The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by Billboard. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 30 positions at its inception in 1958, growing to 60 by 1973, when it was expanded to 100. In October 2012, it was shortened to 50 positions.
The chart is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African-American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, blues, R&B, doo-wop, rock and roll, soul, and funk, it is today dominated by contemporary R&B and hip hop. Since its inception, the chart has changed its name many times in order to accurately reflect the industry at the time.
History Beginning in 1942, Billboard published a chart of bestselling African-American music, first as the Harlem Hit Parade, then as Race Records. Then in 1949, Billboard began publishing a Rhythm and Blues chart, which entered "R&B" into mainstream lexicon. These three charts were consolidated into a single Hot R&B Singles chart in October 1958.
From November 30, 1963, to January 23, 1965, there were no Billboard R&B singles charts. The "Hot R&B Singles" chart was discontinued when Billboard determined it unnecessary due to so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop charts in light of the rise of Motown. The chart was reinstated as Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles on January 30, 1965.
Beginning August 23, 1969, the chart was renamed to Best Selling Soul Singles. The move was made by a Billboard editorial decision that the term "soul" more accurately accounted for the "broad range of song and instrumental material which derives from the musical genius of the black American". Beginning on July 14, 1973, the chart title was modified slightly to Hot Soul Singles. In late June 1982, the chart was renamed again, this time to Hot Black Singles because the music that African-Americans were buying and listening to had a "greater stylistic variety than the soul sound" of the early 1970s. Black Singles was deemed an acceptable term to encompass pop, funk, and early rap music popular in urban communities.
Beginning October 27, 1990, the Hot Black Singles chart was returned to the Hot R&B Singles name first used in 1958. In the December 5, 1992, issue of Billboard, a new Bubbling Under Hot R&B Singles chart was introduced, modeled on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. Hip hop was introduced to the chart beginning with the December 11, 1999 issue, when Billboard changed the name to Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks to recognize the influence and relationship of hip hop to the genre. Within a few years, the crossover of R&B titles onto the pop chart was so significant that all Top Ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 11, 2003, were by black artists. The lengthy title was shortened to Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on April 30, 2005.
The chart's methodology was changed starting with the October 20, 2012 issue, to match the Billboard Hot 100's---incorporating digital downloads and video streaming data (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs) and combining it with airplay of R&B and hip-hop songs across all radio formats, to determine song position. Also at this time, the chart was shortened to 50 positions.
Date range Title October 1942 – February 1945 The Harlem Hit Parade February 1945 – June 1949 Race Records June 1949 – October 1958 Rhythm & Blues Records (two or three separate charts—see above) October 1958 – October 1962"Hot R&B Sides", Billboard, October 27, 1962. p. 37. Accessed October 1, 2015 Hot R&B Sides November 1962 – November 1963 Hot R&B Singles"Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, November 3, 1962. p. 37. Accessed October 1, 2015"Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, November 23, 1963. p. 22. Accessed October 1, 2015 November 1963 – January 1965No chart published (see above) January 1965 – August 1969 Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles August 1969 - July 1973 Best Selling Soul Singles July 1973 - June 1982 Hot Soul Singles June 1982 – October 1990 Hot Black Singles October 1990 – January 1999 Hot R&B Singles January – December 1999 Hot R&B Singles & Tracks December 1999 – April 2005 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks April 2005 – present Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Significant song achievements Most weeks at number one
31 weeks "Luther" (2024–25) – Kendrick Lamar and SZA "I Just Might" (2026) – Bruno Mars
22 weeks "Not Like Us" (2024–25) – Kendrick Lamar
21 weeks "Kill Bill" (2022–23) – SZA
20 weeks "Old Town Road" (2019) – Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
18 weeks "The Honeydripper (Parts 1 & 2)" (1945–46) – Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers (number one on the "Juke Box Race Records" chart) "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (1946) – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (number one on the "Juke Box Race Records" chart) "One Dance" (2016) – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla "Industry Baby" (2021–22) – Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow
17 weeks "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" (1947) – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (number one on the "Juke Box Race Records" chart)
16 weeks "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" (1946) – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra (number one on the "Juke Box Race Records" chart) "Blurred Lines" (2013) – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell "Mutt" (2025) – Leon Thomas
15 weeks "Trouble Blues" (1949) – Charles Brown Trio (number one on the "Best Sellers Race Records" chart) "Be Without You" (2006) – Mary J. Blige "Lovin on Me" (2023–24) – Jack Harlow
Songs with most weeks on the chart 89 weeks – "Sure Thing" – Miguel (2011) 75 weeks – "Be Without You" – Mary J. Blige (2005) 74 weeks – "God In Me" – Mary Mary (2009) 73 weeks – "On the Ocean" – K'Jon (2009) 71 weeks "You Make Me Wanna..." – Usher (1997) "There Goes My Baby" – Usher (2010) 70 weeks – "Step in the Name of Love" – R. Kelly (2003) 68 weeks – "Can't Let Go" – Anthony Hamilton (2005) 66 weeks – "Blinding Lights" - The Weeknd (2020) 63 weeks – "In My Bed" – Dru Hill (1997) 61 weeks – "Cool" – Anthony Hamilton, David Banner (2008) 60 weeks – "Too Close" – Next (1998) 59 weeks – "Pretty Wings" – Maxwell (2009) "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" – Alicia Keys (2010) 58 weeks – "When I See U" – Fantasia (2007) "Teachme" – Musiq Soulchild (2007) "Love on Top" – Beyoncé (2011) 56 weeks – "If I Ain't Got You" – Alicia Keys (2004) "Lost Without U" – Robin Thicke (2007) "Until the End of Time" – Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé (2008) 55 weeks – "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole (2008) "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson (2008) "Drank in My Cup" – Kirko Bangz (2011) "Adorn" – Miguel (2012) "Snooze" – SZA (2023) 54 weeks – "Ain't I" – Yung L.A., Young Dro, T.I. "Stay" – Tyrese (2011) "Thrift Shop" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz (2012) 52 weeks – "We Belong Together" – Mariah Carey (2005) "Up!" – LoveRance feat. Iamsu & Skipper or 50 Cent (2011) "Thinkin Bout You" – Frank Ocean (2013) "Can't Hold Us" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton (2013) "All of Me" – John Legend (2014) “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA (2025)
Longest climbs to number one 43rd week – "Step in the Name of Love" by R. Kelly 35th week – "All of Me" by John Legend 32nd week – "Needed Me" by Rihanna Source:
Significant artist achievements Most number-one singles The artists with the most No. 1 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since October 1958.
Number of singlesArtistSourceDrake 20Aretha FranklinStevie WonderJames BrownJanet JacksonThe Temptations 13Marvin GayeMichael JacksonUsherLil Wayne
Artists with most weeks at number one on the chart
Weeks Artist Source 113† Louis Jordan
† Pre-October 1958 charts.
Most top 10 singles Number ofSingles Artist Source Drake James Brown Lil Wayne Future Nicki Minaj The Temptations Chris Brown Kanye West Kendrick Lamar Jay-Z Lil Baby
Most chart entries Most entries on chart since October 1958. Entries Artist Source 414 Drake 317 Future 235 Lil Wayne 194 Kanye West 190 Lil Baby 158 Chris Brown 152 Jay-Z 152 Travis Scott 146 Nicki Minaj 121 Eminem
Self-replacement at number one Dinah Washington, July 25, 1960: "A Rockin' Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love)" with Brook Benton replaced by "This Bitter Earth" Freddie Jackson, November 15, 1986: "A Little Bit More" with Melba Moore replaced by "Tasty Love" Nelly, August 24, 2002: "Hot in Herre" replaced by "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland Jay-Z, August 16, 2003: "Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z) replaced by "Frontin'" (Pharrell featuring Jay-Z) 50 Cent, April 16, 2005: "Candy Shop" featuring Olivia replaced by "Hate It or Love It" (The Game featuring 50 Cent) Alicia Keys, January 5, 2008: "No One" replaced by "Never See Me Again" (Kanye West) Drake, February 26, 2011: "Fall for Your Type" (Jamie Foxx featuring Drake) replaced by "Moment 4 Life" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake) Lil Wayne, July 26, 2011: "Motivation" (Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne) replaced by "I'm on One" (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne) Drake, February 25, 2012: "Make Me Proud" featuring Nicki Minaj replaced by "The Motto" featuring Lil Wayne 2 Chainz, August 18, 2012: "Mercy" with Kanye West, Big Sean, and Pusha T replaced by "No Lie" featuring Drake Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, May 4, 2013: "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz replaced by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton The Weeknd, October 3, 2015: "Can't Feel My Face" replaced by "The Hills" Drake, Feb. 20, 2016: "Work" (Rihanna featuring Drake) replaced by "Summer Sixteen" DJ Khaled, July 29, 2017: "I'm the One" featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne replaced by "Wild Thoughts" featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller Drake, April 21, 2018: "God's Plan" replaced by "Nice for What" Drake, July 21, 2018: "Nice for What" replaced by "In My Feelings" Travis Scott, November 3, 2018: "Zeze" (Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott and Offset) replaced by "Sicko Mode" Post Malone, April 6, 2019: "Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse)", with Swae Lee replaced by "Wow" Lizzo, November 23, 2019: "Truth Hurts" replaced by "Good as Hell" Tyler, the Creator, November 16, 2024: "St. Chroma" replaced by "Sticky"
Source:
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs was a chart composed of 25 positions that represented songs making progress to chart on the main R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Many times, songs halted their progress at this chart and never debuted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart could have also been seen as a 25 position quasi-addendum to the chart, since the chart represented the 25 songs below position number 50 that had not previously appeared on the main chart.
See also List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States) Rhythm and blues Hip-hop music Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
References Works cited
Notes
External links Current Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart