Posted by Andrew Unterberger on 01/23/2013 at 5:20 PM News

The Popdust Files: charts, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, white rappers

Yes, the rumors are true—Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” (featuring Wanz—can’t forget about you, Wanz) has ascended to the top spot of Billboard’s Hot 100, ending the six-week reign of Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” at number one. The song is the first new number one of 2013, beating JT’s “Suit and Tie” (#4 this week) to the spot, and perhaps more importantly, it allows Seattle underground rap veteran Macklemore to count himself in the rare class of white rappers to go to No. 1—and perhaps the unlikeliest of the bunch.

Looking for a little historical run-through of the company Mack Man is now keeping? Well, we’re more than happy to oblige. Here’s every Caucasian rapper to ever top the Hot 100, with some admittedly generous qualifications for “rapping,” in the interest of inclusiveness. (For reference, we’re drawing the line just short of “Hollaback Girl.”) Starting with the first song by any rapper to ever top the charts—yes, really—and moving forward chronologically, here goes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TADyXC2K0g

(That’s guest rapper Paul Wall, we’re not saying Nelly is secretly white or anything.)