Doja Cat’s ‘Paint the Town Red’ Tops Billboard Hot 100, Ends Rap Genre’s Year-Long Dry Spell Atop Chart

Doja Cat's 'Paint the Town Red' Tops Billboard Hot 100, Ends Rap Genre's Year-Long Dry Spell Atop Chart

Doja Cat nabbed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, and she ended a year-long dry spell for rappers on the chart.

The song is her second to reach the pinnacle position and her first since breakout single “Say So” ascended the charts with a Nicki Minaj remix in 2020.

Aside from being a huge win for the “Demons” hitmaker, 27, it is also a major milestone for the rap genre.

Read more about Doja Cat’s achievement…

Billboard noted that “Paint the Town Red” is the first rap song to top the chart since Nicki‘s “Super Freaky Girl” did so in August 2022. Since then, several rap songs (including two from Drake – “Search & Rescue” and the 21 Savage-assisted “Rich Flex”) bowed in at the No. 2 spot but were unable to make it all the way to No. 1.

The last time that rap went that long from dominating the charts was an 18-month dry spell between 1999 and 2001. Back then it was Shaggy‘s “It Wasn’t Me” that finally reclaimed the top spot.

Doja released “Paint the Town Red” in August, and it rose to the top spot from its place at No. 3 last week. She has since released a new single called “Demons,” which sparked some controversy for its music video.

Speaking of controversy, you’ll want to see why Doja Cat changed the cover art for her upcoming album Scarlet.

Press play on “Paint the Town Red” below…