Every No. 1 Rap Song in Hot 100 History

Vanilla Ice, "Ice Ice Baby" (1990)

Date reached No. 1: November 3, 1990
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: Earthquake and Vanilla Ice

Blondie's No. 1 hit "Rapture" was groundbreaking for its incorporation of hip-hop into pop music, but all it has is a rap verse. It's not a rap song. So with that, Vanilla Ice holds the distinction of being the first rap artist to land at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Though the song has been mocked and shamed for many years, "Ice Ice Baby," with its sample of Queen's "Under Pressure," is not the worst song to top the Hot 100 charts. Plus, the video is a pretty great relic of the early '90s, with flat top fades and Miami University sweatshirts (shouts to the 2 Live Crew).

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Feat. Loleatta Holloway, "Good Vibrations" (1991)

Date reached No. 1: October 5, 1991

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Donnie Wahlberg

So many elements were at work in the success of "Good Vibrations:" the "Love Sensation" sample, the piano chord progression, Mark Wahlberg's torso. It didn't matter who you were or what your lifestyle was, "Good Vibrations" either made you want to air punch, or make out.

P.M. Dawn, "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" (1991)

Date reached No. 1: November 30, 1991
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: P.M. Dawn
Most rap fans today hear the name P.M. Dawn and think, "You mean the guy KRS-One threw off the stage?" In reality, P.M. Dawn was actually a duo of Prince Be and DJ Minutemix. They might have been softer than the hemp T-shirts worn by hippies, but why should that matter when they scored one of rap's first No. 1 hits? "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" doesn't sound like the typical rap record of its era, but it did blend the same break Eric B. & Rakim used on "Paid In Full" and incorporate a sample of Spandau Ballet's "True," something that might not have been seen possible just a few years before.

Kriss Kross, "Jump" (1992)

Date reached No. 1: April 25, 1992

Weeks At No. 1: 8
Producer: Jermaine Dupri

Kriss Kross' "Jump" should be remembered for being the first huge hit by producer Jermaine Dupri. By borrowing from G-Funk styles of the day, Dupri was able to write and market the duo into a song that was "technically" bigger than anything going on out West.

Sir Mix-a-Lot, "Baby Got Back" (1992)

Date reached No. 1: July 4, 1992
Weeks At No. 1: 5
Producer: Sir-Mix-A-Lot
"Baby Got Back" didn't try to hide anything. In fact, its dedication to being almost caricature-like is probably why it's so successful. The song is the aural equivalent of a cartoon with its whip crack sound effects, gratuitous record scratching, and outright denial for lyrical euphemisms. "Baby Got Back" sat atop the Hot 100 for five weeks, and penetrated the entertainment world, appearing in myriad films and television shows.

Snow, "Informer" (1993)

Date reached No. 1: March 13, 1993
Weeks At No. 1: 7
Producer: John Ficarrotta and MC Shan
With the legendary Shan on the boards, Snow had instant hip-hop cred. The record has gone down as a bit of novelty, but 20 years ago, it was the jam. The Canadian MC's track stayed on top of charts for a whopping seven weeks.

Coolio Feat. L.V., "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995)

Date reached No. 1: September 9, 1995
Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: Doug Rasheed

The first few rap songs to reach No. 1 position skirted the line between serious rap and novelty. "Gangsta's Paradise" did not have the jokey appeal of "Baby Got Back," and seemed to have more authenticity than say, "Ice Ice Baby" or "Jump," but hearing it in now makes it not feel too dissimilar from those songs.

What really undercuts the song is also what made it so popular: the chorus by L.V. Hearing someone bellow about "living in a gangster's paradise" certainly had more cultural relevance during the height of '90s gangster rap, but with the era of gangster rap now long past, it sounds horribly dated.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, "Tha Crossroads" (1996)

Date reached No. 1: May 18, 1996
Weeks At No. 1: 8
Producer: DJ U-Neek

This song has thug singing, fast rapping, and it was released during the heated East and West Coast mid-'90s rivalry. The Midwest's Bone Thungs-N-Harmony could not have picked a better year to release "The Crossroads." Though the group had been around for a few years, this was their biggest single, and it owned the summer of 1996. That this reflective and peace-calling song came from a group that was on neither side of the United States coasts seems to make even more sense some 15-plus years later.

2Pac Feat. K-Ci & JoJo/Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, "How Do U Want It" / "California Love" (1996)

Date reached No. 1: July 13, 1996
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Johnny "J"/Dr. Dre

This double A-side single from 2Pac offered two different sides of a similar type of party track. "How Do U Want It," with its K-Ci & Jojo chorus, sounds like an afternoon party; California Love" sounds like Dr. Dre taking the G-Funk styles he had perfected in the earlier part of the decade and making it as pop as possible. These crossover successes ended up being his highest charting songs.

Puff Daddy Feat. Ma$e, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" (1997)

Date Reached No. 1: March 22, 1997

Weeks At No. 1: 6
Producer: Stevie J, Carlos “6 July” Broady, Diddy, and Nashiem Myrick

Rap music has always been based on classic samples, and Puffy singles of the late '90s take that style to the extreme. Here, the legendary Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" is flipped and heavily quoted by Puffy. Though Diddy would eventually have more extravagant singles—in the same year even—this single was sign that he never forgot about rap's roots.

The Notorious B.I.G., "Hypnotize" (1997)

Date reached No. 1: May 3, 1997

Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: Diddy, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie and Ron “Amen-Ra” Lawrence
"Hypnotize" was the first single from Life After Death, and the unfortunate timing of Biggie's death resulted in it becoming one of the songs to top the charts after an artist's death. "Hypnotize" was also the last song that Biggie shot a video for, and provides some of the most classic images of Biggie, with him and Diddy being chased by helicopters in speed boats.

Puff Daddy Fear. Faith Evans and 112, "I'll Be Missing You" (1997)

Date reached No. 1: June 14, 1997

Weeks At No. 1: 11
Producer: Stevie J
Released in tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., "I'll Be Missing You" eventually became one of the biggest rap songs of all time. If the magic of Diddy's hits involved knowing the right sample to pick for a track, selecting the already beloved The Police's "Every Breath You Take" was the right move. Though the song and video still fit within the extravagance of Bad Boy Records at the time, the personal lyrics of the song helped give the song a bit of transcendence for anyone who had lost someone in their life.

The Notorious B.I.G. Fea. Puff Daddy and Ma$e, "Mo Money Mo Problems" (1997)

Date reached No. 1: August 30, 1997

Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Stevie J and Diddy
Puffy and Biggie had a string of No. 1 rap hits, with this being their fourth in the tragic year of Biggie's death. However, considering the amount of future success that would follow Puffy, the extravagance of "Mo Money Mo Problems" seems like a fitting way to close out an amazing run. From beyond the grave, Biggie still adds a bit of necessary gravitas to this exuberant single.

Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" (1998)

Date reached No. 1: March 14, 1998
Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: Poke & Tone and L.E.S.
Will Smith already had earlier musical success with DJ Jazzy Jeff, but as Smith concentrated on acting, he started to move away from music. "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" was his return to form—and the top of the charts.

Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" (1998)

Date reached No. 1: November 14, 1998
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Lauryn Hill
The Fugees had hits, but none quite like this. With Pras and Wyclef in her rearview, Lauryn Hill exploded onto the pop charts. Her song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" didn't just hit No. 1, but it debuted at No. 1, becoming only the 10th song to do so. The soothing singing, poetic verses, and big band sound made Ms. Hill's anthem a unique record on radio programs filled with catchy tunes but little soul. Lauryn was the perfect medium. Pop audiences could enjoy her melodies and virtuous life lessons while rap fans gave the nod to her microphone technique.

Will Smith Feat. Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, "Wild Wild West" (1999)

Date reached No. 1: July 24, 1999
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Rob Fusari and Mark Wilson
Will Smith is still a huge and highly respected star, but in the '90s, when he was staring in blockbuster movies and releasing multi-platinum albums at the same time, he was in another league. Though Wild Wild West is not a beloved Will Smith movie and the song is not his best, it was still able to reach that No. 1 spot in 1999. Having a summer blockbuster connected to the single certainly helped spread it across the country.

Outkast, "Ms. Jackson" (2001)

Date reached No. 1: February 17, 2001
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Earthtone III

Outkast had been around for a number of years, but at the turn of the millennium, they finally started to conquer the pop world. "Ms. Jackson" was a slight departure from their previous sound, and featured André 3000 on a powerful hook, with he and Big Boi nimbly rapping to an ex-lover's mother. The song has been referenced numerous times by many other rappers, and helped put the first foot forward towards Outkast's later crossover songs.

Crazy Town, "Butterfly" (2001)

Date reached No. 1: March 24, 2001
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Bret “Epic” Mazur and Josh Abraham

Come my lady. Come, come, my lady. There's nothing quite like being compared to an insect to set a lady's heart aflutter. Crazy Town's "Butterfly" has a louche SoCal hip-pop sheen that sounds like raver pants, white-girl dreads, and lower back tats in song form. It had a gritty exurban romance that captured the hearts of teens nationwide. Crazy Town were more known as an alt-rap-metal group, but their biggest song was decidedly hip-hop. After the group's first two singles from debut LP The Gift of Game failed to make any mark on the pop charts, the Red Hot Chili Peppers-sampling "Butterfly" was released and led to 1.5 million in album sales. While the group's follow-up couldn't meet expectations, the lead MC, the late Shifty Shellshock, managed to hit the Hot 100 again a few years later with DJ Paul Oakenfold's "Starry Eyed Surprise."

Ja Rule Feat. Ashanti, "Always On Time" (2002)

Date reached No. 1: February 23, 2002
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Irv Gotti

The early 2000s were an amazing time for rap and R&B music, as both genres were topping the charts with regularity. Looking back, the formula seems so simple: put a breezy R&B hook next to street raps, thus appealing to hard knocks and heartthrobs in fell swoop. "Always on Time" does this perfectly. Ja Rule's lyrics are aggressive, but you never really catch that in between Ashanti's hook and Irv Gotti's production.

Nelly, "Hot in Herre" (2002)

Date reached No. 1: June 29, 2002
Weeks At No. 1: 7
Producer: The Neptunes

Nelly had previous hits with his album Country Grammar, and The Neptunes were launching into legendary stratosphere with a steady onslaught of hit-making, minimalist beats. When the two pop sensations linked, the results were tremendous, and Nelly continued his run as one of the most successful new rappers working.

Nelly Feat. Kelly Rowland, "Dilemma" (2002)

Date reached No. 1: August 17, 2002
Weeks At No. 1: 10
Producer: Antoine “Bam” Macon and Ryan Bowser

"Dilemma" was even bigger than "Hot in Herre, "remaining on the top of the charts for nearly three months. Part of that can be attributed to Kelly Rowland's chorus, which carries the song. Through rap is not commanding the same amount of pop culture control it used to have, R&B seems to have fallen even more dramatically over the years. "Dilemma" shows just how much has changed in the pop world.

Eminem, "Lose Yourself" (2002/2003)

Date reached No. 1: November 9, 2002
Weeks At No. 1: 12
Producer: Eminem, Jeff Bass
Though Eminem had three well-respected major label albums and a parade of successful singles, he still didn't have a No. 1 song until the end of 2002. Behind the power of his biographic film, 8 Mile, "Lose Yourself" reached the top of the charts and eventually won an Academy Award.

50 Cent, "In Da Club" (2003)

Date reached No. 1: March 8, 2003
Weeks At No. 1: 9

Producer: Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo

50 Cent's cold personality matched flawlessly with Dre's crisp production. Nearly every drug and party reference feels meticulous, with the unforgettable drum pattern giving the song a kind of timeless quality.

50 Cent Feat. Nate Dogg, "21 Questions" (2003)

Date reached No. 1: May 31, 2003
Weeks At No. 1: 4
Producer: Dirty Swift
"I love you like a fat kid love cake" is one of the most memorable lines of 50 Cent's career. Though it's a brief moment sandwiched between Nate Dogg's excellent hook, it best encapsulates this schmaltzy song, and America ate it up.

Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee, "Shake Ya Tailfeather" (2003)

Date reached No. 1: September 6, 2003
Weeks At No. 1: 4
Producer: Nelly and Jayson "Koko" Bridges
No movie soundtracks in the past decade have produced a hit this big. "Shake Ya Tailfeather" was so inescapable that, for a minute, it seemed like Murphy Lee was truly on the brink of solo stardom. Bad Boys 2 got the best promotion it could have asked for with this record.

Ludacris Feat. Shawnna, "Stand Up" (2003)

Date reached No. 1: December 6, 2003
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Kanye West
One of the big early faces for Atlanta rap in the 2000s was Ludacris. It was the song where he collaborated with producer Kanye West resulted in his first No. 1 hit. Shawnna offered a catchy verse, and with Ye's drums booming, you couldn't help but do what the song demanded and "Stand Up!"

Outkast Feat. Sleepy Brown, "The Way You Move" (2004)

Date reached No. 1: February 14, 2004
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Carl Mo and Big Boi
It seems fitting that after André 3000 had one of the biggest alternative records of the 2000s, the song to replace it at No. 1 would be one by his fellow Outkast member Big Boi. "Hey Ya" was a cultural force that would have been hard to follow up for any other act, but that it was Big Boi with his funk pastiche "The Way You Move" makes so much sense.

Twista Feat. Kanye West and Jamie Foxx, "Slow Jamz" (2004)

Date reached No. 1: February 21, 2004
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Kanye West

Kanye was pumping out some of his best beats, and starting to shine as an MC, too. "Slow Jamz," in a way, was his coming out party as a credible solo artist. The "Michael Jackson" quote was quoted endlessly, and though Twista and Foxx certainly did their fair share to make this record a hit, it will likely go down as the platform on which a new star was born.

Juvenile Feat. Soulja Slim, "Slow Motion" (2004)

Date reached No. 1: August 7, 2004
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Dani Kartel

Soulja Slim was shot down in late 2003, and did not get to enjoy the success of his featured appearance on Juvenile's hit. Though, Juvenile had success with "Back That Ass Up" and "Ha," it had been years since he had a single of equal prominence, but all of that changed with "Slow Motion." The humid, country productiona and Juvie's entertaining verses put the New Orleans rapper back on top.

Terror Squad, "Lean Back" (2004)

Date reached No. 1: August 21, 2004
Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: Scott Storch

Something about the opening synth on this song makes it feel far more intense than a record that's simply supposed to inspire people to "lean back." It's difficult to put your crew on, but Fat Joe had the perfect beat with which to do so.

Snoop Dogg Feat. Pharrell, "Drop It Like It's Hot" (2004)

Date reached No. 1: December 11, 2004
Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: The Neptunes

A couple drum hits, tongue clicks, and keyboard notes was all it took to get Snoop Dogg his first No. 1 hit. The sparse Neptunes beat set the perfect backdrop for Snoop to express his supreme coolness. It also marked the arrival of the occasionally deft lyricist within Pharrell. The term "drop it like it's hot" was back in a big way.

50 Cent Feat. Olivia, "Candy Shop" (2005)

Date reached No. 1: March 5, 2005
Weeks At No. 1: 9
Producer: Scott Storch

"Candy Shop" sounds like something 50 Cent could have written in his sleep, but his grasp on pop culture in 2005 was so tight that no one rejected it. His ability to write hooks turned what may have been a series of forgettable puns for any other artist into a No. 1 song.

Kanye West Feat. Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger" (2005)

Date reached No. 1: September 17, 2005
Weeks At No. 1: 10
Producer: Kanye West and Jon Brion

Off the success of Jamie Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie Ray, Kanye West turned Charles' "I Got A Woman" into his first solo No. 1, with Foxx singing the sample. With a close to three-month run in the top position, it remains Kanye's biggest hit to this day.

D4L, "Laffy Taffy" (2006)

Date reached No. 1: January 14, 2006
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Born Immaculate, Broderick Thompson Smith and K-Rab

The short lived "Snap Music" genre only required a dance and some 808s. The minimalist "Laffy Taffy" sounds even more bizarre years removed from its chart-topping run, but there's still a hint of the niftiness that carried it to such heights in the first place.

Nelly Feat. Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp "Grillz" (2006)

Date reached No. 1: January 21, 2006
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Jermaine Dupri

"Grillz" might not be the first, second, or even third song people think of when recalling Nelly's best hits, but those shiny mouth accessories into vogue like nothing had before. Aside from being culturally relevant, Nelly's hook was more than strong enough to make this hit No. 1.

Chamillionaire Feat. Krayzie Bone, "Ridin" (2006)

Date reached No. 1: June 3, 2006
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Play-N-Skillz

With "Ridin," Chamillionaire achieved a level of success no other rapper from the Houston boom saw. The track was not the traditional slowed-down music Houston was known for. Instead it was a high-energy track that featured the fast rapping Krayzie Bone. Though Chamillionaire had a few other singles, he's never stepped out of shadow of this particular hit.

Fergie, "London Bridge" (2006)

Date reached No. 1: August 19, 2006
Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: Polow da Don

Fergie's known as a a pop starlet, but her solo debut featured a few rap songs; No. 1 hit "Glamorous" was more R&B than hip-hop, and throwback electro jam "Fergalicious" peaked at No. 2. "London Bridge" was a Polow da Don-produced rap smash, with interlocking horns and a martial marching band feel. The song felt of a piece with similar tracks from that era: pop songs like Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" and Destiny's Child's "Lose My Breath," and rap songs like Yung Wun's "Tear It Up" and Young Buck's "Get Buck" (also, it should be noted, produced by Polow).

Ludacris Feat. Pharrell, "Money Maker" (2006)

Date reached No. 1: October 28, 2006
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: The Neptunes

Ludacris has a lot of hits. Pharrell and, by extension, The Neptunes also have many hits. On "Money Maker," Pharrell's hook is perfunctory and Ludacris' persona is larger-than-life. The combination lead to both artists scoring one of the biggest hits of their respect careers.

Mims, "This Is Why I'm Hot" (2007)

Date reached No. 1: March 10, 2007
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Blackout Movement

Mims' "This is Why I'm Hot" was his only hit—and we knew it would be from the jump—but it was very successful, and stands as a bit of a time capsule of when the lane for rappers to succeed on the pop charts was wide open.

Timbaland Feat. Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, "Give It To Me" (2007)

Date reached No. 1: April 21, 2007
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Timbaland and Danja

Despite his crucial role in several No. 1 hits by other artists (namely featured guests Timberlake and Furtado), this was Timbaland's first and only No. 1 as the top-billed solo artist. The song is best known as the platform on which Timbo took shots at Scott Storch. Timberlake and Furtado were also rumored to be dissing Prince and Fergie, respectively, on their verses. "We missed you on the charts last week, damn, that's right you wasn't there." Ouch.

Soulja Boy, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" (2007)

Date reached No. 1: September 15, 2007
Weeks At No. 1: 7
Producer: Soulja Boy

"Crank That" still divides dance floors between those who know what they're doing and those who don't. Fortunately for Soulja, most of America got the hang of his little jig and it became a phenomenon.

Kanye West, "Stronger" (2007)

Date reached No. 1: September 29, 2007
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Kanye West and Mike Dean
"Stronger" was the single that sparked one's mind about what Kanye could and would eventually accomplish. His finger was on the pulse of the culture, and "Stronger" is a brilliant amalgamation of his wide-ranging influences. His expression broke through the masses, and for one week, Yeezy topped the charts with his futuristic electro smash.

Flo Rida Feat. T-Pain, "Low" (2008)

Date reached No. 1: January 5, 2008
Weeks At No. 1: 10
Producer: DJ Montay

If you had to guess what's the most-downloaded song of the 2000s, "Low" might not come to mind, but it is, in fact, the correct answer. Despite how much it's hated, the song spent 10 weeks at No. 1 and was eventually certified six-times platinum. The song owes much of its success to T-Pain's mind-numbingly catchy chorus, but at the end of the day, Flo Rida does rap on it. Ever since its explosion, the rap songs to top the Hot 100 have been decidedly less geared towards "traditional" hip-hop audiences.

Lil Wayne Feat. Static Major, "Lollipop" (2008)

Date reached No. 1: May 3, 2008
Weeks At No. 1: 5
Producer: Jim Jonsin

Half sung and half rapped, "Lollipop" was carried to No. 1 on the back of Wayne's contorted and mangled Auto-Tune vocals. The song was jarring to hear in 2008 and even Yeats later it still is.

T.I., "Whatever You Like" (2008)

Date reached No. 1: September 6, 2008
Weeks At No. 1: 7
Producer: Jim Jonsin

T.I.'s sixth album Paper Trail is the most brazenly pop effort of his career. "Whatever You Like" followed the success of another Jim Jonsin-produced No. 1—Lil Wayne's "Lollipop"—and successfully reinterpreted the formula for epic results.

T.I. Feat. Rihanna, "Live Your Life" (2008)

Date reached No. 1: October 18, 2008
Weeks At No. 1: 6
Producer: Just Blaze and Canei Finch
A few weeks after getting his first number single, T.I. returned to the top spot. Based on a sample from the "Numa Numa" viral meme, the song continued the pop path T.I. had begun to forge for himself. Though the lyrics of the song are far more introspective and reflective than the semi-romantic "Whatever You Like," it was effective marketing since he was preparing for jail.

Eminem Feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent, "Crack A Bottle" (2009)

Date reached No. 1: February 21, 2009
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Dr. Dre

"Crack A Bottle" was a testament to Eminem's ability to score massive hits with seemingly minimal effort. Adding superstars 50 Cent and Dr. Dre guaranteed that this effort would be a success.

Flo Rida Feat. Ke$ha, "Right Round" (2009)

Date reached No. 1: February 28, 2009
Weeks At No. 1: 6
Producer: Dr. Luke, Kool Kojak
This is when it became apparent that Flo Rida was here to stay and that his previous chart-topper, "Low," wasn't a fluke. "Right Round" turned Dead or Alive's 1984 hit on its head and found massive success in the process. The track broke digital sales records when it first dropped and introduced the world to a then-unknown (and uncredited) Ke$ha.

The Black Eyed Peas, "Boom Boom Pow" (2009)

Date reached No. 1: April 18, 2009
Weeks At No. 1: 12
Producer: will.i.am
The only track that stayed at the No. 1 slot longer than "Boom Boom Pow" in 2009 was "I Gotta Feeling." Needless to say, it was a good year for the Black Eyed Peas. "Boom Boom Pow" possessed an undeniable futuristic quality, both sonically with its digital effects, and lyrically with the still-referenced "two thousand and late" line. So what if its music video is essentially an ad for HP computers? We're still going to attempt the robot whenever it comes on.

Jay-Z Feat. Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind" (2009)

Date reached No. 1: November 28, 2009
Weeks At No. 1: 5
Producer: Al Shux

This song is a big love letter to New York that paints with the broadest strokes. Jay-Z references Sinatra, Harlem, Biggie, and even old stash spots. It's impressive that Jay-Z was able to include self-mythology about his old days in Brooklyn. The anthem became his first No. 1.

The Black Eyed Peas, "Imma Be" (2010)

Date reached No. 1: March 6, 2010

Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: will.i.am
Who cares about grammar with a hook this good? "Imma Be" was confident without being arrogant, making it extra relatable. The track's quick change from a snappy hip-hop beat to a smoother funk sound halfway through is likely the reason you heard it in the club so much; will.i.am kept the common DJ in mind, making "Imma Be" an easy song for DJs to work with.

B.o.B Feat. Bruno Mars, "Nothin' on You" (2010)

Date reached No. 1: May 1, 2010

Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: The Smeezingtons

Not to discredit B.o.B., who found mainstream success after making his name in the Atlanta underground for several years, but this song was all about Bruno Mars. His songwriting team the Smeezingtons did excellent work; with a chorus that goes, "Beautiful girls all over the world/I could be chasing/but my time would be wasted/they've got nothing on you" coming from someone with Bruno Mars' face and voice, who could turn down such a compliment? The answer was no one, as radio stations across the country kept the song alive that summer.

Eminem, "Not Afraid" (2010)

Date reached No. 1: May 22, 2010
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Boi-1da, Burnett, and Jordan Evans
Eminem sounded off on Relapse. But on the first single from Recovery, "Not Afraid," he offered a personal critique of both his drug addiction and last album.

With multi-tracked vocals and a beat full of New Age swells, it seems like one of the stranger songs top the charts. The song is almost relentlessly positive, as Eminem says for listeners take his hand, that he won't disappoint them and even talks about excising his "Demons." It is big, clichéd and features lots of struggle singing. But, the sentiment is hard to deny, particularly for those who've ever needed to have that voice just say, "You can do it."

Eminem Feat. Rihanna, "Love The Way You Lie" (2010)

Date reached No. 1: July 31, 2010
Weeks At No. 1: 7
Producer: Alex Da Kid and Makeba Riddick

Producer Alex Da Kid had a huge year in 2010, creating hits for B.o.B., Diddy, T.I. and Eminem. His formula: large, dramatic hooks that gave all his songs a stadium-filling quality. This style worked perfectly for the troubled relationship anthem "Love the Way You Lie," which had additional weight thanks to chorus vocalist Rihanna and rapper Eminem. The single turned into one of the biggest hits of Eminem's career. After a few years out of the public eye, Eminem seemed to finally find musical skin he felt comfortable in on the delicate song.

Far East Movement Feat. The Cataracs and Dev, "Like A G6" (2010)

Date reached No. 1: October 30, 2010

Weeks At No. 1: 3
Producer: The Cataracs

Much like the imaginary aircraft it fantasizes about (the song was said to be about a futuristic sequel to an actual airplane, the Gulfstream IV), "G6" was massive. The song's hook came to fruition when writers, The Cataracs, wanted to rhyme something with the line "Sippin' sizzurp in my ride, like Three 6." "G6" was what they came up with, because naturally, it would be "flyer than a G4." Even better than daydreaming about insane airplane models? Getting Dev's iconic voice to sing it.

Wiz Khalifa, "Black and Yellow" (2011)

Date reached No. 1: February 19, 2011
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Stargate

Wiz Khalifa had a minor hit a few years back called "Say Yeah," but was eventually dropped from his label and had to go on the independent grind. Soon he was selling out shows across the country even before his first big mainstream hit. "Black and Yellow," produced by the Stargate, was not a smash success at first. But as the Pittsburg Steelers made their way to the Super Bowl, the song became the Steelers' playoff anthem. This synergy gave Wiz a huge hit, and made rap fans across the nation annoyed as every rapper recorded their own hometown take on "Black and Yellow."

Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, "Give Me Everything" (2011)

Date reached No. 1: July 9, 2011
Weeks At No. 1: 1
Producer: Afrojack

What Pitbull does well: passionately rhyme about things that are generally meaningless. On "Give Me Everything," he drops pop culture references including Ryan Seacrest and Lindsay Lohan with the utmost sincerity. It's probably the rave-y wobble, or Ne-Yo's desperate crooning, but something made us believe in this song enough to push it out of its 4-week No. 2 spot to the top of the Hot 100.

LMFAO, "Party Rock Anthem" (2011)

Date reached No. 1: July 16, 2011
Weeks At No. 1: 6
Producer: Redfoo and GoonRock

Even though it explores similar themes as a million other songs (going to a party, getting slizzard, going home with a girl), something about "Party Rock Anthem" seemed to stand out. That unique element was likely its mixture of unabashed dance-pop and rap, plus a catchy melodic hook that made you forget what it was about in the first place. You may not have known what "shuffling" was, but damn, it sounded fun.

LMFAO, "Sexy and I Know It" (2012)

Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: Party Rock
"Sexy and I Know It" is kind of like cough syrup: do not operate heavy machinery under its influence. It was the song you hated to love, but with a too-easy-to-follow lead up to the chorus and beat-drop, it was hard not to dance to it. The music video was essentially a dance tutorial, in which you could mimic the obnoxious moves of SkyBlu, Redfoo, or the beloved Shuffle Bot.

Flo Rida, "Whistle" (2012)

Date reached No. 1: August 25, 2012
Weeks At No. 1: 2
Producer: DJ Frank E, Glass
In addition to its obvious fellatio reference, "Whistle" had a distinctive whistling melody that just wouldn't go away. The song's sexually suggestive lyrics were complimented by the chilled out guitar riff and parasitic hook. The video treatment matched the song's simplicity, with split screens of Acapulco, women, and bikinis, which helped prove that when it came to "Whistle," less is definitely more, in more ways than one.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Feat. Wanz, "Thrift Shop" (2013)

Date reached No. 1: February 2, 2013
Weeks At No. 1: 5
Producer: Ryan Lewis
Extolling the virtues of saving a few dollars at the second-hand store, rather than buying a Supreme shirt, Seattle-based Macklemore found surprise mega-success with this song from his album The Heist. A strong hook and profanity-laden chorus didn't hurt. Macklemore's outrageous video also featured the rapper in a fur coat prancing about an actual thrift shop, which playfully helped people appreciate the previously-unknown rapper.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us" (2013)

Date reached No. 1: May 18, 2013
Weeks at No. 1: 5
Producer: Ryan Lewis

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ second No. 1 pivoted away from “Thrift Shop”’s humor and brought in Seattle-born singer Ray Dalton for a more genuine, inspirational hymn. “Can’t Hold Us” topped the Hot 100 two years after its original release, and it remains Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ last No. 1 single, after The Heist’s follow-up This Unruly Mess I’ve Made failed to produce a major hit.

Eminem Feat. Rihanna, “The Monster” (2013)

Date reached No. 1: December 21, 2013
Weeks at No. 1: 4
Producer: Aalias and Frequency

Unsurprisingly, pairing one of this generation’s biggest pop stars with one of hip-hop’s biggest superstars once again turned out to be a winning formula. Though it didn’t improve on the success of their first collaboration—”Love The Way You Lie” stayed on top for seven weeks, three weeks longer than “The Monster”—the ballad became another reminder of the duo’s impressive longevity. “The Monster” was Eminem’s fifth No. 1, 15 years after The Slim Shady LP dropped, and Rihanna’s 13th, making her the fastest woman ever to achieve this.

Pitbull Feat. Kesha, “Timber” (2014)

Date reached No. 1: January 18, 2014
Weeks at No. 1: 2
Producer: Dr. Luke, Cirkut and Sermstyle

Mr. Worldwide used a kitschy harmonica and an obnoxiously on-the-nose hook (“It’s going down/ I’m yelling ‘Timber!’”). Pitbull’s last No. 1 hit would take on a more harrowing tone in later years as Kesha became embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with the song’s producer, Dr. Luke, after accusing him of sexual assault.

Iggy Azalea Feat. Charli XCX, “Fancy” (2014)

Date reached No. 1: June 7, 2014
Weeks at No. 1: 7
Producer: The Invisible Men, The Arcade and Jason Pebworth

Three years after releasing her viral hit “Pu$$y,” Iggy Azalea finally proved she was a legit star with this slinky pop-rap number. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on who you ask. While some might be inspired by an Aussie rapper somehow sliding into the mainstream, “Fancy” became a major firestarter in the cultural appropriation debate. Iggy’s chaffed response, which included her sneering at noted legend Q-Tip’s advice, did her no favors.

Wiz Khalifa Feat. Charlie Puth, “See You Again” (2015)

Date reached No. 1: April 25, 2015
Weeks at No. 1: 6
Producer: Charlie Puth, Kevin Weaver, Mike Caren, Andrew Cedar and DJ Frank E

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who genuinely believes “See You Again” is Wiz Khalifa’s best song. But it’s easy to understand why it became a hit: “See You Again” was a tribute to the late Paul Walker and the closing song to Furious 7, which featured the actor’s final performance.

Rae Sremmurd Feat. Gucci Mane, “Black Beatles” (2016)

Date reached No. 1: November 26, 2016
Weeks at No. 1: 7

Producer: Mike Will Made It

SremmLife 2’s prior two singles, “Look Alive” and “By Chance,” didn’t quite stick the way their breakthroughs “No Flex Zone” and “No Type” did. The album didn’t truly gain traction until a month after its release, when the duo wised up and gave “Black Beatles” the single treatment. Though Mike Will Made It’s bubbling production and Swae Lee’s floating performance should’ve been enough to power the song, “Black Beatles” truly took off thanks to the viral Mannequin Challenge. It was a legitimate enough phenomenon that even Paul McCartney got involved.

Migos Feat. Lil Uzi Vert, “Bad and Boujee” (2017)

Date reached No. 1: January 21, 2017
Weeks at No. 1: 3
Producer: Metro Boomin

Both as a trio and as individual artists, Migos has created a string of hits solidifying themselves as one of the most influential rap groups of the 2010s. It’s possible none of that would’ve happened if not for the success of “Bad and Boujee.” Released in October 2016, “Bad and Boujee” immediately stood out as one of the trio’s most intoxicating anthems, thanks to Metro Boomin’s psychedelic production and Offset’s ad-lib-happy performance (“WOO! WOO! WOO! WOO! WOO!”).

Still, it wasn’t until 2017 that “Bad and Boujee” officially became a phenomenon, thanks to Donald Glover’s glowing Golden Globes endorsement and Twitter memedom.

Kendrick Lamar, “Humble” (2017)

Date reached No. 1: May 6, 2017
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: Mike Will Made-iT

After firing warning shots on the prior week’s “The Heart Part 4,” Kendrick Lamar formally announced it was his season by shouting about Grey Poupon over Mike Will’s plunking keys. “Humble” isn’t Kendrick Lamar’s first time at the No. 1 spot, though: he made it in 2015, too, appearing as a feature on the much-derided remix to Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.”

Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow” (2017)

Date reached No. 1: October 7, 2017
Weeks at No. 1: 3
Producer: J. White Did It

Fans have been watching Cardi B since her hoe-never-gets-cold days on social media, so in many ways, “Bodak Yellow” felt like a win for all of us. History may look on the moment “Bodak Yellow” went No. 1 as a sea change in pop music: It was a regular degular girl from the Bronx who took that spot from mega-superstar Taylor Swift.

Post Malone Feat. 21 Savage, “Rockstar” (2017)

Date reached No. 1: October 28, 2017
Weeks at No. 1: 8
Producer: Tank God and Louis Bell

Post Malone already proved he was good at making sneakily melodic hits with 2015’s “White Iverson,” so it felt inevitable that he’d eventually get his first No. 1 hit. “Rockstar” holds that honor, and gave Atlanta’s 21 Savage his first No. 1 as well.

Drake, “God’s Plan” (2018)

Date reached No. 1: February 3, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 11
Producer: Cardo, Yung Exclusive and Boi-1da

Although Drake is objectively one of hip-hop’s biggest stars ever, it took him seven years after his 2009 debut Thank Me Later to get his first No. 1 hit as a lead artist with “One Dance.” It took him almost another two years to nab his second Hot 100 topper. “God’s Plan” featured classic Aspirational Drake and received a major push from its heartwarming accompanying video.

Drake, “Nice For What” (2018)

Date reached No. 1: April 21, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 7
Producer: Murda Beatz, Noah “40” Shebib, Corey Litwin and BlaqNmilD

Drake replaced himself at No. 1 with “Nice For What,” a ladies’ jam that rode on an instantly recognizable Lauryn Hill sample and New Orleans bounce influences. It looked like Scorpion szn was in full swing, until one anti-hero named Pusha-T got in the way.

Childish Gambino, “This Is America” (2018)

Date reached No. 1: May 19, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 2
Producer: Ludwig Göransson

Donald Glover’s beloved series Atlanta has received a swath of unanimuous acclaim, and it’s no surprise some of that praise extended toward his music. Premiered during his Saturday Night Live gig, “This Is America” and its Hiro-Murai-directed video stood out as career highlights at the time, thanks to both the song and the visual’s ruminations on capitalism and police brutality. It was a quite the switch-up from “Redbone.

XXXTENTACION, “Sad!” (2018)

Date reached No. 1: June 30, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: John Cunningham

XXXTENTACION's emo-rap highlight “Sad!” originally peaked at No. 52 on the Hot 100 before his untimely death at the age of 20 in 2018. The song skyrocketed to the top following the outpouring of grief from his fans, and XXX’s first No. 1 became the first posthumous one since Biggie’s “Hypnotize.”

Cardi B Feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin, “I Like It” (2018)

Date reached No. 1: July 7, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: Tainy, Craig and J. White Did It

The success of “I Like It” is an example of commercial synergy: Cardi B’s rise paralleled Latin trap’s, and Bad Bunny and J Balvin are two of the genre’s biggest stars. “I Like It” made Cardi B the first female rapper to achieve multiple No. 1 singles.

Drake, "In My Feelings" (2018)

Date reached No. 1: July 21, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 10

Producer: TrapMoneyBenny and Blaqnmild

Drake separated himself from all others in the rap fold when he dropped “In My Feelings.” The single notched Drizzy with his sixth No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single, more than any other rapper in history. Much like previous chart-topping “Nice For What,” “In My Feelings” leaned heavily into New Orleans bounce. While the song debuted at No. 6, the track ascent to the top was aided by social media assistance when internet comedian Shiggy’s “In My Feelings” dance challenged went viral.

Travis Scott Feat. Drake, "SICKO MODE" (2018)

Date reached No. 1: December 8, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Chahayad, Hit-Boy, OZ Cubeatz, Tay Keith, and Mike Dean

Travis Scott's ASTROWORLD was one of the most anticipated albums of the year. The album’s biggest hit, “SICKO MODE,” encapsulated all of the elements that made ASTROWORLD one of Scott’s finest works: a woozy mixture of psychedelia, braggadocio and the phantasm of excess.

Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, "Old Town Road Remix" (2019)

Date reached No. 1: April 13, 2019
Weeks at No. 1: 19

Producer: Youngkio

Lil Nas X got buzz with his song “Old Town Road” started making noise on the Billboard Country Charts. Once it got to No. 19, it was removed, cited as not being an authentic country song. After fans rallied behind him and “Achy Breaky Heart” singer Billy Ray Cyrus jumped on the remix, the little country bop that could become the biggest single in the history of Billboard. “Old Town Road Remix” broke Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s long-standing record of consecutive weeks at No. 1

Travis Scott, "HIGHEST IN THE ROOM" (2019)

Date reached No. 1: October 19, 2019
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: OZ, Nik D, and Mike Dean

As one of the most ethereal joints on ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott’s “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” transports his fans to alternate consciousness. The acoustic arpeggios over trap drums along with the keening, almost operatic background vocal is a singular song in Scott’s collection of Billboard No. 1 singles.

Roddy Ricch, "The Box" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: January 18. 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 11

Producer: 30 Roc, Datboisqueeze, and Zentachi

Roddy Ricch was the next hungry rapper out of Los Angeles when came on the scene. His hit collaborations with Mustard and Nipsey Hussle on “Ballin’” and “Racks in the Middle,” respectively, it was “The Box,” from his major label debut Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial that exploded for him.

With one of the most infectious hooks of the decade, “The Box,” not only reigned at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for nearly two straight months but it earned diamond certification.

Drake, "Toosie Slide" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: April 18, 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: OZ

After the success of “In My Feelings,” it seemed that Drake leveled up his ability to use social media to make hits.

Most of his Dark Lane Demo Tapes mixtape were moody, ominous hip-hop tracks. But the project’s breakout single, “Toosie Slide,” became an instant viral sensation. The song and music video found Drake creating and performing a line dance that got mimicked left and right all over TikTok.

The Scotts, "THE SCOTTS" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: May 9, 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Take a Daytrip, Dot Da Genius and Plain Pat

While social media was helping to push music up the charts, Travis Scott was using video games to do the same. Scott teamed up with Fortnite to premiere a new song, a collaboration with Kid Cudi called “The Scotts.” The duo, named from Scott’s last name and Cudi’s real first name, unveiled a brooding trap anthem that earned Cudi his first number-one single. Plans for a full album were discussed but never came to fruition.

Doja Cat Feat. Nicki Minaj, "Say So" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: May 16, 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Tyson Trax

Doja Cat got some good buzz with her debut album Amala. For her follow-up, Hot Pink, expectations were high, but lead single “Juicy” featuring Tyga just missed the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40. It wasn’t until the album’s fifth single, “Say So,” that Doja Cat earned her first smash hit. The original version, a swirling, breezy pop bop reached the top 5, but once Nicki Minaj entered the picture, the remix elevated the song to No. 1, the first for both artists.

Megan Thee Stallion Feat. Beyoncé, "Savage" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: May 30, 2020

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: J. White Did It
No other female rapper had a momentum like Megan Thee Stallion. Her run of mixtapes and singles up to 2020 made her the hottest MC in the business. That year, she dropped “Savage,” a lyrical mission statement of her persona. The song was already fire, but when fellow Houstonian Beyoncé came outside to rap on the remix, Megan broke the glass ceiling. “Savage Remix” went on to earn Meg her first career Grammy.

DaBaby Feat. Roddy Rich, "ROCKSTAR" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: June 13, 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 7

Producer: SethInTheKitchen

DaBaby’s collaboration with Roddy Ricch for “ROCKSTAR” was the pinnacle of his career. The two rappers’ chemistry made the track infectious, and a politically charged remix later further elevated the record to smash status. The No. 1 single received three Grammy nominations, and the future looked bright for DaBaby, until homophobic remarks at the 2021 Rolling Loud Miami fest saw it all come crashing down.

6ix9ine Feat. Nicki Minaj, "Trollz"

Date reached No. 1: June 27, 2020

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: SadPony

6ix9ine is known more for being a toxic individual than for being a rapper. The rapper with the multi-colored hair was seen as persona non grata after a guilty plea of sexual abuse of a minor and his snitching on gang members in a RICO case. Lucky for 6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj threw him a lifeline by collaborating with him on “Trollz,” earning him his first and only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion, "WAP" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: August 22, 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 4
Producer: Ayo The Producer and Keyz

The two biggest female rappers in the game, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, helped women continue their dominance over hip-hop with “WAP.” An acronym of “wet ass p*ssy,” Cardi and Megan showed what happens with women take back their sexual identity on wax after decades of misogyny.

Travis Scott Feat. Young Thug and M.I.A., "Franchise" (2020)

Date reached No. 1: October 10, 2020
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: Travis Scott and Teddy Walton

Travis Scott continued his hot streak of crossover tracks with “Franchise,” featuring Young Thug and M.I.A. The standalone single was built on a sample of Dem Franchize Boyz’s 2004 track “White Tee.” The distorted bass line gives the song its charm, as Young Thug saunters throughout the track and M.I.A. gives the track a proper laid-back outro. Scott’s fourth Billboard Hot 100 chart topper was the first for Young Thug and M.I.A.

Drake, "What's Next" (2021)

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Maneesh and Supah Mario

Drake is always at his best when he’s got a chip on his shoulder, evident in tracks like “Headlines” and “Worst Behavior.” His No. 1 single from his Scary Hours 2 EP, “What’s Next,” once again put his haters on notice. Not only did he have it all, but he was pondering what the next adventure and luxury he was destined to experience.

Cardi B, "Up"

Date reached No. 1: March 27, 2021

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Young Dza, DJ SwanQo and Sean Island

Cardi B was five years removed from her solo debut, Invasion of Privacy in 2021. But that didn’t stop her from dropping hits. “Up” was Cardi’s five stand-alone single, and the second of those to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song debuted at No. 2, the highest Billboard Hot 100 debut for a female rapper since Lauryn Hill’s 1998 No. 1 single, “Do-Wop (That Thing).” Like Ms. Hill, Cardi is growing her legend with only one album so far.

Lil Nas X, "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)"

Date reached No. 1: April 10, 2021

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Take a Daytrip, Omer Fedi and Roy Lenzo

What do you do when your first single is the biggest single in Billboard Hot 100 history? Lil Nas X answered that question with the controversial “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” As the official encore to “Old Town Road,” and following his brave move to come out, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” raised millions of eyebrows with its music video. The short film featured Lil Nas X kissing aliens, wearing pink wigs, and giving the devil a lap dance in hell.

Polo G, "Rapstar" (2021)

Date reached No. 1: April 24, 2021
Weeks at No. 1: 2

Producer: Einer Banks and Synco

On the surface, Polo G’s 2021 single “Rapstar” sounds like another typical pop-rap track, designed to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Underneath the surface of braggadocio raps about cars, there’s a hidden meaning. Polo contemplates how the spoils of fame are just ways to mask his sorrows, making this hit single more poignant than some realized.

Drake Feat. Future and Young Thug, "Way 2 Sexy" (2021)

Date reached No. 1: September 18, 2021

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: TM88 and Too Dope

One of the most underrated aspects of Drake’s artistry is his sense of humor. “Way 2 Sexy,” his No. 1 single and music video from Certified Lover Boy saw Drizzy embracing irony and farce. The track features frequent collaborator Future interpolating Right Said Fred’s 1990s pop hit “I’m Too Sexy,” and its elevation to the top of the charts revealed we were all in on the joke.

Lil Nas X Feat. Jack Harlow, "Industry Baby" (2021)

Date reached No. 1: October 23, 2021

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Take a Daytrip and Kanye West

After the salacious video of “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X wasn’t done with the shock value. For his next single, “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X kept up the controversy for the music video. The video concept was Lil Nas X living in and eventually escaping from a prison. Mostly featuring other queer male inmates like himself, the extras and dancers were all wearing pink jumpsuits, twerking to the anthemic horns over the thumping 808s, and doing an all-nude shower scene dance routine.

Jack Harlow, "First Class" (2022)

Date reached No. 1: April 23, 2022
Weeks at No. 1: 3
Producer: Chahayad, Jack Harlow, Jasper Harris and Charlie Handsome

A good way to help get a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 rap single is to sample a previous No. 1 single. Harlow did just that with “First Class,” the second single from his album Come Home the Kids Miss You. Harlow samples Fergie’s 2006 No. 1 smash “Glamorous” for the song’s hook, helping to ensure “First Class” debut atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Future Feat. Drake and Tems, "Wait For You" (2022)

Date reached No. 1: May 14, 2022
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: ATL Jacob and FnZ

When Future and Drake team up, it damn near guarantees that a hit single is on the way. The duo who dropped smashes like “Jumpman” and “Life is Good” hopped on a beat that sampled Nigerian singer Tems’ song “Higher.” The sample was so prominent, Tems was granted a guest feature credit, getting her her first No. 1 single and a Grammy nomination.

Drake Feat. 21 Savage, "Jimmy Cooks" (2022)

Date reached No. 1: July 2, 2022
Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Vinylz, Tay Keith, Cubeatz and Tizzle
Drake threw a monkey wrench into music after dropping his album Honestly, Nevermind in 2022. Following his hit album Certified Lover Boy, fans were caught off guard by an album full of house and electronic dance music. While the album was polarizing, the album’s final track, “Jimmy Cooks,” was not. Drake’s collaboration with 21 Savage, a play on his Jimmy Brooks character from Degrassi, was the slick, skittering rap track that folks loved about Drizzy.

Nicki Minaj, “Super Freaky Girl” (2022)

Date reached No. 1: August 27, 2022

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Dr. Luke, Malibu Barbie, Vaughn Oliver and Aaron Joseph

After a five-year hiatus, Nicki Minaj finally dropped Pink Friday 2. The project was her first album since 2018’s Queen, and the long-awaited sequel to her 2010 debut, Pink Friday. The foundation of the lead single, “Super Freaky Girl” was Rick James’ signature song, “Super Freak.” MC Hammer used the same sample to score his biggest single, “U Can’t Touch This.” While Hammer’s hit peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, Minaj reached the chart’s peak, her first as a lead artist and her second overall.

Doja Cat, "Paint the Town Red" (2023)

Date reached No. 1: September 16, 2023
Weeks at No. 1: 3

Producer: Earl on the Beat

Some songs always find life in every generation. One such song is Burt Bacharach's composition “Walk on By.” From Dionne Warwick to Isaac Hayes, it’s been a hit in several decades for several others. Doja Cat got to experience that legacy when she sampled Warwick’s OG version of “Walk On By” for her hit “Paint the Town Red.” The track is not only her second No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single, but it’s now one of her signature songs.

Drake feat. J. Cole, "First Person Shooter" (2023)

Date Reached No. 1: October 21, 2023

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Boi-1-Da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, FnZ, OZ and Scottie Coleman

Drake and J. Cole were building up to a massive collaboration for years. While first working together on Cole’s 2009 Friday Night Lights mixtape, and sharing the stage on Drake’s It’s All a Blur tour, they hit paydirt with For All the Dogs single, “First Person Shooter.”

It became a milestone for both MCs, earning Cole his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Drake his 13th, tying him with Michael Jackson, which he predicted in the song’s lyrics. Little did they know that a line that Cole spit about him, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar as rap’s “big three” would start a domino effect that changed hip-hop forever.

Jack Harlow, "Lovin On Me" (2023)

Date reached No. 1: December 16, 2023

Weeks at No. 1: 6

Producer: OZ, Sean Momberger and Nik D

Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” is a simple no-frills bop that’s great to move to. Featuring an addictive bounce, “Lovin On Me” embraces the time-honored rap troupe of rejecting long-term love in the face of short-term satisfaction. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Megan Thee Stallion, "Hiss" (2024)

Date reached No. 1: February 10, 2024
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Producer: LilJuMadeTheBeat, Bankroll Got It and Source Jarrett

Hit diss records existed long before Kendrick Lamar and Drake started scrapping. Megan Thee Stallion primed us for the main event with a one-side undercard on “Hiss.” The Houston Grammy-winner threw shots at several of her critics and fellow rappers, but just one line was enough to draw the ire of former collaborator Nicki Minaj. “Hiss” went No. 1, and Minaj responded with “Big Foot,” which, well, didn’t go No. 1.

¥$ Feat. Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti, "Carnival" (2024)

Date reached No. 1: February 10, 2024
Weeks at No. 1: 2
Producer: Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign, Oijivolta, TheLabCook and The Legendary Traxster

By the time Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign teamed up as ¥$ for a collaborative album Vultures 1, most people felt that West’s career was over. For years, the Grammy-winning rapper/producer’s music had been drowned out by his explosive antics and offensive remarks. Against all odds, ¥$ got themselves a No. 1 hit with “Carnival.” This also marked another milestone for West, as “Carnival” became his first No. 1 single as an independent artist.

Future and Metro Boomin Feat. Kendrick Lamar, "Like That" (2024)

Date reached No. 1: April 6, 2024

Weeks at No. 1: 3

Producer: Metro Boomin

When Future and Metro Boomin dropped their collaborative album We Don’t Trust You, the guest features weren’t disclosed on DSPs. So, when listeners got to the track “Like That,” they were shocked to hear Kendrick Lamar doing a verse. What was even more shocking was the content of his verse, sending shots at both Drake and J. Cole, initiated a rap battle for ages just weeks later.

Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us" (2024)

Date reached No. 1: May 18, 2024

Weeks at No. 1: 3

Producer: Mustard, Sounwave and Sean Momberger

On May 3, 2024, the feud between Lamar and Drake reached its climax with three diss records dropped between them within one day. After Lamar released vicious “Meet the Grahams” mere moments after Drake’s “red-button” track, “Family Matters,” it looked like Lamar was in the lead. But the following day, Kdot put Drizzy in the rearview for good with “Not Like Us,” an infectious West Coast banger that’s now become the longest-running rap song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Kendrick Lamar, "Squabble Up" (2024)

Date reached No. 1: December 7, 2024

Weeks at No. 1: 1

Producer: Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Kendrick Lamar and Scott Bridgeway

When Lamar teased a new song at the opening of his “Not Like Us” music video, the public were chomping at the bit to hear the rest. After Lamar pump faked fans with his “Dead Homies” snippet in the intro of the “Alright” video (2015), fans feared the worst. But on Nov. 24, they prayers were answered when Lamar dropped gnx without warning. Built on Debbie Deb’s 1984 freestyle cult classic “When I Hear Music,” “Squabble Up” set the tone for the West Coast dance vibes that Lamar was alluding to with “Not Like Us.”

Travis Scott, "4x4" (2025)

Date reached No. 1: February 8, 2025

Weeks at No. 1: 4

Producer: Tay Keith and FnZ

After the 2021 tragedy of the Astroworld Fest that ended with 11 deaths, many wondered if Travis Scott would ever recover. After several lawsuits and bad press, Scott was able to slowly pick up the pieces of his career and garner more hits, including “4x4.” The stand-alone single was a prominent feature for Scott for his recent collaborations and appearances with the WWE.

Kendrick Lamar Feat. SZA, "luther"

Date reached No. 1: March 1, 2025

Weeks at No. 1: 13

Producer: Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Scott Bridgeway, Kamasi Washington, M-Tech and Rose Lilah

When Lamar dropped gnx out of nowhere, fans elevated the uber-hype tracks “squabble Up,” “tv off,” and “hey now,” to the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it was “luther,” a duet ballad with former TDE labelmate SZA, that emerged as the monster hit of the album. After overcoming the surge of holiday songs, “luther” steadily inched to the Billboard Hot 100 summit in the new year, and has dominated ever since. Lamar and SZA harmonize over the classic 1982 Cheryl Lynn and Luther Vandross duet “If This World Were Mine,” making for Lamar’s most enduring love song in his catalog.