Billboard’s, Hot Rap Songs Chart, 25th Anniversary

March 11, 1989 was the day that Billboard implemented the Hot Rap Songs chart. In celebration of the chart’s 25th anniversary, Billboard has released lists of the Top 50 artists from 1989-2014, the top 100 rap songs of all time, and the artists with most #1s and top 10s.

Here’s how the ranking was determined:

The 25th Anniversary Hot Rap Songs ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Hot Rap Songs chart, since the chart’s inception in the March 11, 1989, issue. Rankings are based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 having the greatest value and weeks at lower positions proportionately less. Due to various changes in chart rules, chart length and methodology throughout the years, songs had varying reigns at No. 1 and on the chart. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from all 25 years, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference in turnover rates from those periods.

Here are the top 10/50 artists:

1. Drake
2. Jay Z
3. Lil Wayne
4. LL Cool J
5. Kanye West
6. T.I.
7. 50 Cent
8. Ludacris
9. Diddy
10. The Notorious B.I.G.

Female MCs did make the list such as Nicki Minaj (#16), MC Lyte (#21), Missy Elliot (#29), Salt-N-Pepa (#36), Da Brat (#38), and Yo-Yo (#48). Macklemore & Ryan Lewis make the list at #40 based off the success of The Heist which spawned hits, ‘Thrift Shop,’ ‘Can’t Hold Us,’ and ‘Same Love.

Here are the artists with the most #1s:

1.Drake -13

2. Diddy – 10

3. Kanye West – 9

4. LL Cool J – 8

5. 50 Cent

    Bow Wow – 7

    Lil Wayne – 7

    T.I. – 7

9. Ice Cube – 6

    Nelly – 6

    The Notorious B.I.G. – 6

Lil Wayne tops the Most Top 10s list with 288. Jay Z comes in second with 34 and Drake finishes 3rd with 29. Kanye has 26, Diddy-24, LL Cool J and Ludacris tie with 22, T.I. has 21, 50 Cent with 20, and Eminem and Snoop Dogg tie with 19.

Missy Elliot holds the #1 spot for Rap song with most weeks at #1 with ‘Hot Boyz’ featuring Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip. It debuted in November 1999 and spent 18 weeks on the chart. Drake’s ‘Best I Ever Had’ and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’, ‘Thrift Shop,’ tie at #2 with 15 weeks on the chart. DJ Khaled rounds off that list with his track ‘I’m On One’ featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne. It spent 13 weeks on the chart.

Enjoy the playlist below of the Top 20 Rap Songs of All-Time from the Top 100 Rap Songs list.