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Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” is the most-heard song on United States radio stations, as it jumps to No. 1 on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart (dated Dec. 6).
The survey reflects airplay audience on more than 1,000 radio stations covering multiple formats, as monitored by Mediabase, with totals delivered to Billboard by Luminate. The data contributes to the Billboard Hot 100, which also blends streaming and sales figures.
“Mutt” lifts one spot to the Radio Songs summit with 64.4 million in audience Nov. 21-27. Notably, it completes the longest ride to the top of the chart, 35 weeks, for a title by a male soloist. Overall, only Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” took longer, 37 weeks, to lead in 2021, while Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope,” featuring Charlie Puth, now shares second place via its 35-week journey in 2020. (Radio Songs began in December 1990.)
“Mutt” is Thomas’ first Radio Songs leader as a recording artist and second as a co-writer and co-producer; it follows SZA’s “Snooze,” which notched three weeks at No. 1 in 2023.
Plus, “Mutt” is the first Radio Songs No. 1 for an R&B song (defined as those that have hit Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart) since “Snooze.”
“Mutt” racked up 13 weeks at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, 10 weeks atop Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, three weeks leading Rhythmic Airplay and two weeks in charge of Adult R&B Airplay. It has also crossed to pop radio, ascending to a new No. 4 best on the latest Pop Airplay list.
“Mutt” concurrently leads the multimetric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a 14th week and Hot R&B Songs for a 31st frame. It has hit a No. 6 high on the Hot 100.
Meanwhile, “Mutt” is the fourth Radio Songs No. 1 of 2025 promoted by Interscope Capitol. It follows Doechii’s “Anxiety” (five weeks at No. 1 in May-June); Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” (six, April-May); and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” (eight, February-April). Interscope Capitol is the only label team with a quartet of Radio Songs No. 1s in a single year this decade.
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What’s better than one iconic Michelle? Two!
On Sunday night (Nov. 30), fresh off Thanksgiving festivities, former First Lady Michelle Obama and Grammy-winning music and Broadway star Michelle Williams attended Brandy & Monica‘s much-buzzed-about The Boy Is Mine Tour at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
“A special night!” read the caption of a backstage montage shared by Black Promoters Collective, the production company behind the 32-date trek, to its official Instagram page on Monday morning (Dec. 1). “We were truly honored to have former First Lady [Michelle Obama] in the building for [The Boy Is Mine Tour] stop in DC.”
In the video, the former First Lady can be seen walking backstage and posing for pictures with Brandy, Monica and Kelly Rowland, who performs a 40-minute set as a special guest on each night of the tour. In one clip, Mrs. Obama smiles for a group photo alongside one of Rowland’s former bandmates, Michelle Williams, who was also in attendance.
Last month, Williams earned her first career Grammy nomination outside of Destiny’s Child thanks to her standout work on the 2024 original Broadway cast recording of Death Becomes Her. Nominated for best musical theater album, Williams will face off against Tony-winning heavyweights like Audra McDonald (Gypsy), Jonathan Groff (Just In Time) and Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending). In 2024, she performed her signature Death Becomes Her number, “If You Want Perfection,” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Like Williams, Mrs. Obama has also had a busy winter. On Nov. 4, she published her third book, The Look, which compiles over 200 photographs chronicling her style evolution inside and beyond the White House. Earlier this year, the former First Lady joined Tina Knowles in conversation for an in-depth look at Knowles’ Matriarch memoir, continuing her decade-plus-long relationship with the Knowles-Carter clan. During a June Las Culturistas podcast episode, the former First Lady raved about Blue Ivy’s growth on Beyoncé’s blockbuster Cowboy Carter Tour, which also included a surprise Destiny’s Child reunion at its final stop.
The Boy Is Mine Tour runs for just seven more shows before wrapping at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. on Dec. 14. Over the weekend, Muni Long, who was a part of the initial show lineup, took to Instagram to announce her permanent departure from the tour, writing, “my doctors have made it clear that it’s not safe for me to continue with the remaining dates of the tour.” Grammy-winning “Case of the Ex” singer Mýa will replace Long for the remaining dates.
Thanksgiving Weekend is normally a quiet time for new releases — but that doesn’t mean the worlds of hip-hop and R&B stopped spinning. On Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), R&B singer Ray J was taken into custody by Los Angeles police and charged with making a criminal threat after allegedly pointing a gun at his ex-wife, Princess […]
Trending on Billboard While Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving by gobbling up turkey, stuffing and more football than is absolutely necessary, Rihanna spent the holiday weekend honoring her home country of Barbados while also sneaking in a few previously unseen pregnancy bikini pics. The singer paid tribute to the Caribbean island nation where she was born […]
Ray J was arrested after allegedly pointing a gun at his ex-wife, Princess Love, during a livestreamed argument on Thanksgiving.
The 44-year-old singer, whose real name is William Ray Norwood Jr., was taken into custody by Los Angeles police on Thursday (Nov. 27) and charged with making a criminal threat. Officers had responded to a report of assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence, according to NBC News.
Ray J, the younger brother of singer Brandy, was booked at the LAPD’s Van Nuys Station and released on $50,000 bond later that night, jail records reportedly indicate.
Video footage of the heated incident, published by TMZ, appears to show Ray J livestreaming a confrontation with Princess Love, 41, over the custody of their children. The former couple share daughter Melody Love, 7, and son Epik Ray, 5.
In the edited clip, Ray J appears to pull a gun while Love — holding one of their children — says, “You just pointed a gun at me.” The “One Wish” singer then denies pointing a firearm.
The livestream begins with Ray J claiming he was having “the worst Thanksgiving in the f—king world,” TMZ reports. The video also reportedly shows him holding a gun and saying, “If these n—s step foot close to this door I’m going to blow this f—king s—t away, bro.”
Ray J and Princess Love starred together on the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood from 2014 to 2019. They married in 2016, and Love filed for divorce — her fourth filing — in 2024, according to People.
The singer has also recently been in the news for filing a countersuit against Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, claiming they intentionally released the sex tape with him that helped launch Kim’s career and then “peddled the false story” that it was leaked.
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Billboard News went straight to the rides with some of the coolest artists at Camp Flog Gnaw 2025. Hang out with Malcolm Todd, Paris Texas, AG Club, Alemeda, PARTYOF2 and Deb Never as they joined us on the ultimate CFG adventure. Get a taste of those limited-edition burgers, watch the gravity-defying rides, and check out the best festival fashion. Which ride was the wildest? Watch to find out!
Jerah Milligan:
Who are you excited to see?
Alemeda:
I literally told my team, “Once Geezer goes on, I’m out.”
Partyof2:
Definitely Doechii, and I gotta see my fashion icon, bro, A$AP Rocky.
AGClub:
Childish Gambino for me. I’m so used to seeing him, but I never seen him live. I loved his music for a long time, like. I’m tryna see T-Pain.
Jerah Milligan:
Yo, I’m ready for both. And you know he has so much joy when he performs. He’s about to be spinning and s–t.
Partyof2:
After this interview I’m gonna run and see Teezo. I saw him walking out of his trailer with a like a BBL thing goin’ on with a, with a surge, like, I don’t know what he’s about to do. I’m so interested to see that.
Jerah Milligan:
What’s up, folks? It’s your boy Jerah here. I’m at Camp Flog Gnaw. I’m hype. It’s my first time being here. We’re talking to artists, your favorite artists’ favorite artists. We’re going on rides. We getting snacks. I’mma win this bear right now and I’m super hype. Let’s go. Yeah, y’all got me out here at Camp Flog Gnaw. Y’all had a good year, two albums a week apart. What was the idea behind that?
Paris Texas:
Uh, you know, just moving different.That’s it, is just moving different, that’s all we wanna do.
Jerah Milligan:
Now let me ask y’all though, that’s two albums. That’s a lot of songs. Y’all got, like, your favorite child on one of the albums?
Keep watching for more!
Trending on Billboard A Los Angeles County grand jury has reportedly heard evidence from prosecutors tied to the death of teenager Celeste Rivas, who was found dead in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd in September. According to the Los Angeles Times, an LAPD detective has classified Rivas’ death as a murder […]
Trending on Billboard Tems explained to a fan why she hasn’t returned to Uganda, and the reason is pretty understandable. In a Q&A session on Tuesday (Nov. 25), Tems was asked by a fan to elaborate on why she hasn’t returned to the African country. “What’s the lore behind you not coming to Uganda? #AskTems,” […]
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Nothing marks November better than Billboard African Rookie of the Year Odeal releasing a new project. In keeping his OVMBR tradition alive, the British Nigerian star dropped The Fall That Saved Us EP, a neo-soul/R&B-driven reflection of complicated romance and self-discovery that builds on the somber world he created in his November 2024 EP Lustropolis and that arrives four months after The Summer That Saved Me.
But what did come as a total surprise this month was Tems‘ Love is a Kingdom EP. Across seven tracks, she confronts the fickleness of love head-on, while embracing self-renewal. Tems, along with rising Afropop star Taves and more notable artists, also appear on Show Dem Camp’s masterful AFRIKA MAGIK album, which is deeply rooted in the timeless sounds of the continent.
We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new songs by African acts that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and catch a vibe with our Spotify playlist below.
Show Dem Camp & Ajebutter22, “Small Chops and Champers”
Tec and Ghost of Show Dem Camp toast to the soft life with alté leader Ajebutter22 on the celebratory “Small Chops and Champers” track from the Nigerian rap duo’s latest album AFRIKA MAGIK. Named after nibbles and bubbles, the laidback collab delights in their successes. “For us, AFRIKA MAGIK isn’t just an album; it’s a cultural document. A reminder that our stories, in all their beauty and chaos, are magic,” SDC said in a press statement.
Taves, “Popstar Party”
Taves gets the “Popstar Party” started with his electric new single from his forthcoming debut studio album Popstar. The Afropop star captures the intoxicating thrill of fame and late-night festivities with his melodic bravado, while SirBastien’s guitar solo on the outro further highlights Taves’ moment in the spotlight. “‘Popstar Party’ is me having fun in the sun – letting go, unleashing energy that’s been building inside me,” Billboard’s former African Rookie of the Month said in a press release. “I want people to move, to feel alive, and to see what kind of world I’m bringing in Popstar.”
Nonso Amadi, “Drown”
Nonso Amadi passionately pleads with a lover to not let him “Drown” in his deep affection for her on the highlight track from his To Cry a Flood EP. The Afro R&B trailblazer’s suave flow anchors the vulnerable number, which interpolates Amerie’s 2005 classic “1 Thing” on the chorus.
Odeal feat. Wizkid, “Nights in the Sun”
Amid Odeal’s wintry world of Lustropolis, the “Nights in the Sun” closing track from his The Fall That Saved Us EP radiates with a refreshing warmth. Odeal imagines sweet mornings with someone over P2J’s sweltering production, while Wiz dreams of “sipping on fine wine, a perfect whine.” “This is the glow, the nights that feel like they could go on forever, where everything is light and easy again,” Odeal told Clash. “[Wizkid] carries that feeling of effortless joy and nostalgia in his voice, and it brought another dimension to the world I was building.”
Tems, “What You Need”
Tems delivers a hauntingly beautiful epilogue about a relationship not worth salvaging on the “What You Need” standout track from her surprise EP Love Is a Kingdom. Her frequent collaborator GuiltyBeatz’s stripped-back R&B production gives her the floor to stand firm in rebuking a love that no longer belongs to her, singing, “Your love is not my lifeline, you love is not my home.” After Tems previewed it during an Instagram Live years ago, even declaring “this song is not coming out,” “What You Need” absolutely deserves a home in her discography.
Tems, “Big Daddy”
From its first notes, this latest single from Tems — off her new EP Love Is a Kingdom — grabs the listener, well before her distinctive voice invites you into her latest tale, a cutting takedown of an ex who has come crawling back. It’s a celebration of her own power over a person she used to love, and the ways in which she wields it. But more than anything it is also a song with a clear and nuanced vision, not unlike the star herself. A welcome return.
King Promise & Davido, “Bad Habits”
Davido is, of course, an established superstar by now, but King Promise is still on the rise, and he may have one of the best voices in the Nigerian pop scene right now, as evidenced by his breakout his “Terminator.” On this track, though, he trades in obvious vocal prowess for songcraft, and this song succeeds in every way, from the production to the vibe to the lyrics that celebrate the level of success that Promise is exuding right now. Davido adds to that effortlessly, creating one of the best African songs of the year.
LAX & Olamide, “Belinda”
L.A.X. has a strong track record now of crafting irresistible vibes, and “Belinda” is no different on that front. This one, produced by Davido collaborator Ragee, is a little more hard-driving than some of his previous work, but leans strongly on amapiano elements to hammer home its beat, while the legendary Olamide slides through with the assist on this lovesick yet confident cut.
Ayo Maff, “Tension”
Still just 20 years old, Ayo Maff is the next young Nigerian singer/songwriter to emerge on the scene overflowing with talent. He’s already got an EP (Maffian) and an album (Prince of the Street) under his belt, and “Tension” is his latest single to raise the bar on what he’s capable of. With ambitious production reminiscent of Fireboy DML’s Playboy album, “Tension” leans contemplative and emotional, but remains catchy and positive, with a pulsing undercurrent that keeps the song from slipping into melancholy. It’s a two-minute statement of intent: next year is his.
Omah Lay, “Waist”
Omah Lay has kept a relatively low profile since breaking out with his Boy Alone album a few years ago, but “Waist” feels like a return to form for the young artist — versatile, creative and unexpected in different ways, all of which keeps people coming back to his music again and again. He feels like a refreshing voice in a scene that at times can follow trends, and this track portends big things to come in his next era.
Few names are as synonymous with reggae music as Jimmy Cliff.
The Grammy-winning artist, whose music traversed reggae, ska, rocksteady, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, passed on Monday (Nov. 24), as announced by his wife, Latifah Chambers, in an Instagram post.
“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” Chambers wrote. “I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love.”
After amassing a handful of local hits in the mid-1960s thanks to his trademark soulful tenor, the Kingston-born star achieved his international breakthrough with his eponymous 1969 LP (released as Wonderful World, Beautiful People in the States in 1970), which included the hits “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and “Vietnam.” Bob Dylan famously called the latter of the two singles one of the greatest protest songs he’d ever heard. Wonderful World also housed the timeless “Many Rivers to Cross,” an evergreen reflection on navigating the industry that also appeared on the soundtrack for 1972’s The Harder They Come.
The first major commercial film release from Jamaica, The Harder They Come, is a classic crime drama musical that employs several elements native to spaghetti westerns. Cliff starred as the film’s main character, tackling payola, bad faith contracts, lust, loyalty, religion, and a tireless quest for stardom. Noted for its use of Jamaican patois, The Harder They Come proved that Cliff could continue specifically dedicating his art to his people while reaching new heights internationally. By 1976, he made his Saturday Night Live performance debut ahead of a decade that included a smash hit in 1983’s “Reggae Night,” a Bruce Springsteen co-sign, and a best reggae album Grammy win for 1985’s Cliff Hanger.
Cliff’s success continued throughout the ’90s, thanks to film-adjacent hits like his 1993 cover of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” (from Cool Runnings) and 1995’s Lebo M-assisted “Hakuna Matata” (from a compilation accompanying The Lion King). In the ’00s, Cliff delivered a pair of new albums (2002’s Fantastic Plastic People and 2004’s Black Magic) before Wyclef Jean officially inducted him into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, making the icon just the second Jamaican artist to receive the prestigious honor, after Bob Marley. In 2012, Cliff won his second career Grammy for Rebirth; ten years later, he unleashed his final studio album, Refugees.
Boasting eight top 10 projects on the Reggae Albums chart and three Billboard Hot 100 hits — “Wonderful World” (No. 25), “Clearly” (No. 18) and 1970’s “Come Into My Life” (No. 89) — Jimmy Cliff has left an indelible legacy across music and film that highlights the rich cultural heritage of Jamrock.
Here are our staff picks for Jimmy Cliff’s 10 all-time greatest songs.
“House of Exile” (Music Maker, 1974)
