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Recent rule changes that led to the departure of Kendrick Lamar and SZA\u2018s \u201cLuther\u201d from the Billboard<\/em> Hot 100 left the top 40 positions without a single rap song for the first time in 35 years<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n\tIt\u2019s going to take some time to rebuild the 35-year streak that was broken<\/a> when updates to the Billboard Hot 100 rules led to the departure of Kendrick Lamar and SZA\u2018s \u201cLuther,\u201d leaving the Top 40 without a single rap song for the first time since 1990. On this week\u2019s chart, Megan Thee Stallion<\/a> is leading the restoration effort with her enamored single \u201cLover Girl.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tReleased on Oct. 24, \u201cLover Girl\u201d debuted at Number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It arrives in the same position that \u201cLuther\u201d was in when it was rendered recurrent and removed from the chart. According to the updated rules, the song would have needed to maintain a position at Number 25 or above after its 26th week to avoid being removed.<\/p>\n \n\tMegan has many weeks to go before she would have to worry about being impacted by these changes. Still, \u201cLover Girl\u201d is only a few positions above the Top 40 line; if it were to slip even three places on next week\u2019s chart, rap will be out once again.<\/p>\n