Joe Rogan Claims USAID Defunding Caused Hip-Hop's 2026 Chart Decline

Joe Rogan told the 13 August Joe Rogan Experience that hip-hop's 2026 chart decline stemmed from the Trump administration dismantling USAID, which he claimed had funded anti-government rappers overseas as part of regime-change operations. Billboard reported no evidence links USAID to rap-industry funding. R&B/hip-hop remained the No. 1 consumed U.S. category in Luminate's midyear report, despite a 1.6 percent market-share drop.