1Xtra launches first ever UK rap chart for ‘fair playing field’

Allstar has long been a champion of UK rap and currently presents the Rap Show on BBC Radio 1, which he describes as “the show I always wanted as a kid”.

This new role is “a pinch me moment,” he says.

The Official Charts Company previously listed the 40 top selling R&B and hip hop tracks on its website, but there had been nowhere for fans to listen to the chart.

“It was literally just a bunch of numbers and text, so it kind of existed but not in this capacity,” Allstar says.

Each week will likely see at least three or four new artists in the chart, giving emerging talent a chance to be heard by hundreds of thousands of listeners.

“What we can finally have is UK rap having its dedicated space where artists can just be celebrated,” he says.

Eric Hunter, from the Official Charts Company, says the countdown will be “an amazing opportunity to shine a light on more artists, document the culture and give emerging talent a way to track their progress alongside their peers”.

The company says UK rap is “one of the country’s most influential and fast-moving music scenes” and the chart will celebrate both established names and the next generation of rappers driving the scene.

The debut show coincides with Skepta’s long-awaited sixth studio album and Allstar says he expects to see the rapper feature in the chart.

“It’s looking promising, but the only way you can find out is if you listen in,” he says.