Beginning in 1942,
Billboard published a chart of bestselling
African-American music, first as the
Harlem Hit Parade, then as
Race Records. Then in 1949,
Billboard began publishing a
Rhythm and Blues chart, which entered "R&B" into mainstream lexicon. These three charts were consolidated into a single
Hot R&B Singles chart in October 1958. From November 30, 1963, to January 23, 1965, there were no
Billboard R&B singles charts. The "Hot R&B Singles" chart was discontinued when
Billboard determined it unnecessary due to so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop charts in light of the rise of
Motown. The chart was reinstated as
Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles on January 30, 1965. Beginning August 23, 1969, the chart was renamed to
Best Selling Soul Singles. The move was made by a
Billboard editorial decision that the term "soul" more accurately accounted for the "broad range of song and instrumental material which derives from the musical genius of the black American". Beginning on July 14, 1973, the chart title was modified slightly to
Hot Soul Singles. In late June 1982, the chart was renamed again, this time to
Hot Black Singles because the music that African-Americans were buying and listening to had a "greater stylistic variety than the soul sound" of the early 1970s. Black Singles was deemed an acceptable term to encompass pop, funk, and early rap music popular in urban communities. Beginning October 27, 1990, the Hot Black Singles chart was returned to the Hot R&B Singles name first used in 1958. In the December 5, 1992, issue of
Billboard, a new
Bubbling Under Hot R&B Singles chart was introduced, modeled on the
Bubbling Under Hot 100. Hip hop was introduced to the chart beginning with the December 11, 1999 issue, when
Billboard changed the name to
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks to recognize the influence and relationship of
hip hop to the genre. Within a few years, the crossover of R&B titles onto the pop chart was so significant that all Top Ten songs on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 11, 2003, were by black artists. The lengthy title was shortened to
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on April 30, 2005. The chart's methodology was changed starting with the October 20, 2012 issue, to match the
Billboard Hot 100's---incorporating digital downloads and video streaming data (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs) and combining it with airplay of R&B and hip-hop songs across all radio formats, to determine song position. Also at this time, the chart was shortened to 50 positions. ==Significant song achievements==