The Biggest Hip-Hop One-Hit Wonders of All Time

Hip-hop and rap have a long and storied history. Hints of its essence can be traced back decades, appearing in countless music and spoken-word or poetry forms. The 1946 song “Noah” by the gospel group The Jubilaires is considered one of the first instances of rap. Other early instances of proto-rap, a hybrid between music and spoken-word vocal performances, can be found in songs like “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by Gil-Scott Heron and the music of the Last Poets from 1971 and 1970, respectively. Since then, countless hip-hop tracks have graced the airwaves, with many disappearing as soon as they arrive. There are some tracks, however, that remain the biggest hip-hop one-hit wonders.

While hip-hop hinted at itself through the 20th century, it solidified into a unique genre and art form in the 1970s in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City. During this time, block parties became a popular activity in the city. These events often incorporated DJs to keep the crowd compelled. DJs began isolating the percussive elements of popular songs, incorporating turntable scratching and mixing to give the loops an extra feel. Another key element of hip-hop, the vocal delivery, is derived from the MC (Master of Ceremonies) at these parties, who speaks over the music to pump up the crowd. Soon, this evolved into vocal “battles” between different MCs to gain the favor of the crowd.

As they say, the rest is history. Now hip-hop stands as one of the uniquely American art forms, dominating the musical charts well into the modern age, and redefining popular culture in the process. As hip-hop grew through its different iterations, many great songs were produced that, for one reason or another, failed to find lasting purchase in the public imagination. In this article, we will explore some of the biggest hip-hop one-hit wonders. (Here are the biggest one-hit wonders of the ’90s.)

To determine the biggest one-hit wonders in hip-hop, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on historical song performance on the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. Rock songs released prior to 2010 were ranked based on an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 on the Top 40 is worth 40 points, a week at No. 2 is worth 39 points, up to a week at No. 40, worth one point. Only artists with two or fewer Top 40 hits that have sold no more than 5 million RIAA album units in the United States were considered. Billboard Hot 100 data is current through June 1, 2024.

50. Craig Mack, “Flava In Ya Ear” (1994)

• Top 40 peak: No. 9 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: September 3, 1994
• Exited Top 40: January 14, 1995

49. Diana King, “Shy Guy” (From “Bad Boys”) (1995)

• Top 40 peak: No. 13 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: May 27, 1995
• Exited Top 40: October 7, 1995

48. Young MC, “Bust A Move” (1989)

• Top 40 peak: No. 7 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: August 26, 1989
• Exited Top 40: January 6, 1990

47. Lil’ Flip, “Sunshine” (2004)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 18 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 10, 2004
• Exited Top 40: November 6, 2004

46. Bubba Sparxxx, “Ms. New Booty” (2006)

• Top 40 peak: No. 7 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 19 weeks
• Entered Top 40: March 4, 2006
• Exited Top 40: July 8, 2006

45. LSG, “My Body” (1997)

• Top 40 peak: No. 4 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 18 weeks
• Entered Top 40: November 1, 1997
• Exited Top 40: February 28, 1998

44. Luniz, “I Got 5 On It” (1995)

• Top 40 peak: No. 8 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 8, 1995
• Exited Top 40: November 18, 1995

43. Monifah, “Touch It” (1998)

• Top 40 peak: No. 9 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 21 weeks
• Entered Top 40: September 5, 1998
• Exited Top 40: January 23, 1999

42. N2Deep, “Back To The Hotel” (1992)

• Top 40 peak: No. 14 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 22 weeks
• Entered Top 40: August 22, 1992
• Exited Top 40: January 16, 1993

41. Danity Kane, “Damaged” (2008)

• Top 40 peak: No. 10 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: April 5, 2008
• Exited Top 40: August 16, 2008

40. Wayne Wonder, “No Letting Go” (2003)

• Top 40 peak: No. 11 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 21 weeks
• Entered Top 40: March 15, 2003
• Exited Top 40: August 2, 2003

39. Dem Franchize Boyz, “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” (2006)

• Top 40 peak: No. 7 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: February 11, 2006
• Exited Top 40: June 24, 2006

38. Kevin Lyttle, “Turn Me On” (2004)

• Top 40 peak: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: June 19, 2004
• Exited Top 40: November 6, 2004

37. D4L, “Laffy Taffy” (2005)

• Top 40 peak: No. 1 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: October 29, 2005
• Exited Top 40: March 11, 2006

36. Lou Bega, “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…)” (1999)

• Top 40 peak: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 20 weeks
• Entered Top 40: September 4, 1999
• Exited Top 40: January 15, 2000

35. Brownstone, “If You Love Me” (1995)

• Top 40 peak: No. 8 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 22 weeks
• Entered Top 40: January 7, 1995
• Exited Top 40: June 3, 1995

34. Nicole, “Make It Hot” (1998)

• Top 40 peak: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 23 weeks
• Entered Top 40: June 27, 1998
• Exited Top 40: November 28, 1998

33. Robin S., “Show Me Love” (1993)

• Top 40 peak: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 22 weeks
• Entered Top 40: May 1, 1993
• Exited Top 40: September 25, 1993

32. Jim Jones, “We Fly High” (2006)

• Top 40 peak: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 22 weeks
• Entered Top 40: November 11, 2006
• Exited Top 40: April 7, 2007

31. Cassie, “Me & U” (2006)

• Top 40 peak: No. 3 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 21 weeks
• Entered Top 40: May 27, 2006
• Exited Top 40: October 14, 2006

30. Five, “When The Lights Go Out” (1998)

• Top 40 peak: No. 10 (for 7 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 22 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 4, 1998
• Exited Top 40: November 28, 1998

29. Soul For Real, “Candy Rain” (1995)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 21 weeks
• Entered Top 40: January 28, 1995
• Exited Top 40: June 17, 1995

28. Nina Sky, “Move Ya Body” (2004)

• Top 40 peak: No. 4 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 22 weeks
• Entered Top 40: May 22, 2004
• Exited Top 40: October 16, 2004

27. Craig David, “Fill Me In” (2001)

• Top 40 peak: No. 15 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 23 weeks
• Entered Top 40: June 30, 2001
• Exited Top 40: December 1, 2001

26. Blu Cantrell, “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)” (2001)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 21 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 14, 2001
• Exited Top 40: December 1, 2001

25. Freak Nasty, “Da’ Dip” (1997)

• Top 40 peak: No. 15 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: February 15, 1997
• Exited Top 40: August 2, 1997

24. Somethin’ For The People, “My Love Is The Shhh!” (1997)

• Top 40 peak: No. 4 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 23 weeks
• Entered Top 40: September 13, 1997
• Exited Top 40: February 14, 1998

23. Duice, “Dazzey Duks” (1993)

• Top 40 peak: No. 12 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 26 weeks
• Entered Top 40: April 10, 1993
• Exited Top 40: October 2, 1993

22. Paperboy, “Ditty” (1993)

• Top 40 peak: No. 10 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: January 9, 1993
• Exited Top 40: July 10, 1993

21. Wreckx-N-Effect, “Rump Shaker” (1992)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 23 weeks
• Entered Top 40: October 24, 1992
• Exited Top 40: March 27, 1993

20. Young Money, “BedRock” (2009)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 23 weeks
• Entered Top 40: December 12, 2009
• Exited Top 40: May 15, 2010

19. Ini Kamoze, “Here Comes The Hotstepper” (From “Ready To Wear”) (1994)

• Top 40 peak: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 23 weeks
• Entered Top 40: October 15, 1994
• Exited Top 40: March 18, 1995

18. Blaque, “Bring It All To Me” (1999)

• Top 40 peak: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 24 weeks
• Entered Top 40: November 20, 1999
• Exited Top 40: April 29, 2000

17. City High, “What Would You Do?” (2001)

• Top 40 peak: No. 8 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: April 7, 2001
• Exited Top 40: September 22, 2001

16. Ruff Endz, “No More” (2000)

• Top 40 peak: No. 5 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 8, 2000
• Exited Top 40: December 23, 2000

15. House Of Pain, “Jump Around” (1992)

• Top 40 peak: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 25, 1992
• Exited Top 40: January 9, 1993

14. Groove Theory, “Tell Me” (1995)

• Top 40 peak: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: September 23, 1995
• Exited Top 40: March 9, 1996

13. Unk, “Walk It Out” (2006)

• Top 40 peak: No. 10 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 26 weeks
• Entered Top 40: November 4, 2006
• Exited Top 40: April 28, 2007

12. YoungBloodZ, “Damn!” (2003)

• Top 40 peak: No. 4 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: September 6, 2003
• Exited Top 40: February 21, 2004

11. Sir Mix-A-Lot, “Baby Got Back” (1992)

• Top 40 peak: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 24 weeks
• Entered Top 40: May 2, 1992
• Exited Top 40: October 10, 1992

10. Mario Winans, “I Don’t Wanna Know” (2004)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 8 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 25 weeks
• Entered Top 40: March 6, 2004
• Exited Top 40: August 21, 2004

9. Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy” (2006)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 7 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 26 weeks
• Entered Top 40: June 3, 2006
• Exited Top 40: November 25, 2006

8. J-Kwon, “Tipsy” (2004)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 26 weeks
• Entered Top 40: February 7, 2004
• Exited Top 40: July 31, 2004

7. Adina Howard, “Freak Like Me” (1995)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 27 weeks
• Entered Top 40: February 25, 1995
• Exited Top 40: August 26, 1995

6. Iyaz, “Replay” (2009)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 27 weeks
• Entered Top 40: October 17, 2009
• Exited Top 40: April 17, 2010

5. Terror Squad, “Lean Back” (2004)

• Top 40 peak: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 27 weeks
• Entered Top 40: July 3, 2004
• Exited Top 40: January 15, 2005

4. Quad City DJ’s, “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” (1996)

• Top 40 peak: No. 3 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 29 weeks
• Entered Top 40: June 1, 1996
• Exited Top 40: December 14, 1996

3. 69 Boyz, “Tootsee Roll” (1994)

• Top 40 peak: No. 8 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 31 weeks
• Entered Top 40: August 6, 1994
• Exited Top 40: March 4, 1995

2. Mark Morrison, “Return Of The Mack” (1997)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 1 week)
• Total time in Top 40: 33 weeks
• Entered Top 40: March 8, 1997
• Exited Top 40: October 18, 1997

1. Tag Team, “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (1993)

• Top 40 peak: No. 2 (for 7 weeks)
• Total time in Top 40: 41 weeks
• Entered Top 40: June 12, 1993
• Exited Top 40: March 19, 1994