The UK Rap Chart will make its debut on BBC Radio 1Xtra, providing a dedicated platform for British rap artists based on UK listening figures. The weekly countdown, hosted by DJ Kenny Allstar, will rank 20 rap singles from British artists each week, compiled by the Official Charts Company using streams and sales data.
Allstar, who already presents the Rap Show on BBC Radio 1, will host the new chart on Friday nights from 22:00 to 23:00, with the show available afterward on BBC Sounds. The launch marks the first time UK rap has its own official chart, following the introduction of genre-specific charts for R&B, homegrown albums, and British Asian music.
A Fair Playing Field
Allstar has long advocated for UK rap, and he describes the new role as a dream come true. He says the chart will give artists a level playing field where they can be celebrated fairly and excitedly. Currently, artists compete across genres for a spot in the Official Singles Chart, which Allstar notes is dominated by pop music, making it harder for other genres to be heard. He points out that except for heavyweights like Central Cee and Dave, who broke chart records with Sprinter in 2023, it is not easy for any artist to go against Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift every week.
The chart will likely feature at least three or four new artists each week, giving emerging talent a chance to be heard by hundreds of thousands of listeners. Allstar hopes this will provide a boost to UK rap, acknowledging that the scene has taken a bit of a beating recently, with prominent artists like Skepta and Digga saying the quality of music has dipped. He wants to find solutions and believes future broadcasters and talent will benefit from this forever.
Documenting the Culture
Eric Hunter from the Official Charts Company says the countdown will be an amazing opportunity to shine a light on more artists, document the culture, and give emerging talent a way to track their progress alongside their peers. The company describes UK rap as one of the country’s most influential and fast-moving music scenes and says the chart will celebrate both established names and the next generation of rappers driving the scene.
Previously, the Official Charts Company listed the top 40 selling R&B and hip hop tracks on its website, but there was nowhere for fans to listen to the chart. Allstar says it was just a bunch of numbers and text, so it kind of existed but not in this capacity. The new show will provide a dedicated space for UK rap where artists can be celebrated.
The debut broadcast coincides with the release of Skepta’s long-awaited sixth studio album, and Allstar expects the rapper to feature in the chart. He says it looks promising but the only way to find out is to listen in.
