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For the first time in 23 years, a peculiar moment occurs on the Billboard Hot 100, where an entire year has gone by without a rap track reaching No. 1. The weekly recap, which ranks the most popular songs in the U.S., hits the benchmark on the list dated Aug. 26, 2023, as Oliver Anthony Music’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” seals the deal.
The last rap track – defined as songs that have hit or are eligible to appear on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart – to top the listing was Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl,” which debuted atop the Hot 100 on Aug. 27, 2022, and held the rank for that one week. In the 12 months since, three rap titles have come closest to the summit, each peaking at No. 2: Drake and 21 Savage’s “Rich Flex” (Nov. 19, 2022) Drake’s “Search & Rescue” (April 22, 2023) and Lil Durk’s “All My Life,” featuring J. Cole (May 27, 2023).
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Before the 2022-23 break, the last time the Hot 100 went without a rap champ for at least a year was pre- and post-Y2K: after Will Smith’s “Wild Wild West,” featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, reigned in July 1999. Following the soundtrack single’s one-week rule, rap was absent from the Hot 100 summit until Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me,” featuring Ricardo “RikRok” Ducent began a two-week command in February 2001, a span of 22 No. 1s and just over 18 months. The return quickly brought another champ, as OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson” ousted “It Wasn’t Me” for the former’s Hot 100 coronation.
Rap’s current absence from the Hot 100’s top slot largely traces to the dominance of several hits in the past 12 months that nearly shut out almost all challengers from all genres. Since “Super Freaky Girl,” 14 songs have reached the Hot 100’s summit: Six were multi-week No. 1s driven initially by large streaming premieres, followed by sustained streams and rapid airplay gains: Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (which began its run before “Super Freaky Girl” but returned to the summit), Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit,” Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” Mariah Carey’s annual holiday dominator “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night.”
The remaining eight, on the contrary, ruled for one week each, due to a high-profile debut (Jimin’s “Like Crazy,” Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire”), an already-popular hit navigating a crowded landscape with a well-timed sales discount or remix release (Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy,” The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” and SZA’s “Kill Bill”) or a song becoming a rallying cause for larger cultural symbolism (Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” and Oliver Anthony Music’s “Richmond”).
Before we pound the alarm, though, the R&B/hip-hop sector remains the largest consumed genre of music in the U.S., according to Luminate, whose data on streaming, sales and radio informs the Hot 100. In the firm’s 2023 mid-year report, R&B/hip-hop accounted for 25.9% of all consumption in the U.S. during the first half of the year. And, of course, rap music being good for at least one, if not multiple, No. 1s each year across the last two decades speaks to its reliability as a hitmaking force. After all, we were a similar spot earlier this summer with the Billboard 200 — lamenting the lack of a No. 1 rap album on the chart — and then in quick succession, Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape and Travis Scott’s Utopia reset the clock there.
At the same time, hip-hop’s presence among Hot 100 top 10s has fallen in the first half of 2023 to its lowest level since 2016, according to Hit Songs Deconstructed’s midyear analysis. The genre “all but disappeared” from the top 10 in Q1 2023, HSD noted earlier in the year, after it reigned in both 2022 and 2020.
So, when does the gap end? Well, the next great hope is on the horizon: After posting two of the three runner-ups in the past year, it’s only fitting that Drake take the next crack at breaking the barrier. The superstar’s new album, For All the Dogs, is set for release tomorrow (Aug. 25) — and, assuming the usual avalanche of streams that accompany any Drake release (plus his Hot 100 pedigree, with his 11 career No. 1s the most among all rappers), he should be in strong contention to recapture the crown.
Doja Cat could also come to the rescue, as her “Paint the Town Red” single is rallying in streams and, while currently at No. 15 on the current Hot 100, should march upward on the coming week’s chart. But whether the next No. 1 arrives from them or someone else, given the genre’s continued overarching influence, it’s hard to envision a rap song not soon appearing at the Hot 100’s apex, with the latest break between leaders likely more a fun fact than a fundamental shift.
It’s tight at the top of the midweek U.K. chart, as singles by Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo joust for the crown.
As it stands, Lipa’s Barbie cut “Dance The Night” (via Warner Records) leads Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” (Interscope) and Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen), respectively.
According to the Official Charts Company, less than 1,000 chart units currently separate the top three.
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Lupa will hope for a different result from last week, when “Dance The Night” led on the chart blast, only to be pipped by Eilish in the finals days of the chart week.
If it holds its spot, “Dance The Night” would give Lipa a fourth U.K. chart topper, and her first as a solo artist since “New Rules” back in 2017.
If “Vampire” takes flight and snatches the crown, it would give Rodrigo a third leader after “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U,” both from 2021.
“What Was I Made For?” last Friday (Aug. 18) became Elish’s second U.K. No. 1 single, following her Academy Award-winning James Bond single, “No Time To Die.” And it led an historic tally, on which the top six singles were all recorded by solo female artists.
The Official Chart Update is Girl Powered once again, as female solo artists rule positions 1-6, including Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (holding at No. 4 via EMI), Peggy Gou’s “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (up 6-5 via XL Recordings) and Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red” (Ministry of Sound) set to rise 19-6, for a new high.
Also, Becky Hill’s “Disconnect” (Polydor) with Chase & Status is on the brink of a new peak, up 9-7 on the chart blast, while Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice and Aqua’s “Barbie World” (Atlantic/Capitol/Republic) dips 7-9, bringing to eight the total of female-led singles in the midweek top 10.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday, Aug. 25.
Hozier is headed for his first U.K. chart crown as Unreal Unearth (via Island) establishes a solid lead.
The third album from the Irish singer and songwriter, Unreal Unearth starts at No. 1 on the Official Chart Update, and is set to eclipse his 2014 self-titled debut, which peaked at No. 3 and featured his trans-Atlantic hit single “Take Me to Church.” Hozier’s followup, 2019’s Wasteland, Baby, peaked at No 6.
Based on midweek sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, Scottish indie-rockers the View is set for a No. 2 start with Exorcism Of Youth (Cooking Vinyl), their sixth album. Exorcism should give the band their fourth U.K. top 10 album, and highest peak since their 2007 debut, Hats Off to the Buskers, led the chart. Hats Off to the Buskers contained the band’s first and only top 10 single, “Same Jeans,” which reached No. 3 in the year of release.
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British pop singer and songwriter Birdy could snag a career best on the Official Albums Chart with Portraits (Warner Music U.K.), her fifth album. It’s new at No. 3 on the chart blast. Completing an all-new top four on the midweek tally is U.S. artist Renee Rapp, who is set to open her U.K. chart account with Snow Angel (Interscope), her debut LP. It’s new at No. 4 on the chart blast.
Further down the list, post punk favorites Talking Heads is eyeing a new peak for Stop Making Sense (Parlophone), their live album which returns with an expanded edition to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The set could reeenter at No. 13, bettering its previous peak of No. 24 back in 2000.
As previously reported, Talking Heads members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison will appear together publicly next month for the first time since their 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction at an upcoming 40th anniversary celebration of the live concert film, from which the album is cut.
Finally, English boyband Here At Last’s EP 1 (Halo Army) is set to make a top 40 splash, new at No. 22, while BTS member J-Hope could snag his own top 40 with Jack In The Box (Polydor), following the release of an expanded physical version. It’s set to reenter at No. 28 on the midweek survey.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Aug. 25.
Billie Eilish leads an historic chart in the U.K. as “What Was I Made For?” (via Interscope) logs its first week at No. 1.
In a battle of theBarbie tunes, “What Was I Made For?” beats Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” (Atlantic Records) to the tape, for Eilish’s second leader after 2020’s “No Time To Die,” the theme song for the James Bond film of the same name.
In doing so, the U.S. pop phenomenon ends the 10-week unbroken reign of Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), which tumbles 1-10.
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A closer look at the chart’s upper ranks reveals a “major record,” in the words of the Official Charts Company, as female solo artists account for the entire top 6 — a feat never seen before in the chart’s 70-year history.
Those history-makers include Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (up 4-3 via Geffen), Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (up 7-4 via EMI), Peggy Gou’s “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (up 6-5 via XL Recordings) and Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right” (No. 6), which gives the U.S. pop star her sixth top 10 appearance and the week’s highest debut.
Indeed, the top 8 on the latest Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Aug. 18, is led by female artists, with “Barbie World” (Atlantic) by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice and Aqua, down 5-7, and “Disconnect” (Polydor) by Becky Hill and Chase & Status lifting 9-8, for a new peak.
Of the top 40 on the latest chart, 24 feature, or are led by, female artists, the OCC reports.
“It’s great to see solo women artists make up the top six positions on the U.K. Official Singles Chart for the first time,” comments Dr Jo Twist OBE, chief executive of the BPI. “This increased representation is something we hope becomes commonplace rather than exceptional. For now it’s a milestone that we should celebrate, reflecting a year when the market has been dominated by women artists from the U.K. and globally representing multiple genres.”
The OCC has flicked through the history books to identify several Girl Power milestones. The Official Singles Chart of Nov. 9 1986 marked the first time female vocalists featured on each of the Top 5 singles: Berlin (No. 1), Kim Wilde (No. 2), The Bangles (No. 3), Mel & Kim (No. 4) and Swing Out Sister (No. 5).
Then, on Feb. 14, 1988, the top 3 was led by solo female artists for the first time — Kylie Minogue’s “I Should Be So Lucky,” Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” and Taylor Dayne’s “Tell It To My Heart,” respectively.
A decade later, in 1998, saw the first all-female top 5, led by B*Witched’s “To You I Belong”.
Further reinforcing the year of Girl Power on the U.K. charts, the top 5 singles for 2023 is dominated by women, according to the charts compiler, a joint venture of the labels body BPI and retail association ERA. Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” which led the chart for 10 weeks between January and March, is the U.K.’s biggest single of the year so far.
G Flip makes a noise with Drummer (via Future Classic/Universal), as the Australian artist bows at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
It’s the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s first leader, after their debut About Us peaked at No. 6 in 2019.
The homegrown hero has been on a roll in recent years, landing 11 tracks in the triple j Hottest 100 countdown, earning three ARIA Award nominations, bagging three platinum-certified singles (“About You,” “Drink Too Much,” and “Killing My Time”), and one gold (for “Lover”), and performing at the nationally televised Logie Awards, and AFL and AFLW Grand Finals.
A talented drummer, G Flip co-produced and co-wrote every song on the new album, alongside the likes of Tommy English and Colin Brittain.
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“Finally, we can celebrate another Aussie at No. 1 on the Albums Chart,” comments ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd. “Congratulations to G Flip and their team on this absolute triumph. As an artist and personality, G Flip has done so much for pushing the narrative of Australian music forward, and truly represents the next wave of homegrown success here and overseas. We couldn’t be happier to celebrate their first ARIA No. 1.”
G-Flip is supporting the new LP with a national tour this month and next, spanning 13 dates in Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Torquay, Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle, with North America dates kicking off Sept. 18 at The Catalyst Atrium, Santa Cruz, CA.
Luke Combs started his own tour of Australia this week, and he’s already making his presence felt on the national albums survey, published Friday, Aug. 18, with two titles lifting into the top 10. This One’s For You rises 14-9 in its 283rd week on the tally, and former leader Gettin’ Old gains 17-10 in its 21nd week. Further down the list, another former No. 1, Combs’ What You See Ain’t Always What You Get (all via Columbia/Sony), improves 21-14 in its 197th week on the survey.
Also new to the ARIA Chart is Volcano (AWAL), the fourth studio album from U.K. electronic pairing Jungle. Volcano erupts at No. 22.
Over on the ARIA Singles Chart, also published Friday, Billie Eilish’s “What I Was Made For?” (Interscope/Universal) extends its rule into a third week. Lifted from the Barbie soundtrack, “What I Was Made For?” becomes Eilish’s longest-reigning leader, eclipsing the two-week streak for “Bad Guy back in 2019. It leads an unchanged top three, ahead of Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (Virgin Music Australia/Universal) and Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” (Atlantic/Warner), respectively.
Finally, Olivia Rodrigo bags two top 10s on the national chart, as former champion “Vampire” holds at No. 5 and her new release “Bad Idea Right” enters at No. 10, for the week’s highest debut. Both tracks will appear on the U.S. pop star’s sophomore album GUTS (Geffen/Universal), due out Sept. 8.
Myke Towers’ “Lala” holds steady at No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Aug, 12) for a second week. The song joins Towers’ two other career rulers, the seven-week champ “Bandido,” with Juhn (2021); and “La Jeepeta,” with Nio García, Anuel AA, Brray and Juanka, which reigned for three weeks in 2020. […]
Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood) outraces the field in the U.K. for the 10th week, setting a new record in the process.
“Sprinter” becomes the first U.K. rap track to enter double figures at the summit of the Official U.K. Singles Chart, further proof of the global phenomenon that is hip-hop, a genre that’s currently celebrating its 50th anniversary as a genre.
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Meanwhile, Becky Hill and Chase & Status lift into the top 10 for the first time with “Disconnect” (Polydor), up 15-9. With that gain, Hill boasts her sixth U.K. top 10 hit, while Chase & Status land a fifth — and first in ten years. Chase & Status appear again further down the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Aug. 11, with Flowdan and Bou on “Baddadan” (EMI), up 31-21 for a new peak position.
It’s strength in numbers for Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry and Ella Henderson as “0800 Heaven” (Atlantic) improves 9-10, while Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration, “Desire” (Columbia), gains 18-12, for a new chart best.
There’s a new peak position for Ryan Gosling’s Barbie number “I’m Just Ken” (Atlantic), up 14-13; D.O.D’s “So Much In Love” (Armada), up 23-16; and Anne-Marie and Shania Twain‘s duet, “Unhealthy” (Atlantic/Asylum/EMI) up 22-18, also a new high
Doja Cat has the highest new entry on the Official U.K. Chart with “Paint the Town Red” (Ministry of Sound). It’s new at No. 20 for the U.S. artist’s 15th top 40 single and first top 20 appearance in two years, since 2021’s “Woman” reached No. 13.
Finally, Travis Scott scores his 17th U.K. top 40 with “Telekinesis” (Epic) featuring SZA and Future. The track, lifted from the U.S. rapper’s No. 1 album Utopia, starts at No. 31 on the Official Chart.
Skindred has every reason to smile. After performing at Glastonbury Festival 2023, the Newport, Wales heavy metal act leads the U.K.’s chart blast with Smile (via Earache), the rockers’ eighth studio album.
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If Smile holds its spot, not only would it become their first leader, but it would be the band’s first title to impact the top 10.
Nothing is certain at this stage.
Yorkshire, England indie-rock act the Sherlocks (with People Like Me & You via Teddyboy) and Cian Ducrot (Victory via Polydor) complete the respective podium places on the Official Chart Update.
Currently, less than 500 chart units separate the top three, the Official Charts Company reports.
Completing an all-new top 5 at the midweek stage is Miles Kane’s fifth solo effort, One Man Band (Modern Sky), set to start at No. 4 for what would be his peak chart position, while London hip-hop outfit N-Dubz could snag No. 5 with Timeless (EMI), their first studio album in 13 years.
Anniversary reissues from Snow Patrol and ABC could make a splash when the national albums chart is published this Friday, Aug. 11.
Snow Patrol’s third album Final Straw is poised for a top 10 return, at No. 7. Released in 2003, through Polydor, the British-Irish alternative rock band’s major label debut, Final Straw peaked at No. 3. Its followup, Eyes Open from 2006, gave the group their first and only U.K. chart leader.
Also, ‘80s pop favorites ABC could stage their own return to the top 10 with The Lexicon of Love (Mercury), which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. The LP, which initially led the chart following its release in 1982 and includes the hits “Poison Arrow,” “The Look of Love” and more, appears at No. 10 on the chart blast.
Finally, Mammoth WVH could bag its first U.K. charting album with Mammoth II (BMG). It’s new at No. 24 on the Official Chart Update. Mammoth WVH is fronted by Wolf Van Halen, son of the legendary late guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and bass player with the iconic U.S. rock act Van Halen.
Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” has another race on its hands.
The hit U.K. hip-hop single has the edge at the halfway stage in the chart week, though two singles from the Barbie soundtrack are trailing close behind.
If “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood) does keep its momentum, it’ll secure a 10th consecutive week at No. 1, extending its lead as the longest-reigning homegrown hip-hop single ever in the U.K. and drawing level with Miley Cyrus’ run with “Flowers” for the market’s longest-ruling single this year.
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Dua Lipa or Billie Eilish could have a say in that.
Lipa’s Barbie cut “Dance The Night” (Warner Records) trailed “Sprinter” by about 1,000 combined units after the first 48 hour of the chart cycle, the Official Charts Company reports, and holds at No. 3 on the midweek chart.
Eilish’s “What Was Made I For?” (Interscope), also from Barbie The Album, and the best-seller on Australia’s latest ARIA Chart, is at No. 2 on the chart blast.
Meanwhile, Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry and Ella Henderson could return to the top 10 with “0800 Heaven” (Atlantic), up 11-8 on the Official Singles Chart Update, while Becky Hill and Chase & Status’s “Disconnect” (up 15-9 via Polydor) and Gunna’s “Fukumean” (up 13-10 via 300 Entertainment) are gaining on the chart blast.
Just outside the top 10 is Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s latest collaboration “Desire” (Columbia), up 17-11 for what would be a new chart peak. If it heads further north, it would be Harris’ 30th top 10 single and Smith’s 13th.
Also looking up is Anne-Marie and Shania Twain’s “Unhealthy” (Atlantic/Asylum/EMI), which could bounce 22-17 for a new peak. “Unhealthy” is the title track to Anne-Marie’s third studio LP, which bowed at No. 2 on the national albums chart.
Finally, Doja Cat is looking to pounce on the chart with “Paint The Town Red” (Kemosabe/RCA). Doja’s latest tune, which is expected to appear on her as-yet untitled fourth studio album, is set to start at No. 20 in the U.K. for the week’s top debut.
All will be revealed when the Official Charts are published late Friday, Aug. 11.
J Hus bags the U.K. chart crown with Beautiful and Brutal Yard, new at No. 1.
The leader at the halfway mark, Beautiful and Brutal Yard (via Black Butter) becomes the Stratford, England-born rapper and singer’s second leader, following 2020’s Big Conspiracy, and his third career top 10 placing (his 2017 debut Common Sense peaked at No. 6).
Three tracks from Beautiful and Brutal Yard appear in the current U.K. singles chart top 40: “Who Told You” with Drake (down 4-5), “Militerian” featuring Naira Marley (new at No. 23), and “Masculine” with Burna Boy (new at No. 24).
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Taylor Swift continues to swamp the U.K. albums chart, led by Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), down 1-2. It’s one of six Swift titles on the climb in the top 20 (all via EMI), no doubt fueled by the excitement surrounding the ticket onsale for the 2024 U.K. leg of The Eras Tour. Further down the Official U.K. Albums Chart, 2022’s Midnights is up 9-5, 2014’s 1989 gains 10-8, 2019’s Lover improves 12-9, 2017’s Reputation lifts 21-15 and 2019’s folklore spikes 25-16.
Rita Ora’s return with You & I (BMG) nets her a second top 10 entry. The British artist’s new album bows at No. 6, for her highest-charting LP in over a decade. Her 2012 debut ORA peaked at No. 1, and its 2018 followup Phoenix hit No. 11.
Further down the list, British-born Canadian singer and songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith just misses out on a top 10 debut with Mirror (Island), new at No. 11; while Glasgow, Scotland singer and songwriter Gerry Cinnamon nabs his third top 40, with Live at Hampden Park (Little Runaway) appearing at No. 12. The live collection is the week’s best-seller on wax.
Also impacting the albums survey for the first time are titles from DJ and producer Joel Corry (Another Friday Night at No. 24 via Atlantic); U.S. pop band Pvris (EVERGREEN at No. 25 via Hopeless); New York rapper and singer Lil Tjay (222 at No. 26 via Columbia) and British singer-songwriter Mahalia (IRL at No. 31 via Atlantic).
