The year started with so much promise. Drake, J. Cole, Cardi B—in 2020, fans of rap were expecting new albums from most of the major heavyweights at the time. Then, on March 11, 2020, everything ...

Yesterday, Billboard deputy editor and Stereogum buddy Andrew Unterberger published a piece with some confusing implications: On last week's Billboard Hot 100, there were no rap songs in the top 40.

These rap icons transformed more than just a genre; they shifted the direction of modern music itself. Their innovation and impact continue to shape the sound of today’s biggest artists. Few genres ...