
| "Lollipop" † | Lil Wayne featuring Static Major | April 19, 2008 | 18 | |
| "A Milli" | Lil Wayne | July 26, 2008 | 7 | |
| "Put On" | Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West | September 13, 2008 | 1 | |
| "Whatever You Like" | T.I. | September 20, 2008 | 10 | |
| "Live Your Life" | T.I. featuring Rihanna | November 29, 2008 | 10 | |
| "Heartless" | Kanye West | February 7, 2009 | 5 | |
| "Dead and Gone" | T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake | March 14, 2009 | 4 | |
| "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" | Soulja Boy featuring Sammie | April 11, 2009 | 2 | |
| "Dead and Gone" ↑ | T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake | April 25, 2009 | 4 | |
| "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" ↑ | Soulja Boy featuring Sammie | May 23, 2009 | 2 | |
| "Boom Boom Pow" | The Black Eyed Peas | June 6, 2009 | 1 | |
| "Best I Ever Had" † | Drake | June 13, 2009 | 15 | |
| "Run This Town" | Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West | September 26, 2009 | 7 | |
| "Forever" | Drake featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem | November 14, 2009 | 1 | |
| "Empire State of Mind" | Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys | November 21, 2009 | 9 |
Most number ones
| Artist | Number-one singles |
|---|---|
| 50 Cent Bow Wow Kanye West |
7 |
| Nelly T.I. |
6 |
| Ludacris T-Pain |
4 |
| Lil Wayne | 3 |
Notes
- The original version of "I'm a Flirt" was recorded by Bow Wow featuring R. Kelly, and a remix was recorded by Kelly featuring T.I. and T-Pain. Due to their similar characteristics, plays for both versions were totaled under one chart listing.
References
- Keyes 2004, p. 102.
- ^ "Rap Chart Changes From Sales To Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 23. Nielsen Business Media. June 8, 2002. p. 10. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- Rossi, Terri (March 25, 1989). "Interloper On Rap Chart". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 12. BPI Communications.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 1999 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2000 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- Trust, Gary (February 3, 2012). "Drake 'Proud'-ly Rewrites Record for Most Rap Songs No. 1s". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Billboard Unveils New Rap Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2002 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2009 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2004 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2005 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs (Decade End)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- "Best of the 2000s: Rap Songs Artists". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- "50 Cent – Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- "The Year In Music 2000: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media. December 30, 2000. p. 58. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2001 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media. December 29, 2001. p. 46. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Rap Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media. December 28, 2002. p. 52. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2003 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- "Year In Music: Hot Rap Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media. December 27, 2003. p. 65. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- "Year In Music & Touring: Hot Rap Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media. December 25, 2004. p. 60. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- "2005 Billboard Music Awards Winners". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2006 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- "Year-end top tens". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. December 29, 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2007 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- Paoletta, Mike (March 3, 2007). "Inside Track". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. p. 70.
- "Rap Songs: 2007 (Year-End)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ "Rap Songs – 2008 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- "Rap Songs: 2008 (Year-End)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- "Rap Songs: 2009 (Year-End)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- "Rap Songs – 2010 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
Bibliography
- Keyes, Cheryl Lynette (2004). Rap Music and Street Consciousness. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-07201-7.
External links
| Lists of Billboard number-one rap singles | |
|---|---|