// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
'We have our own fair playing field': 1Xtra launches first ever UK rap chart
The Official UK Rap Chart will be presented by DJ Kenny Allstar
British rap artists will step into the spotlight later when BBC Radio 1Xtra launches the first ever dedicated rap chart based on UK listening figures.
DJ Kenny Allstar, who'll host the countdown on Friday nights, has one word: "Finally".
"If we have our own fair playing field where we can all be celebrated... it then feels fair and it feels exciting," he tells BBC Newsbeat.
Currently artists compete across genres for a spot in the Official Singles Chart, but Allstar says this is dominated by pop music, making it harder for other genres to be heard.
Perhaps with the exception of heavyweights like Central Cee and Dave, who broke chart records with Sprinter back in 2023, "it's not easy for any artist to go against Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift every week," he says.
Compiled by the Official Charts Company, 20 rap singles from British artists will be ranked each week based on streams and sales in the UK.
It follows the launch of other genre-specific charts including for R&B, 'homegrown' albums and British Asian music.
Allstar hopes it'll give UK rap a boost as he acknowledges it has taken a bit of a beating recently with prominent artists like Skepta and Digga saying the quality of music coming from the scene has dipped.
"Future broadcasters and talent will benefit from this forever, I'm super gassed."