After several weeks without a single rap track in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, Megan Thee Stallion has officially brought hip-hop back to the forefront. Her latest single, “Lover Girl,” entered the chart at No. 38 on the November 8, 2025 listing — ending what analysts have described as rap’s longest Top 40 absence in more than three decades.
A Rare Pause in Hip-Hop History
For two consecutive weeks prior to Megan’s entry, no rap song appeared in the Top 40 — a situation unseen since early 1990. The lull had sparked widespread discussion across the industry about whether rap’s chart dominance was fading or simply recalibrating under new Billboard methodologies and changing listener habits.
The Numbers Behind the Comeback
According to data reported by Hypebeast and other sources, “Lover Girl” debuted with:
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Roughly 8.5 million U.S. streams in its first tracking week
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About 1.5 million radio impressions
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More than 5,000 pure sales
Those combined figures secured the song a Top 40 debut, officially ending the short-lived “rap drought.”
Why It Matters
This moment holds weight not just for Megan, but for the genre as a whole. For years, rap has been one of America’s most dominant styles, routinely filling the upper tiers of the charts. The recent absence led to debates over whether the genre was losing its mainstream pull. Megan’s success suggests otherwise — proving that a strong single with cultural traction can still break through even as the pop landscape evolves.
Critics also note that Billboard’s ongoing updates to how it calculates chart positions — including streaming adjustments and recurrent rules — have affected which genres gain or lose visibility.
Megan’s Continued Impact
Megan Thee Stallion is no stranger to Billboard success, with past hits like “Savage,” “Body,” and “Her” all achieving high placements. But “Lover Girl” represents something more symbolic — a return of rap to its chart position and a reminder of her staying power in a competitive music era.
Her chart return also underscores the influence of female rappers, who have played a major role in keeping the genre dynamic and commercially relevant.
Looking Ahead
The key question now is whether this marks a turning point for rap’s mainstream resurgence or simply a brief spike. Industry watchers will be following “Lover Girl’s” movement in the coming weeks to see if it climbs higher or fades quickly — and whether more hip-hop entries soon follow.
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