22 Rap Songs that Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Johnny Nunez, Getty Images
Additional Reporting By
Akaash Sharma
Drake does it again! The G.O.A.T. rap star recently added to his long list of accomplishments when his collab with J. Cole, "First Person Shooter " debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He is now tied with Michael Jackson as the male solo artist with the most chart-toppers on the Billboard singles chart. He is also the artist with the most songs to have debuted at No. 1. "First Person Shooter" is the second Drake song that debuted at No. 1 in 2013. Drake's "Slime You Out" with SZA also debuted at No. 1 earlier this year.
In the history of the Billboard Hot 100, there have been 22 hip-hop songs that have debuted at No. 1 on the chart. These songs represent some of the biggest hits in hip-hop history. This significant achievement is a testament to not only how dope the songs are, but also the popularity of the artists (and producers) and behind them. Once a rare feat, debuting in the top spot has become more and more frequent over the last few years. There were 15 songs released since 2017 alone that spent their first week on Billboard’s singles chart in the No. 1 position. Drake has dropped several first-week-chart-toppers and so has Travis Scott. Here’s a look at all of the hip-hop hits that have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
22. “First Person Shooter” - Drake featuring J. Cole
Debut Date: October 21, 2023
Drake’s most recent album, For All The Dogs, brought about the third collaboration between Drake and his fellow rap superstar J. Cole, the first essentially being a remix of an older J. Cole song and the second being “Jodeci Freestyle”, ten long years ago. Perhaps “First Person Shooter” would have debuted at #1 regardless, just because of the significance of the moment, but it was also a standout on the album and the latest in a long line of murderous J. Cole features. This is the song that officially helped Drake tie Michael Jackson’s 13 #1s.
21. "Slime You Out" - Drake featuring SZA
Debut Date: September, 25 2023
“Slime You Out” became Drake's 12th chart-topper on the Hot 100. Drizzy’s 12th No.1 put him in the league with Madonna and The Supremes for the fifth-most No.1’s on the Billboard single’s chart. “Slime You Out” made SZA the first artist to land two No. 1s in 2023. Her first was “Kill Bill.”
20. “Super Freaky Girl” by Nicki Minaj
Debut Date: August 27, 2022
“Super Freaky Girl” marked the second time that Nicki Minaj had sampled Rick James’ “Super Freak”, the first time being on her 2007 Playtime Is Over cut “Dilly Dally”. On this occasion, the song ended up being a little bigger for her than the first, not only debuting at #1, but breaking the Spotify record for the biggest debut for a solo female rap song. It also went on to win Best Hip-Hop Video at the MTV VMAs. It will live on the rapper’s upcoming Pink Friday 2 album, due November 17th.
19. "Jimmy Cooks" by Drake featuring 21 Savage
Debut Date: June 27, 2022
Drake opened the summer of ’22 with Honestly, Nevermind, a surprise album that was a left turn away from the sound we’d been used to for years, with not a lot of rapping on it. At the end of the album though, he threw on "Jimmy Cooks" with 21 Savage, which ended up being a preview of what was to come later that year with Her Loss. The song shot straight to the top of the charts, impressively, without the accompanying music video because the official visual wasn’t released until October.
18. “Wait For U” - Future featuring Drake & Tems
Debut Date: May 9, 2022
Future landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the eight time with I Never Liked You. The album features tracks with Kanye West, Gunna and Young Thug. Pluto’s ninth album also features the Drake and Tems-assisted single, “Wait For U,” which also debuted in the top spot on the Billboard charts. The video for the song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 within seven days of its release racked up 5.7 million views in just four days.
17. “First Class” - Jack Harlow
Debut Date: April 18, 2022
Jack Harlow has another smash hit on his hands. “First Class” is receiving love from all around the world. The song debuted at No. 1 in the US, as well as in New Zealand and Australia. It also debuted at No. 2 in several countries including the UK, Germany and Ireland.
16. "Way 2 Sexy" - Drake featuring Future and Young Thug
Debut Date: September 18, 2021
The first official single from Drake’s Certified Lover Boy claimed the top spot on the Hot 100 after a massive streaming week “Way 2 Sexy” led the way on the single's chart, while nine other CLB tracks occupied the top 10 slots on the chart, making Drizzy the first artist in history to do so. “Way 2 Sexy” became the 6 God’s ninth number-one and extended his reign as the rap star with the most No. 1 songs in history.
15. "Rapstar" - Polo G
Debut Date: April 24, 2021
Polo G is leading the way as one of hip-hop’s next undisputed superstars. He further cemented his status in the game with “Rapstar,” his first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper. With more than 77.7 million streams in its first seven days, the lead single to Polo’s first No. 1 album, Hall Of Fame, became an instant hit.
14. "What's Next" - Drake
Debut Date: March 20, 2021
If in 2021, you wondered what was next for Drake, he had an answer for you: more hits! “What’s Next,” the lead single for his three-track, Scary Hours 2 ep, conquered the Hot 100 immediately after its release. While the high energy track landed at No. 1, the accompanying tracks "Wants and Needs," featuring Lil Baby and the Rick Ross-assisted "Lemon Pepper Freestyle" occupied the No. 2 and 3 spots. Drake became the first artist ever to have three singles debut in the top three positions of the Hot 100.
13. “Franchise” - Travis Scott featuring Young Thug and MIA
Debut Date: Oct. 10, 2020
Travis Scott has been a franchise player for a while. The Cactus Jack head honcho was assisted by all stars Young Thug and MIA for “Franchise,” his third number-one debut. The hit single was at the time supposed to be the lead single for Scott’s fifth solo album, Utopia. Scott is the only artist to have three songs debut at number-one in less than a year.
12. “WAP” - Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
Debut Date: Aug. 22, 2020
What happens when two of the biggest female rappers of the moment come together? Well, when Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion connected for “WAP,” they almost broke the internet. Their bass heavy, sex-positive Balitimore club-inspired banger spent four week on top of the Billboard Hot 100. With the immediate success of “WAP,” Cardi became the first female rapper to chart a No. 1 in two decades. “WAP” was her fourth and Megan’s second chart-topping single.
11. “Trollz” - 6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj
Debut Date: June 27, 2020
Controversy sells and the career of 6ix9ine has been proof. For his single, the infamous rapper linked up with Nicki Minaj for a third time. The combination of controversy and lots of hype resulted in the tandems’ track debuting at No. 1. The track only spent four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
10. “The Scotts” by Travis Scott & Kid Cudi
Debut Date: May 9, 2020
The legend known as Kid Cudi made his first appearance on top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “The Scott’s,” the 2020 collab between him and Travis Scott. Following the huge debut of the single produced by Take A Daytrip, Dot da Genius and Plain Pat, Scott became one of only six artists in history to have multiple songs debut at No. 1.
9. “Toosie Slide” - Drake
Debut Date: April 18, 2020
“Toosie Slide” became Drake’s third number-one debut on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as his seventh chart-topping song. The song named after social influencer, Toosie was the lead single from Drizzy’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes mixtape.
8. “Highest In The Room” - Travis Scott
Debut Date: Oct. 19, 2019
The 2019 single brought in 59 million streams in its first week and was remixed by Lil Baby and Latin star Rosalia.
7. “This Is America” - Childish Gambino
Debut Date: May 19, 2018
“This Is America” was the 31st song to spend its opening week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also Childish Gambino’s first chart-topping and top ten single. It went on to win four Grammy Awards, including Best Rap/Sung Performance, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Music Video. “This Is America” became the first rap song to take home the Grammy trophies for both Record and Song of the Year.
6. “Nice for What” - Drake
Debut Date: April 21, 2018
An ode to the independent women out there, “Nice for What” contained a sample of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor,” as well as vocals from Big Freedia. Upon its debut, it replaced “God's Plan” in the No. 1 spot, making Drake the first artist in history to replace one No.1 debut with another No.1 debut. The hit song held down the top spot on Billboard’s single charts for eight nonconsecutive weeks.
5. “God’s Plan” - Drake
Debut Date: February 3, 2018
Drake seemingly had a plan when it came to his 2018 album Scorpion. That plan was to rule the charts. “God’s Plan” was the first of several Scorpion singles that topped the Billboard Hot 100. The Grammy Award-winning song broke first-day streaming records on Spotify, as well as on Apple Music and became the most streamed song of 2018 for both Spotify and Apple Music.
4. “I’m The One” - DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
Debut Date: May 20, 2017
DJ Khaled told us he had been grinding all his life. With “I’m The One,” the second single from his tenth album, Grateful, he finally reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song which has been streamed more than a billion times on Spotify also debuted in the top position on the UK Singles Chart.
3. “Not Afraid” - Eminem
Debut Date: May 22, 2010
What hasn’t Eminem done? The megastar rapper broke several records through his lengthy career. His 2010 single was the first rap song in about 12 years that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Boi-1da-co-produced track became Em's second certified diamond single.
2. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” - Lauryn Hill
Debut Date: November 14, 1998
One of the G.O.A.T. female rappers, Lauryn Hill shook up the game when she released her debut solo single, “Doo Wop (That Thing).” The lead single from her debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill became the first debut single to top the Hot 100 in its opening week. The two-time Grammy Award-winning song is also the first song by a female rapper to hit No. 1.
1. “I’ll Be Missing You” - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans Featuring 112
Debut Date: June 14, 1997
The first rap song that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 was a tribute to the late and great Notorious B.I.G. “I’ll Be Missing You” featured Biggie’s wife Faith, as well as Bad Boy crooners 112. In the US, the single spent 11 weeks at No. 1, while it also landed in the top position in 15 countries around the world. To date, the Grammy Award-winning single is one of the top-selling songs of all time.
