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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Billboard‘s Hot Rap Songs chart, the magazine compiled a list of the top 100 chart performing rap songs ever, and the No. 1 spot stunned and pissed off many in the rap world.
“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is the No. 1 rap song of all time, according to Billboard. Not Tupac, not Biggie, Jay-Z or Eminem. For the record, “Can’t Hold Us” came in at number 4.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have had a monumental run since the 2012 release of their debut album, “The Heist.” The duo has performed numerous sold out-shows and recently garnered four Grammy Awards. Now, there’s another achievement that the rapper and producer can tuck under their belts: their breakout smash “Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz, is the top song in the 25-year history of the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart.
Here’s the magazine’s explanation of its grading system:
“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’s the top ten:
1. “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz, 2013
2. “Tootsee Roll” – 69 Boyz, 1994
3. “Hot Boyz” – Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott ft. Eve, Nas & Q-Tip, 1999
4. “Can’t Hold Us” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton, 2013
5. “Expression” – Salt-N-Pepa, 1990
6. “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Coolio ft. L.V., 1995
7. “Flava In Ya Ear” – Craig Mack, 1994
8. “Big Poppa/Warning” – The Notorious B.I.G., 1995
9. “No Hands” – Waka Flocka Flame ft. Roscoe Dash & Wale, 2010
10. “The Humpty Dance” – Digital Underground, 1990
Congrats to our boys for taking home this huge honor.
