Rap originated in the Bronx in the 1970s and has grown into one of the most popular musical forms in the world. In 2017, R&B/Hip-Hop became the most listened to genre according to Nielsen Music. (The terms “rap” and “hip-hop” are often used interchangeably, but technically the former refers to the music while the latter is a broader cultural idiom encompassing music, dance, fashion, deejaying, and more.)
As rap has evolved and matured, both the sound and its stars have changed tremendously, but some older artists have managed to stay relevant. This year’s Super Bowl halftime show, for instance, featured rap icons like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Eminem, all still recording, performing, and influencing others – though they may hit the top of the charts less frequently than they once did. (Check out the birth names of 40 rap and hip-hop artists.)
To determine which rappers have had the most hits in the course of their careers, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. Rappers were ranked based on the total number of their songs appearing on the Hot 100, either as main artist or featured artist, through the week of Jan. 15, 2022. The biggest song for each artist, which does not include feature appearances, was determined by a custom scoring wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point.
The majority of hit songs by rappers on this list were released in the past two decades. In 2012, Billboard changed the way it determines chart rankings and started incorporating digital download sales and streaming data in the ranking. This new method has opened the way for many younger rappers to chart hits through digital music consumption.
Many big names from earlier days, like Outkast, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and Wu-Tang Clan, do not make the list despite critical acclaim and their endurance in pop culture because they were not among the top 35 in terms of charted hits. Certain rappers, though, like the one that tops this list, seem to have modern hitmaking down to a science, often finding a winning formula by combining rap with other musical genres – even country. (Rap and otherwise, these are the artists with the most No. 1 hits.)
Click here to see the rappers with the most hits.
35. Nelly
> Hot 100 hits: 37
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 606 weeks
> Biggest song: Dilemma (feat. Kelly Rowland) (10 weeks at No. 1)
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34. Cardi B
> Hot 100 hits: 39
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 570 weeks
> Biggest song: I Like It (feat. Bad Bunny, J Balvin) (1 week at No. 1)
33. 2 Chainz
> Hot 100 hits: 40
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 503 weeks
> Biggest song: No Lie (feat. Drake) (1 week at No. 24)
32. 50 Cent
> Hot 100 hits: 41
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 548 weeks
> Biggest song: In Da Club (9 weeks at No. 1)
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31. Bad Bunny
> Hot 100 hits: 42
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 373 weeks
> Biggest song: Dakiti (feat. Jhay Cortez) (1 week at No. 5)
30. Snoop Dogg
> Hot 100 hits: 43
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 551 weeks
> Biggest song: Drop It Like It’s Hot (feat. Pharrell) (3 weeks at No. 1)
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29. Migos
> Hot 100 hits: 43
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 351 weeks
> Biggest song: Bad And Boujee (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) (3 weeks at No. 1)
28. Pitbull
> Hot 100 hits: 44
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 694 weeks
> Biggest song: Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer) (1 week at No. 1)
27. Polo G
> Hot 100 hits: 45
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 192 weeks
> Biggest song: Rapstar (2 weeks at No. 1)
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26. T-Pain
> Hot 100 hits: 48
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 716 weeks
> Biggest song: Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin’) (feat. Yung Joc) (1 week at No. 1)
25. Kendrick Lamar
> Hot 100 hits: 50
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 518 weeks
> Biggest song: Humble. (1 week at No. 1)
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24. Lil Durk
> Hot 100 hits: 52
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 241 weeks
> Biggest song: Still Trappin’ (feat. King Von) (1 week at No. 53)
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23. Rick Ross
> Hot 100 hits: 52
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 572 weeks
> Biggest song: The Boss (feat. T-Pain) (1 week at No. 17)
22. DaBaby
> Hot 100 hits: 52
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 537 weeks
> Biggest song: Rockstar (feat. Roddy Ricch) (7 weeks at No. 1)
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21. Big Sean
> Hot 100 hits: 54
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 486 weeks
> Biggest song: I Don’t F**к With You (feat. E-40) (1 week at No. 11)
20. Post Malone
> Hot 100 hits: 55
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 638 weeks
> Biggest song: Circles (3 weeks at No. 1)
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19. Ludacris
> Hot 100 hits: 56
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 883 weeks
> Biggest song: Stand Up (feat. Shawnna) (1 week at No. 1)
18. T.I.
> Hot 100 hits: 57
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 729 weeks
> Biggest song: Whatever You Like (7 weeks at No. 1)
17. 21 Savage
> Hot 100 hits: 60
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 339 weeks
> Biggest song: Bank Account (5 weeks at No. 12)
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16. Gunna
> Hot 100 hits: 61
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 259 weeks
> Biggest song: Dollaz On My Head (feat. Young Thug) (1 week at No. 38)
15. J. Cole
> Hot 100 hits: 64
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 413 weeks
> Biggest song: Middle Child (1 week at No. 4)
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14. Meek Mill
> Hot 100 hits: 64
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 272 weeks
> Biggest song: Going Bad (feat. Drake) (1 week at No. 6)
13. Juice WRLD
> Hot 100 hits: 70
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 424 weeks
> Biggest song: Lucid Dreams (2 weeks at No. 2)
12. Young Thug
> Hot 100 hits: 76
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 528 weeks
> Biggest song: Hot (feat. Gunna) (1 week at No. 11)
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11. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
> Hot 100 hits: 77
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 232 weeks
> Biggest song: Outside Today (1 week at No. 31)
10. Travis Scott
> Hot 100 hits: 78
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 531 weeks
> Biggest song: Sicko Mode (1 week at No. 1)
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9. Lil Uzi Vert
> Hot 100 hits: 82
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 382 weeks
> Biggest song: XO TOUR Llif3 (1 week at No. 7)
8. Eminem
> Hot 100 hits: 93
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 735 weeks
> Biggest song: Love The Way You Lie (feat. Rihanna) (7 weeks at No. 1)
7. Lil Baby
> Hot 100 hits: 97
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 648 weeks
> Biggest song: Drip Too Hard (feat. Gunna) (1 week at No. 4)
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6. JAY-Z
> Hot 100 hits: 103
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 915 weeks
> Biggest song: Empire State Of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys) (5 weeks at No. 1)
5. Nicki Minaj
> Hot 100 hits: 120
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 1,398 weeks
> Biggest song: Super Bass (2 weeks at No. 3)
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4. Future
> Hot 100 hits: 130
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 916 weeks
> Biggest song: Life Is Good (feat. Drake) (8 weeks at No. 2)
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3. Kanye West
> Hot 100 hits: 134
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 1,052 weeks
> Biggest song: Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx) (10 weeks at No. 1)
2. Lil Wayne
> Hot 100 hits: 179
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 1,866 weeks
> Biggest song: Lollipop (feat. Static Major) (5 weeks at No. 1)
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1. Drake
> Hot 100 hits: 260
> Total time spent on the Hot 100: 2,743 weeks
> Biggest song: God’s Plan (11 weeks at No. 1)
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