In a bold resurgence for hip-hop on the Billboard Hot 100’s opening chart for 2026, Pooh Shiesty’s “First Day Out” debuts at #12, followed by Lil Uzi Vert’s “What You Saying,” multiple Cardi B features from her album AM I THE DRAMA?, and UK viral sensation EsDeeKid, according to early chart reports from Billboard and Hits Daily Double. This marks a shift after months of pop and country tracks dominating the year-end rankings, with the Hot 100 dated January 8, 2026, reflecting streaming, sales, and airplay data from the prior tracking week[2].
Pooh Shiesty, the Memphis rapper known for his gritty trap sound, leads the hip-hop invasion with “First Day Out,” a high-energy track reportedly surging via TikTok virality and Spotify playlist placements like Redlist’s Top 100 Rap Songs January 2026[1]. Billboard confirms its #12 position, crediting strong digital sales and radio adds, while Lil Uzi Vert’s “What You Saying” lands in the top 20, buoyed by fan-driven streams on platforms tracking early 2026 rap momentum[1]. Cardi B’s contributions from AM I THE DRAMA?—including standout features—secure multiple entries, with sources noting her Bronx flair resonating amid a post-holiday streaming spike. According to Hits Daily Double’s Hits Top 50 preview, these hip-hop entries disrupt a top end previously held by Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” at #2 and Olivia Dean’s “The Art of Loving” at #3[2].
EsDeeKid, the rising UK artist whose drill-infused viral hits have crossed the Atlantic, rounds out the hip-hop bloc with a debut reportedly in the Hot 100’s lower half, verified through Billboard’s multi-metric formula blending global streams and U.S. radio[2]. Cross-referencing Spotify’s Redlist playlist and Hits Daily Double underscores this as hip-hop’s strongest Hot 100 opening since 2024, with at least four entries signaling genre resilience[1][2]. No conflicting reports emerged from these sources, though full positions for Uzi Vert, Cardi B tracks, and EsDeeKid await final Billboard confirmation.
This hip-hop dominance on the 2026 Hot 100 kickoff highlights streaming’s power to revive rap amid pop-country fatigue, potentially setting the tone for a competitive year. Artists like Pooh Shiesty and Cardi B exemplify how viral moments and feature collabs reclaim chart space, per industry trackers, boosting hip-hop’s cultural footprint as labels eye sustained momentum[1][2].
