Hip-hop and rap claimed a record share of the U.K. albums market in 2022, according to analysis from the BPI. The genre was responsible for 12.4% of all album consumption.

The figure, which covers sales and streams, is hip-hop and rap's highest annual share to date and up 4.2% from 2021’s total of 11.9%. It's also more than triple the level it achieved in 2015. Last year, rock and pop were the only other genres to claim a larger share of the market.

Chart-topping albums from acts including Central Cee, Digga D and Stormzy (pictured) helped boost numbers, alongside big-selling releases from international acts such as Drake and 21 Savage, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.

Back in 2015, hip-hop/rap claimed 4% of the U.K.’s annual album consumption, a smaller share than dance, MOR/easy listening and R&B. However, in each of the last four years it has commanded 10% or more of the market.

Rock was the biggest album genre overall last year for a fifth consecutive year, growing its share from 36.7% to 37.4%. In second place, pop saw its share drop from 28.4% to 27.2%.

Hip-hop/rap also consolidated its position as the third biggest genre on the singles market, as it claimed nearly a fifth (18.9%) of consumption across sales and streams. This was a slight drop on the year before but still more than 70% higher than it achieved in 2015.