There were a lot of stories at the end 2 years About Hip Hop declinemany people predict the downfall of this genre. Well, they were wrong. Because it appears that laps are back on course just a few months in 2024.
In 2023, it took seven months for the rap album, Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink tape, On top of that Billboard Top 200. By the end of the year, only four rap albums were No. 1 hits compared to 2022’s 12. Juicy J insisted The rap music was “40% reduced.” In fact, the market share for the genre fell from 27.64% in the middle of 2022 to 25.92% in the middle of 2023, but concerns were in effect. Hip hop was in the midst of decline after years of growth.
Luckily, the genre is backlash in 2024, so it seems that the deniers were wrong. We have only been in three months this year. There are already three No. 1 rap albums. 21 Savage American Dreamye and ty dolla signs Vultureand the future and the metroboomin We don’t trust you. The future and the subway We don’t trust you yet The charts are also scheduled to top next week. For comparison, by April 2023 there was Zero No. 1 rap album.
It wasn’t just the album. There were no rap songs Billboard Doja Cat’s “Painting Town Red” Hot 100 until September I snapped the dry spell It had been going on for over a year. In 2024, it took Jack Harlow’s “Lovin’on Me” less than two weeks for hip-hop’s first chart topper. This was followed by the No. 1 song from Megan The Se Stallion (“Hiss”). YE, Ty Dolla Sign, Rich the Kid, and Playboi Carti (“Carnival”); future Metroboomin, and Kendrick Lamar (“such”), the latter currently sits in first place for three consecutive weeks. Hip-Hop already has as many No. 1 songs as in 2023 as in 2023.
In the first week of April last year, looking at the charts through a more finely-grained lens, the Billboard Hot 100 had 18 lap entries. There were 38 lap entries in the first week of April this year. Compared to last year’s 25, last year’s Billboard Hot 200 had 27 rap album entries, but the majority of the rap projects that had last year’s entries were older albums. Graduation, be careful, express your opinion, and Igor It never lost their position. Generally, looking at this year’s Hot 200 rap entries, there is more newer music than previous years, and the album is We don’t trust you and 2093 Keeps high chart placement.
Of course, numbers aren’t everything. There were many factors that deter hip-hop morale in 2023. The YSL RICO case ruled the news cycle as young thugs were trapped and Gunna faced allegations of “snitch” and constricted Atlanta’s energy. Some of the genre’s biggest stars weren’t happy with the creative direction, like Lil Yocchi It was criticized The lack of rap’s originality has been a statement in 2023 that “hip hop is in a terrible place.” Welcome 2 Collegrove Meek Mill and Rick Ross It’s so good that it’s not true. The A-list stars didn’t convey the excitement we were used to, which left fans disappointed.
The controversy is still selling. You are Cancelled and allowed Despite countless and some outrageous bars on “Carnival” (now I’m ye-kelly, bitch, now I’m Bill Cosby, bitch/now I’m Puffpaddyrich, is that “#metoo me “rich”?), while Diss Records such as “Hiss” “Like that.” It came in first place. The lyrical war that Kendrick Lamar, Future, Rick Ross, ASAP Rocky and Weeknd have fought against Drake is a shot of adrenaline that the necessary genre needs. The mere idea of the biggest rapper fighting through the bar holds back any of the 2023 blockbuster rap moments. When you hear a diss track like “like” you know that rap is in a great place Explosion at the club.
Beyond beef and number one hit, there were also many high-quality singles that have been pop-up this year. rear There are very few missteps And those wondering if she’s regained her early momentum, successfully launched her comeback campaign with her infectious hit “Yead Glo!” Sexy Red has been keeping momentum going on with tracks like “Get It Sexy” since last year. Same as above Texas rapper BigxThaplugquietly enjoying the success of the charts with “MMHMM.”
It’s not just a hit. Schoolboy Q dropped an album inspired by Blue lips, Tierra Wack expanded the boundaries of her world with her cathartic album Worldwide wak, Mike and Tony Seltzers Pinball The listener on the left was impressed by its high-level lyrics and headspin production. All of these elite yet different albums came out same This year’s month.
Several emerging rap scenes are beginning to generate a lot of talk outside their respective silos. Detroit’s Wese had this year’s rap twitter album Ganga In 2023, and now, his local influence is beginning to bleed outside of Michigan’s range. Mainstream attention. Something similar is happening in New York City, a sexy drill movement led by Bronx rapper/producer Cash Coburn. Cobain’s “Fisher” is already Summer song Candidate, and he is I made music With Drake, I received a co-signature from Travis Scottwhile maintaining his unique sound. These are intangible statistics that can only be determined by being outside.
Rather than estimating hip-hop success against key players’ success, the industry should try to bring this genre to a healthy future by putting more stock into these small scenes. This requires both listeners and executives to broaden their horizons beyond what they are used to hearing and to open up to what hip-hop chooses to evolve. The next generation of underground rappers like Yhapojj, Wolface Joeyy and Bktherula don’t sound like the traditional rap that came before them, but they become young security guards who lead the rap in untapped territory. Industrial factory accusations– Order to continue growing genre.
Hip-hop has rebounded commercially and culturally this year, but it has not yet returned to its peak. The only rap album of the last decade to maintain the No. 1 spot in the nine-week straight is Drake’s View In 2016 (this was number one in 13 weeks total), and the genre has gradually lost its market share since the turn of the decade. According to LuminateHip-hop remains a major genre in terms of market share, controlling 28.2% of US music consumption in 2020, but fell to 27.7% in 2021, 26.8% in 2022 and 25.8% in 2023.
But the year is still young, and some of the biggest acts of the game have not actually made their moves in 2024. Speedy 360, Cardi B confirmed that she will drop the sophomore album this year. Elsewhere in the Bronx, Young Phenom Ice Spice is preparing to release her debut album. Y2K, A chance to prove she is a superstar with power. Playboi carti is in the middle of his development music. Despite the fact that war is taking place outside, the rappers are not safe. drop down. Baby Keem may be tapping Kendrick Lamar again to support him in upcoming projects I teased January. Recently, ganna announcement His next album, One of Wuns, Arrived this summer with his tour.
Hip hop is in a good place where the biggest acts drop the music that drives the streets, while the smallest scenes create inspirational sounds that diverge across the country. When these three things are happening, everything else tends to fall into place. Hip hop is still It can withstand a billion dollar industry and a temporary dip. So far, it appears to be heading in the right direction for 2024.
