NLE Choppa Aims for No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 Amidst 2023’s Hip-Hop Trends
The Billboard Hot 100 charts of 2023 have seen a noticeable lack of rap at the pinnacle, and NLE Choppa is determined to change that narrative. While the year has unfolded with a dearth of hip-hop artists commanding the No. 1 spot, NLE Choppa believes he possesses the potential to break through and secure the coveted position.
This year, Latto managed to break the trend as the first hip-hop artist to achieve No. 1 status on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite receiving mixed feedback for his remake of Nelly’s 2002 hit “Hot In Herre” with his recent single “It’s Getting Hot,” NLE Choppa remains resolute in his ambition to rejuvenate rap’s prominence on the Hot 100.
Addressing the prevailing scenario, NLE Choppa responded to a tweet from Chart Data that highlighted the one-year span since a rapper clinched the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist. The Memphis rapper expressed his intent with a succinct yet determined response,
“Bet lemme change that rq.”
It has now been one full year since the last time a rap song was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (365 days). pic.twitter.com/PniYFCUSoP
— chart data (@chartdata) August 22, 2023
Despite his assertion, NLE Choppa’s journey to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 is yet to gain substantial traction. The 20-year-old artist has secured four Top 40 hits on the chart, with his highest-ranking single being last year’s “Slut Me Out” (No. 28). His earlier tracks, including “Shotta Flow” (No. 36), “Camelot” (No. 37), and “Walk Em Down” (No. 38), have also made appearances within the Top 40.
Comparatively, the corresponding period in 2022 saw four rappers—Jack Harlow, Future, Drake, and Nicki Minaj—achieve No. 1 placements on the Hot 100 as lead artists. Similarly, five hip-hop artists held the top spot during the initial eight months of 2021: 24kGoldn, Drake, Cardi B, Lil Nas X, and Polo G.
As NLE Choppa endeavors to alter the trajectory of the Hot 100 charts, his determination to break the rap drought at the No. 1 spot demonstrates his unwavering belief in his capabilities. In a year where hip-hop’s dominance has faced a pause, NLE Choppa’s aspiration to reclaim the throne reflects the genre’s enduring resilience and the artists’ unrelenting pursuit of success.
