Joe Rogan Claims Rap Has 'Fallen Off the Charts' Due to 'USAID Got Defunded'

Joe Rogan, a prominent podcast host, has asserted that the perceived decline in rap music's commercial success is directly linked to the Trump administration's decision to defund the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

During an episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" featuring comedians Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir, Rogan stated, "The weird thing is how rap's fallen off the charts. It's because USAID got defunded. USAID, the agency for international development, is well-known to have been funding a bunch of radical, anti-government rappers overseas. Funding a ton of them. It was basically all about regime change."

The Council on Foreign Relations describes USAID as a key component of U.S. soft power, providing foreign assistance and coordinating responses to international crises. However, Reuters reported in March 2025 that the Trump administration had significantly cut over 80% of USAID-funded programs, with then-U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that these contracts did not serve U.S. national interests.

There is no verifiable evidence to support Rogan's claim that USAID has funded the rap music industry. This idea has circulated as a conspiracy theory, gaining traction amid recent shifts in music chart popularity, including the rise of country music.

Despite Rogan's assertions, Luminate's midyear report for 2026 indicates that R&B/hip-hop remains the most consumed music category. However, its market share has seen a slight decline of 1.6% since midyear 2025. The genre has also experienced the most significant drop in equivalent market share on the Billboard 200 albums chart since 2023.

In 2026, Drake has been the sole hip-hop artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with his song "Janice STFU." His album "ICEMAN" is the only project this year to produce a top 10 hit on the chart, which also propelled Future and Molly Santana to the No. 2 position.

Rappers have found more consistent success on the Billboard 200 albums chart. In 2026, Drake, Don Toliver, A$AP Rocky, Future, and J. Cole were among the 22 artists to reach the No. 1 spot on this tally.