Nelly

FOR the first time since its inception in the 1950's, the Billboard Hot 100 chart's top 10 positions are dominated by black African American artistes. This unique feat occurred on the popular and respected chart listing for October.

The number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 up to last week was Baby Boy by Beyonce featuring Sean Paul. That song was the ninth to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since the start of the year. It was also the eighth song featuring an African American act to top the chart this year.

P Diddy

Over the years, white artistes have dominated the Billboard Hot 100, considered to be the most prestigious of music charts in the US. However, with the aggressive push that record labels have invested behind their urban acts, the tables seem to have been turned.

Mainstream radio in North America has been dominated by rhythm and blues, rap, and hip hop acts in the past two years. With the influx of cable television, especially Black Entertainment Television (BET) and other networks including MTV2 giving steady rotation to urban music, African American acts appear to be dominating the pop charts.

50 Cent

The last time that the Billboard Hot 100 reflected a boom from African American acts was back in October 1968, when the Top 20 was occupied by 12 songs from urban music pioneer, Berry Gordy's Motown label. Then in 1972, there were 12 rhythm and blues hits occupying the top 20 of the Hot 100 chart.

The Top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart up to last week were as follows:

Chingy

1. Baby Boy- Beyonce/Sean Paul (currently #1 on the R&B chart)
2. Shake Ya Tail feather- Nelly, P Diddy and Murphy Lee
3. Get Low- Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz featuring the Ying Yang Twins (currently #1 on the Rap chart)
4. Right Thurr- Chingy (recent #1 on the Rap chart)
5. Frontin- Pharell featuring Jay-Z (a recent #1 on the R&B chart)
6. Damn- Young Bloodz featuring Lil Jon
7. PIMP- 50 Cent ( a recent #1 on the Rap chart)
8. Into You- Fabolous featuring Ashanti or Tamia
9. Stand Up- Ludacris featuring Shawna
10.Where is the Love- Black Eyed Peas (currently #1 in several countries around the world including the UK)

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