21 Rappers With The Most Number 1 Hits

Fans of our music know, rappers are releasing hits all the time. That said, not all of them go on to have mainstream success, even if they rack up millions of views on Youtube.

So which rappers have got the most top positions in the billboard charts?

Read on to see the rappers with the most number 1 hits in music history. We’ll start with the least hits then work our way to the person with the most.

The Notorious B.I.G – 2 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Hypnotize
• Mo Money, Mo Problems

The Notorious B.I.G, also known as Biggie Smalls, made music history by becoming the first artist on the Billboard chart to earn two posthumous (after death), back-to-back hit singles.

Biggie Smalls was a rapper from New York known for his high-profile duel with West Coast rapper 2-Pac.

Just as Biggie planned to release his album Life After Death, he was murdered in a drive-by shooting. His lead single, “Hypnotize,” earned the number-one spot in 1997, and it was shortly followed by the second hit single, “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” which topped the charts the following year.

Nas – 2 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Street Dreams
• Hot Boyz

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known as Nas, was an East-Coast rapper famous in the late 1990s.

In 1996, Nas won his first hit single with the release of “Street Dreams,” which touches on the mindset involved in drug dealing. Nas was famous for his subversion of traditional rap themes, favoring social justice issues instead.

In 1999, Nas’ song “Hot Boyz,” with Missy Elliot, Eve, and Q-tip, topped the charts for 18 weeks.

Kendrick Lamar – 2 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Bad Blood
• Humble

Kendrick Lamar is another rapper popular for his preference for political issues and depictions of socio-economic strife in his music.

Lamar has charted over 69 times, but surprisingly, he only earned two number hits, “Humble,” released in 2017, and “Bad Blood,” with Taylor Swift, released in 2014.

“Humble” touches on the rapper’s attempts to remain humble despite his fame, while “Bad Blood” is about the aftermath of a breakup.

Although Lamar has few chart-toppers, he has earned a devout following and continues to release modern music.

Outkast – 3 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Mrs. Jackson
• Hey Ya
• The Way You Move

Atlanta-based hip-hop duo OutKast remains one of the most popular acts in history. The group consisted of Antwan “Big Boi” Patton and Andrée “3000” Benjamin and was formed in 1992.

Since then, the duo has topped the charts three times.

Their first song to reach number one was “Mrs. Jackson,” a song about a young man apologizing to his ex-girlfriend’s mother. It was soon replaced by “Hey Ya!” in 2003—and later with “The Way You Move,” a lust ballad that includes Sleepy Brown.

Outkast has also earned four top-10 hits, and since the duo is considered relatively experimental in rap, this is a significant achievement.

Lil Wayne – 3 Number 1 Hit

#1 Hits:

• Lollipop
• Down
• I’m the One

Lil Wayne, the famous rapper, producer, and label manager from Louisiana, has three number-one hits on the Billboard charts.

Wayne’s first number-one hit was “Lollipop,” where the rapper courts a young woman. The song was released in 2008 and was soon followed by “Down” with Jay Sean in 2009.

In 2017, Lil Wayne collaborated on the song “I’m the One” with Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance the Rapper.

Ja Rule – 3 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Real
• Always on Time
• Ain’t It Funny

Ja Rule, born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, is a famous rapper, songwriter, and producer from New York City.

He debuted in 1999 with his lead single “Holla Holla,” but he did not earn his first hit until a year later with “Real” featuring Jennifer Lopez.

He soon earned a second single with “Always on Time,” featuring Ashanti only five months later. “Always on Time” is Ja Rule’s only chart-topping solo song.

In 2002, Ja Rule’s song “Ain’t It Funny” hit number one on the charts.

T-Pain – 3 Number One Hit

#1 Hits:

• Low
• Buy U a Drank
• Kiss Kiss

Faheem Rashad Najm is a singer and songwriter known as T Pain.

Active since 1999, T–Pain has earned three hit singles on the Billboard 100 —and over 48 others have appeared on the charts.

His most famous songs include “Low” with Flo Rida in 2007, “Buy U a Drank” with Yung Joc in 2007, and “Kiss Kiss” with Chris Brown in 2007.

Nicki Minaj – 3 Number 1 Hit

#1 Hits:

• Trollz
• Say So
• Super Freaky Girl

Nicki Minaj, sometimes called the “Queen of Rap,” is Lil Wayne’s prodigy—and the first woman to debut on the charts since Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Minaj is a prolific and talented songwriter, and she has had three number-one hits.

Nikki Minaj and rapper 6ix9ine won the position with their song “Trollz.”

Her song “Say So” with Doja Cat earned number one in 2020. Soon after, “Super Freaky Girl” took over the spot.

Flo Rida – 3 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Low
• Right Round
• Whistle

Rapper Flo Rida has had over 40 singles since he began topping the charts in 2007.

His song “Low” earned the top spot in 2007, and it is about controlling the intensity of a relationship.

In 2009, the rapper song “Right Round” raised the bar for rappers everywhere, holding the prestigious title for six weeks.

In 2012, Flo Rida’s song “Whistle” topped the charts for two weeks and earned acclaim for its combination of pop and rap.

Post Malone – 4 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Rockstar
• Psycho
• Sunflower
• Circles

Post Malone is an experimental rap, hip-hop, and pop music artist.

Although the musician has changed his tune several times, he’s consistently earned the number-one spot.

In 2017, his song “Rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage, earned number one. Later, in 2018, “Psycho” with Ty Dolla $ign won the spot.

In 2018, “Sunflower” appeared in the Spider-Man movie Into the Spiderverse, replacing “Psycho.” In 2019, Post Malone did it again with “Circles,” a song that spent 61 weeks on the charts.

Nelly – 4 Number 1 Hits

#1 Hits:

• Hot in Here
• Dilemma
• Shake Ya Tailfeather
• Grillz

Nelly is a popular hip-hop, rap, and R&B artist who has consistently topped the charts since his debut in the early 2000s.

Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, born in St. Louis, Missouri, debuted in 1993 under the name “Nelly.”

Nelly has enjoyed four number-one hits, starting with “Hot in Here” in 2002. Later that year, his song “Dilemma” with Kelly Rowland took over, topping the charts for sixteen weeks.

In 2003, “Shake Ya Tailfeather” earned number one, and it was soon replaced by “Grillz,” a song with Paul Wall and Ali & Gippin 2005.