Billboard first published its Hot Rap Songs chart in 1989.
The chart was originally introduced as Hot Rap Singles, reflecting the growing commercial importance of rap recordings in the United States. It tracked the popularity of rap singles using data connected to radio airplay and sales, giving the genre a dedicated national ranking within Billboard’s chart system.
The chart’s creation marked an important step in hip-hop’s movement from a regional cultural form into a major part of the music business. Billboard later renamed it Hot Rap Songs, and its methodology evolved as listening habits changed and digital platforms became more important.
This chart is sometimes confused with the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks songs across many genres and predates the rap-specific list. The Hot Rap Songs chart focuses on hip-hop and rap recordings, making it a more specialized measure of the genre’s popularity.