R&B/Hip-Hop

25 May 2023

Kali Dials Up Her First Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Top 10 With ‘Area Codes’

Rising rapper Kali races to her first top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with her breakout hit “Area Codes,” which sprints 16-10 on the list dated May 27. The viral smash hit continues its impressive journey, having debuted at No. 48 just two weeks ago, and continues to swell in streams and sales.

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“Area Codes,” released on Trump Card/Atlantic Records, rang up 12.5 million official U.S. streams in the week ending May 18, according to Luminate, a 35% surge from the prior week. The improvement pushes the track 11-6 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart. Sales, too, are up by double-digit percentage gains: “Area Codes” sold 2,000 downloads in the same period, up 65% and prompting an 8-6 rise on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales. Thanks to the sales boost, “Area Codes” nabs the week’s Sales Gainer honor for the biggest increase among the chart’s 50 titles.

Emphasizing the song’s viral appeal, “Area Codes” has reached the top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with minimal airplay, the third metric – along with sales and streams – that factors into the chart’s rankings. The single registered 1.4 million in audience impressions, the 13th lowest among the chart’s 38 songs with airplay activity.

By reaching No. 10, Kali’s “Area Codes” also matches the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs peak rank of the song it interpolates, Ludacris’ song of the same name, featuring Nate Dogg, from August 2001.

TikTok has been a significant factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of it has soundtracked more than 400,000 clips on the platform to date. (While activity on TikTok does not contribute directly to Billboard’s charts, some of the most popular songs experience corresponding gains in digital sales and streaming on contributing services.)

Elsewhere, “Area Codes” dials up other advances on several charts, including an 8-5 jump on Hot Rap Songs and a 54-33 flight on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

25 May 2023

YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s ‘Richest Opp’ Debuts at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart

Just three weeks after YoungBoy Never Broke Again last ruled Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, the rapper is back in command as his newest album, Richest Opp, debuts at No. 1 on the list dated May 27. The set launches with 51,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending May 18, according to Luminate.

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Richest Opp gives YoungBoy Never Broke Again his ninth No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and comes just three weeks after his eighth, Don’t Try This at Home. The three-week window between new champs is the shortest gap for any artist since March 2017, when Future posted two new No. 1s – a self-titled album and HENDRXX – in consecutive weeks.

Notably, Richest Opp’s entrance gives YoungBoy Never Broke Again his 19th top 10 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and breaks him from a tie with Nas (18) for the second-most top 10s by a rapper in the list’s history. Only Jay-Z, with 21 top 10s, claims more.

As with all YoungBoy Never Broke Again releases, streaming powers nearly all the first-week, 51,000 units, with 50,000 of them from that consumption method. The unit figure equals 74.37 million official on-demand streams of the album’s 17 songs. Traditional album sales contribute 500 of the remaining balance, with a sliver of negligible units deriving from track-equivalent album units. (One unit equals the following levels of consumption: one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.)

With Richest Opp now part of the rapper’s collection, here’s a recap of all of YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s No. 1s on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Each of his leaders debuted at No. 1 and held the rank for one week.

Title, Date Reached No. 1

  • AI Youngboy 2, Oct. 26, 2019
  • Still Flexin, Still Steppin, March 7, 2020
  • 38 Baby 2, May 9, 2020
  • Top, Sept. 26, 2020
  • Sincerely, Kentrell, Oct. 9, 2021
  • Colors, Feb. 5, 2022
  • The Last Slimeto, Aug. 20, 2022
  • Don’t Try This at Home, May 6, 2023
  • Richest Opp, May 27, 2023

Elsewhere, Richest Opp opens at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart and at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

As Richest Opp arrives, eight of its tracks debut on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. “Bitch Let’s Do It” leads the pack, at No. 17, followed by “F–k the Industry, Pt. 2” (No. 28), “I Heard” (No. 31), “I Got That Shit” (No. 32), “Hurt My Heart” (No. 34), “Dirty Thug” (No. 35), “Free Meechy” (No. 43) and “Just Flow” (No. 50).

25 May 2023

Lil Durk & J. Cole’s ‘Life’ Launches at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Lil Durk storms in at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with “All My Life” featuring J. Cole, on the list dated May 27. The song opens as the genre’s most-streamed song and the third-best seller of the week.

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“All My Life,” released on May 12 via Alamo Records, begins with 30.9 million official U.S. streams earned in the week ending May 18, according to Luminate. The sum allows for a No. 1 entrance on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart, where it becomes Lil Durk’s third champ and J. Cole’s fourth leader. It also sold 3,000 downloads in the same period, yielding a No. 3 start on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart. On the radio side, “All My Life” registered 10.8 million in audience impressions in its debut week.

With “All My Life,” Lil Durk earns his third No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. He first visited the summit as a featured artist on Drake’s six-week champ, “Laugh Now Cry Later,” in 2020-21, and later conquered the list with his own “Broadway Girls” featuring Morgan Wallen for one week in 2022.

For J. Cole, “All My Life” is his second Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1, and nearly shares its title with his prior leader. “My Life,” with 21 Savage and Morray, ruled for one week in 2021.

Elsewhere, “All My Life” opens at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, becoming the second No. 1 on the list for both artists. It begins at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, tying both artists’ career bests. Lil Durk previously peaked in the runner-up slot with “Laugh Now Cry Later,” while J. Cole nabbed a prior silver with “My Life.”

“All My Life” previews Lil Durk’s Almost Healed album, scheduled for release on May 26. In addition to the J. Cole feature, the set will include guest spots from Future, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Morgan Wallen, Juice WRLD and more.

25 May 2023

Ledisi’s ‘I Need to Know’ Hits No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Ledisi scores her second No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart as “I Need to Know” leaps from No. 3 to lead the list dated May 27. The single ascends after an 8% gain in weekly plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored adult R&B radio stations in the week ending May 18, according to Luminate.

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The new champ continues a recent rotation atop Adult R&B Airplay. “I Need to Know” is the fourth leader in the last four weeks, following, in order, Ambré’s “I’m Baby,” featuring Jvck James, Ravyn Lenae’s “Skin Tight,” featuring Steve Lacy and Tank’s “See Through Love,” featuring Chris Brown. The last month’s No. 1s marks the first time four different songs have led the Adult R&B Airplay chart in four consecutive weeks since June – July 2012, when Estelle’s “Thank You,” in its second nonconsecutive week at No. 1, Jill Scott’s “Blessed,” Usher’s “Climax” and John Legend’s “Tonight (Best You Ever Had),” featuring Ludacris, each passed the baton.

“I Need to Know” is Ledisi’s second Adult R&B Airplay chart-topper and follows the two-week reign of “Anything for You” in 2020. The maiden champ was a milestone achievement for the veteran performer on multiple fronts: In addition to securing her first Adult R&B Airplay champ with her 17th entry, the song also won Ledisi her first Grammy Award, for best traditional R&B performance, after 13 previous nominations.

Elsewhere, “I Need to Know” rises 22-20 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks songs by combined audience totals from adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations. There, the single added 12% in weekly audience to reach 6.8 million impressions. The move secures Ledisi’s fourth top 20 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, following “Pieces of Me” (No. 19 in 2011), “I Blame You” (No. 20, 2014) and “Anything for You” (No. 13, 2020).

24 May 2023

Swifties Flip Out Over Taylor Swift ‘Karma’ Remix With Ice Spice: ‘TAYSPICE COMING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD’

Taylor Swift had a major surprise up her sleeve on Wednesday (May 24) when she announced her forthcoming “Karma” remix with Ice Spice, and the Swifties are reeling with the news.

The collab with the rising rapper is only one part of the surprise too: The superstar is also releasing an updated version of “Snow on the Beach” with Lana Del Rey on Midnights (Til Dawn Edition), featuring even more vocals from Del Rey. “Hits Different” — which was originally only available as a bonus cut on the Target edition of Midnights — rounds out the track list on the deluxe edition of the album.

“TAYSPICE COMING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD,” one Swiftie wrote upon reading the news of the collab’s imminent unveiling on Friday (May 26) at midnight, while another commented, “THIS WAS SO NOT ON MY BINGO CARD I’M-…”

Plenty of Ice Spice’s loyal Munchkins also added their two cents about Swift tapping their favorite rapper for a duet. “& y’all said Ice Spice would be a one hit wonder,” one fan account wrote above a clip from her recent “Princess Diana” music video with Nicki Minaj. A second used a funny gif from Broad City to show how proud they were of the recent Billboard cover star, writing, “ICE SPICE BABY GWORL IM SO PROUD OF YOU. Been rooting for you heavy…THIS IS MONUMENTAL.”

This weekend, Swift will play three sold out shows at MetLife Stadium outside of New York City, where she’ll have a special Midnights CD featuring another vault track titled “You’re Losing Me.”

Read some of the best Swiftie reactions to Tay’s Ice Spice collab below.

24 May 2023

DaBaby Drops ‘Sellin Crack’ Collaboration With Offset: Watch the Music Video

DaBaby is making music like he’s “Sellin Crack,” according to his new single with Offset that was released on Wednesday (May 24) via Interscope Records.

Produced by Charlie Heat and Zion Brown, “Sellin Crack” finds DaBaby hyping himself up for a comeback and assuring he’ll win over the people with the good stuff. The single comes as part of DaBaby’s new CALL DA FIREMAN three-single bundle, which also contains “Shake Sumn” and “Ghetto Girls>>>>.” “Shake Sumn” has brought DaBaby back to the Billboard charts, becoming his 54th entry on the Billboard Hot 100 after the single debuted at No. 92 last week and jumped to No. 74 in the week ending May 27.

“‘Shake Sumn’ climbing the Charts, the streets tapped in, the dancers dancing! the ladies ain’t playing! the kids goin crazy! The parents loving it too! So for that I got a gift for y’all!” he tweeted on Tuesday before revealing that he would drop the “Sellin Crack” music video.

In the visual, DaBaby and Offset take turns cosplaying as Nino Brown, Wesley Snipes’ role in the 1991 New York City-based crime drama film New Jack City.

The two have worked on numerous tracks together, including the “Baby Sitter” single from DaBaby’s debut album Baby on Baby — which reached No. 11 on Billboard‘s Rhythmic Airplay chart in 2019 — and “Pink Toes” also featuring Gunna from Quality Control’s compilation album, Quality Control: Control the Streets Volume 2.

Watch the “Sellin Crack” music video below.

24 May 2023

Offset Calls Wife Cardi B His ‘Bestie,’ Says She ‘Always Got My Back, Right or Wrong’

Offset doesn’t mince words when it comes to his bond with wife Cardi B. “My bestie!” he exclaimed in a new cover story in Variety about his eagerly anticipated upcoming solo album, the couple’s tight bond and his ongoing sadness over the death last year of Migos bandmate TakeOff.

“She always got my back, right or wrong,” he added about the “Up” rapper with whom he shares children Kulture and Wave. “We both are on the same mission to make each other better. Social is her strong point, so I listen to her social advice. And me, it’s the music, but I play behind the scenes; it’s my wife so I want to make sure she win.”

Despite their ups and downs — which have included two rescinded divorce filings by Cardi amid reports of his alleged infidelity — Offset said he and his wife make a “great team.” Scratch that, he believes they are a “powerhouse at this point — icon status. We believe in family. We’re always going to keep winning.”

He’s needed to lean on her a bit more since TakeOff’s killing in Houston in November, a loss he’s still struggling mightily to overcome. “It’s hard for me to talk about s–t right now,” he told the magazine. “That s–t hurts.”

Cardi agreed that their bond is super-tight now, telling Variety about the things she appreciates the most about her husband. “No matter what issue I am having personally or professionally, I know he will take care of me and our family,” she said. “It’s handled. I know that I have a man who has my back for real. I fully support him in this next chapter of his music career.”

But as he works on the follow-up to his 2019 solo debut, Father of Four — slated to feature Travis Scott, Future, Chloe Bailey, Latto and a banked song with TakeOff — the rapper teased another collab with his wife, who has joined him in the past on 2019’s “Clout” and the Migos’ “Motorsport” and “Type S–t.”

Though he was cagey about what tracks will be on the album expected out this summer, a Capitol Records spokesperson assured Variety that Offset has made a “phenomenal” album. “We can’t wait until the world hears his masterpiece,” the label rep said. “We’re deep into release planning now and will soon have big news to share!”

24 May 2023

Quavo Announces New Album ‘Rocket Power,’ Cites TakeOff As Inspiration: ‘This Is My Therapy’

While his Migos teammate Offset is currently prepping his upcoming solo album, Quavo is on the same path after announcing his new effort, Rocket Power, on Instagram Tuesday afternoon (May 23). 

Quavo penned a gripping message when announcing his sophomore effort and how he’s dedicating the album to his fallen nephew and former partner-in-rhyme, TakeOff. “This album is for the Rocket, our true fans, and also this is my therapy. This album is a true reflection of how I feel right now,” he wrote on Instagram. 

As Offset recently revealed in his cover story with Variety, Quavo is too battling his inner struggles while grieving TakeOff’s passing, writing: “Sometimes I’m good, sometimes I’m down, sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes I fall apart, but then I always find my strength again. I know everything might not be alright right now, but the Rocket showed me a way to make it right! Rocket Power keeps me going. Rocket Power gives me fuel. Rocket Power will help us all overcome whatever we’re going through.”

So far this year, Quavo has released a fistful of singles, including “Honey Bun,” “Greatness,” and the TakeOff-dedicated record “Without You.” At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Quavo performed the heartfelt tribute alongside Maverick City Music. 

Rocket Power will be Quavo’s first album since 2018’s Quavo Huncho. The debut effort included features from Drake, 21 Savage, Cardi B, Lil Baby, Madonna, and more. Quavo Huncho debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning 99,000 album-equivalent units. The following year, the album earned gold status from the RIAA. 

Check out Quavo’s announcement below. 

24 May 2023

Travis Scott Breaks Down the Meaning of Upcoming ‘Utopia’ Album: ‘You Create It Yourself’

This month, Travis Scott hasn’t relented in his quest to roll out his highly anticipated album Utopia. After previewing the project for the Houston Astros and then having his bodyguard spotted with a Utopia-branded suitcase handcuffed to his wrist last week, Scott has elected to take a new, calmer approach by covering the latest issue of PINUP Magazine.

The wildly creative cover finds the Astroworld artist reimagining the alphabet through his eyes. Scott offered each letter a word and its importance when talking to the architecture and design publication. For the letter “U,” of course, Scott chose “utopia” and gave his breakdown, saying, “Utopia is something that people feel is so far-fetched and out of reach, some perfect state of mind. But you create it yourself. There are people who achieve Utopia every day. They may not be the richest people with the dopest cribs, but it’s a utopia wherever they are, and that’s the most you can have. With every album I live in these worlds in my mind — I’m trying to show people experiences where utopian things can exist, and you can enjoy yourself and have a good time. They can create energy that spews out magical things — new cures, new buildings, new avenues for people to move forward. People need to see that Utopia is real.”

For “M,” Scott chose MPC, reveling that he “made most of my new album on an MPC.” “I got new ones; I got some old ones. My favorite is the 2000XL. It produces a very distinctive sound that makes it feel alive,” he added.

Though Utopia doesn’t have a release date, Scott’s longtime collaborator Mike Dean said on social media this week that he and the Houston staple are still busily chipping away on the project. “Utopia will be done when Trav and I say it’s done. Do not rush. Let us cook.”

24 May 2023

Offset Details His Struggles in Grieving TakeOff’s Death: ‘I Get Through My Day Thinking It’s Fake’

Time has yet to heal Offset after he lost TakeOff following the 28-year-old’s death six months ago in Houston. Covering the newest issue of Variety, the Migos star says he’s still having a tough time grasping the passing of his fallen comrade. 

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“It’s hard for me to talk about s–t right now,” he said. “I’ve never talked about this stuff. Seriously. Talking about Take is hard, man. Talking about all this s–t is hard. That’s why I don’t, to be honest. That s–t hurts.” Offset attempted to continue the conversation before ultimately cutting things off because of how painful the chat was getting. “Like, it’s gonna put me in a mood, and I don’t want to get in that mood. Some things I don’t never tell nobody. He’s not here. That s–t feels fake, bro. I get through my day thinking it’s fake. And I don’t say nothing to nobody about it.”

Though Offset has struggled with grieving the loss of TakeOff since the fatal shooting in November, he’s found ways to express his adoration for late friend. He previously previewed unreleased music with the Migos bandmate on social media, and even shared a huge portrait tattoo he got in honor of Take, which rests right on his back. 

Offset also chatted with Variety about his forthcoming album, the follow-up to his 2019 debut Father of Four. According to the interview, the effort will feature Travis Scott, Future, Chloe Bailey, Latto and TakeOff, with the latter being recorded last summer. Offset’s wife, Cardi B, will also be on the album, continuing their streak of collaborations dating back to 2019’s “Clout” and past Migos’ records “Motorsport” and “Type S–t.” The album is expected this summer.