In Hit Parade’s “Def Jams Edition,” we told you about rap’s first wave in the ’80s. But in this sequel (don’t believe the hype!) we enter the ’90s with still no No. 1 rap hits on the Hot 100—even though the music was starting to dominate both streets and stores: from conscious rappers like Public Enemy, to gangstas like N.W.A, to left-field innovators like D ... Show More
May 30
All Apologies Edition Part 2
The story of Nevermind, Nirvana’s genre-defining breakthrough, is a familiar one. Less well known is the saga of Billboard’s Modern Rock chart—and how college-rock staples of the 1980s like R.E.M. and The Cure gave way to heavier, more commercially dominant groups of the ‘90s lik ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 2022
Nicki Minaj's 'Super Freaky Girl,' DJ Khaled's Bee Gees Spin, Snoop Dogg's Top 10 & More Nostalgia on the Billboard Charts
Everything old is new again on the Billboard charts, with a series of samples, features and remixes putting some legends back on top 40 radio. On the new Pop Shop Podcast, we're talking about the current wave of "future nostalgia" (thanks for the perfect label, Dua Lipa) on the B ... Show More
29m 41s
Mar 2024
Hip-hop's Sea Change at Rolling Loud
Hip-hop is in a weird place right now. Research says that the genre, in both streaming and chart performance, has declined over the last decade. And while rap artists can still get number one songs on the Hot 100, it’s a far cry from the peak of trap circa 2017, when Nielsen data ... Show More
42m 47s
May 2024
May 10- Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice & BTS’ RM Release New Music, ENHYPEN’s Fate World Tour Preview & More | Billboard News
It’s Friday, May 10, and the rap girlies are back in the game. Megan Thee Stallion & Ice Spice released new singles and BTS’ RM dropped his new song, “Come back to me.” Dhruv shares about what he’s looking forward to when performing at Head In The Clouds. We give you all access t ... Show More
9m 59s
Jul 2020
Ep 4: The rise of the singing rapper
It's pretty common to hear rap and R&B influences on the same track, but that wasn’t always the case. Hip-hop was not received with open arms by many in the R&B establishment. Still, rappers found creative ways of being heard on the radio, while others pushed beyond stereotypes o ... Show More
55m 12s
Sep 2017
Coming Around Again: Kanye West's 'Graduation' vs. 50 Cent's 'Curtis'
This week on 'Coming Around Again,' we're flashing back 10 years to Sept. 11, 2007, when hip-hop hosted the heavyweight bout of the year, between superstar rappers 50 Cent and Kanye West. Along with Billboard Hip-Hop Editor Carl Lamarre, we share our memories of the sales battle, ... Show More
25m 48s
Oct 2020
October 20th - 50 Cent and More Get Political, BTS Dominates the Charts and Halsey Goes Bald
Rappers 50 Cent and Lil Dicky show their support for their presidential candidates and BTS continues to dominate the Billboard charts. Plus, Halsey shows off her newly shaved head. This is Billboard News Now, rounding out the top stories for Tuesday, October 20. Learn more about ... Show More
5m 17s
May 2018
Terrance "Gangsta" Williams
New Orleans - 1991. A city with one of the highest homicide rates in the world. In the streets, Terrance is a real hothead. Between drug dealing and murders, he helps his 2 half-brothers set up a music label in their kitchen. 25 years later, this music label will dominate the cha ... Show More
19m 40s