After weeks of anticipation and over 3000 of you hip hop and R&B fans voting every day, your number one song for 2025 is none other than Kendrick Lamar - 'Not Like Us'!
The track made its debut on the Mai Hot 1000 this year, having caused a huge stir when it dropped in May 2024. It quickly became one of the biggest diss tracks in hip hop history, with Kendrick undeniably coming out on top in his ongoing beef with Drake.
Kendrick also took over 30 other spots in this year's countdown, three of which are in the top 10 - so I think it’s safe to crown him as the ultimate Hip Hop king for 2025.
It’s also the first time a song has jumped straight into the number one spot in Mai Hot 1000 history.
‘Not Like Us’ was dubbed Apple Music’s most-streamed hip-hop song of 2024, and the track won Kendrick ‘Song of the Year’ at this year's Grammys.
His performance of the song at last month's Superbowl Halftime show was watched around the world, so with all that in mind, it’s no surprise it had a huge impact in Aotearoa.
Here is the Mai Hot 1000 Top 10 as voted by you for 2025:
10. 'Denial Is A River' - Doechii
9. 'TV Off' - Kendrick Lamar
8. 'Can We Talk' - Tevin Campbell
7. 'No Role Modelz' - J. Cole
6. 'Forever' - Chris Brown
5. '21 Questions' - 50 Cent feat. Nate Dogg
4. 'Luther' - Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA
3. 'California Love' - 2Pac feat Dr. Dre
2. 'Turn Your Lights Down' - Lauryn Hill feat. Bob Marley
1. 'Not Like Us' - Kendrick Lamar
Last year's number one, 'California Love' by 2Pac featuring Dr Dre, dropped to number three, but old school hip hop fans can rest easy knowing it's still rated as one of the GOATS.
We hope y'all enjoyed this year's countdown as much as we loved bringing it to you - it’s one of the best times of the year getting to relive the classics and see who battles it out for that top spot!
