Music News

4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” is back on the Billboard charts, thanks to a viral trend.

The 1993 No. 14-peaking Billboard Hot 100 classic reenters the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally dated Nov. 8 at No. 13, as users on shortform video platforms such as TikTok have been mashing up the track with Nicki Minaj’s 2012 hit “Beez in the Trap.” (Older songs are eligible for Billboard’s multimetric charts if in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their resurgences.)

In the week ending Oct. 30, “What’s Up?” drew 4.2 million official U.S. streams, up 17%, according to Luminate. It also sold 1,000 downloads, a 34% boost week-over-week, sparking a second week at No. 3 on the Rock Digital Song Sales tally.

Over the past few weeks, streams of “What’s Up?” have steadily gained. A month prior to the Nov. 8 rankings (in the tracking week for charts dated Oct. 4), the song accumulated 2.7 million streams. A year ago this week (Nov. 9, 2024), the track pulled 2.2 million streams.

As for “Beez in the Trap,” the tune from Minaj’s 2012 album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (the track hit No. 7 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs that year) totaled 1.7 million on-demand streams in the week of Oct. 24-30, up 47%. A month ago (week ending Sept. 25), it drew 484,000 streams.

The viral sound featuring both songs synchs up their choruses: 4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry’s refrain of “And I say, hey, what’s going on?” merges with Minaj’s “Bitches ain’t shit and they ain’t sayin’ nothing/ A hundred motherfuckers can’t tell me nothing/ I beez in the trap” verse.

That said, the original versions of each are having their own moments on platforms including TikTok, although many videos still reference the prevailing meme; some of the top-performing clips, for instance, find users lip-synching to “What’s Up?” but then mouthing along to the lyrics of “Beez in the Trap” at its usual cue even though its audio isn’t playing.

The mashup sound is lip-synch-heavy, as well, with some of the most viral uses indicated by two participants standing back-to-back, one taking the 4 Non Blondes lyrics and the other assuming Minaj’s role. The trend has been utilized by everyone from typical creators to folks dressed up in cosplay or Halloween costumes to celebrities such as Anitta, Jimmy Fallon, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez. Lopez’s version even got Perry herself in on the fun.

Brandi Carlile breaks the record for most No. 1’s by a woman on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, as her latest album Returning to Myself debuts atop the Nov. 8-dated tally.

In its first week, ending Oct. 30, Returning to Myself earned 35,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. That sum includes 32,000 in album sales.

Returning to Myself is Carlile’s fifth No. 1 on the ranking, all achieved consecutively. She first led with 2015’s The Firewatcher’s Daughter, followed by 2018’s By the Way, I Forgive You, 2021’s In These Silent Days and this year’s Elton John collaboration Who Believes in Angels?.

Carlile’s five leaders are the most by a woman or woman-led act since Top Rock & Alternative Albums began in 2006. Previously, she was tied for the mark with Florence + the Machine and Paramore. (The distinction may be short lived; the former’s new album, Everybody Scream, was released Oct. 31 and will hit next week’s Billboard charts, dated Nov. 15.)

Returning to Myself also starts at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums and Americana/Folk Albums. It’s Carlile’s sixth ruler on the latter list, second only to Bob Dylan’s eight.

Elsewhere, Returning to Myself marks Carlile’s second No. 1 on Top Album Sales, and first since By the Way, I Forgive You. Of the new set’s 32,000 in sales, 15,000 are via vinyl; as a result, the LP starts at No. 2 on Vinyl Albums.

On the all-format Billboard 200, Returning to Myself opens at No. 7, marking Carlile’s fifth top 10, where she first ranked with the No. 10-peaking Bear Creek in 2012. Her personal best on the chart was set by By the Way, I Forgive You (No. 5).

Returning to Myself’s title track lead single reached No. 12 on Adult Alternative Airplay (Oct. 18). Its follow-up, “Human,” is bubbling under the list.