Billboard looks at the best of the best – the No. 1 year-end titles on the Hot Rap Songs chart for its entire existence. Together, the annual leaders offer snapshots of rap music’s history ...

The history of rap music, all things considered, doesn't go back too far. The genre came out of New York in the late 1970s ...

Some years undeniably hold more significance in the trajectory and health of hip-hop than others. When you look at the best songs and albums of any given year, it often seems impressive.