“Rockstar,” released on Republic Records, now stands alone as the longest-reigning rap No. 1 on the Hot 100 this year (of songs that reached the top of the chart for the first time in 2017). Here’s a look at the five rap leaders this year and their rules:
4 weeks, “Rockstar,” Post Malone feat. 21 Savage, beginning Oct. 28
3 weeks, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” Cardi B, Oct. 7
3 weeks, “Bad and Boujee,” Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert, Jan. 21
1 week, “I’m the One,” DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne, May 20
1 week, “Humble.,” Kendrick Lamar“Rockstar” boasts the longest command for a rap No. 1 on the Hot 100 since Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles,” featuring Gucci Mane, led for seven weeks beginning Nov. 26, 2016 (and last ruled the chart dated Jan. 14). As previously reported, five rap tracks have ascended to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2017, tying 2006, 2004 and 2003 for the most in any year.
“Rockstar” racks a fifth (nonconsecutive) week at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart with 46 million U.S. streams (down 13 percent), in the week ending Nov. 2, according to Nielsen Music. It holds at No. 4 on Digital Song Sales, which it led for a week, with 46,000 downloads sold (down 12 percent) in the week ending Nov. 2, and pushes 19-14 on Radio Songs with 64 million in all-format audience (up 13 percent) in the week ending Nov. 5.
“Rockstar” concurrently leads the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts for a fourth week each.
Camila Cabello’s “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, charges 7-2 on the Hot 100 following the first full week of tracking after the Oct. 24 arrival of its official video (aka #HavanaTheMovie, which runs 6:42-long). The song jumps 5-3 on Digital Song Sales (47,000, up 12 percent); 7-4 on Streaming Songs (32.3 million, up 32 percent); and 26-17 on Radio Songs (61 million, up 28 percent).
Cabello achieves her highest rank on the Hot 100, counting both her solo work and songs with Fifth Harmony (whom she left nearly a year ago). She previously hit a No. 4 peak both as a soloist and with the group: her own “Bad Things,” with Machine Gun Kelly, hit No. 4 in February and, as a member of 5H, she reached No. 4 in June 2016 with “Work From Home,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. “Work” remains the now-quartet’s top-peaking Hot 100 hit, so Cabello has bested the act’s highpoint, both with and without her.
“Havana” is the fourth Hot 100 top 10 this year whose title doubles as the name of a city and, with its ascent to No. 2, is the highest-charting such song in 11 years, since … well, want to guess? Answer at the end of this story.
Cardi B’s former three-week No. 1 “Bodak Yellow” drops 2-3 on the Hot 100 and Logic’s “1-800-273-8255,” featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, falls to No. 4 from its No. 3 high.
Imagine Dragons’ “Thunder” keeps at its No. 5 Hot 100 high and rebounds 2-1 for a third (nonconsecutive) week atop Digital Song Sales (54,000, down 9 percent). It ascends 2-1 on Hot Rock Songs to become the band’s third No. 1, following “Radioactive” (which dominated for 23 weeks beginning April 6, 2013) and “Believer,” the single before “Thunder” (29 weeks, beginning March 25).
Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” slips to No. 6 from its No. 4 Hot 100 peak while crowning Radio Songs for a fourth week (127 million, down 1 percent).
Rap newcomer Lil Pump vaults 14-7 on the Hot 100 with “Gucci Gang,” his first entry on the chart. After its official video dropped Oct. 23, the track charges 3-2 on Streaming Songs (36 million, up 24 percent), while rising 49-38 on Digital Song Sales (11,000, up 17 percent).
The song is from Lil Pump’s self-titled debut album, which opened at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 dated Oct. 28.
Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry” dips to No. 8 from her career-best No. 6; J Balvin and Willy William’s “Mi Gente,” featuring Beyonce, descends 6-9 after hitting No. 3, while spending a fifth week at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs; and Sam Smith’s “Too Good at Goodbyes” backtracks 9-10 after reaching No. 5.
Among notable action below the Hot 100’s top 10, “MotorSport” by Migos, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B debuts at No. 14, led by its No. 10 launch on Streaming Songs with 19.8 million first-week streams. As for Minaj, she tallies her 81st Hot 100 entry, extending her mark for the most among women; Aretha Franklin and Taylor Swift share second place with 73 each, with Swift having tied Franklin a week ago with the debut of “Gorgeous” (which this week falls 13-68).
Speaking of Swift, “…Ready for It?” rebounds 46-19 following the Oct. 27 premiere of its official video, up 106 percent to 16.2 million clicks; it debuted at No. 4 on the Sept. 23 Hot 100.
Plus, Selena Gomez and Marshmello’s “Wolves” vaults 88-35 in its second week on the Hot 100, and first full frame following its release, as it bullets at No. 9 on Digital Song Sales (28,000) and No. 26 on Streaming Songs (13 million).
Quiz answer! “Havana” is the highest-charting Hot 100 hit to name-check a city in its title since … Fergie’s “London Bridge,” which led the list for three weeks beginning Aug. 19, 2006. Both cities are country capitals, of Cuba (where Cabello was born) and England, respectively.
Find out more Hot 100 news in the weekly “Hot 100 Chart Moves” column and by listening (and subscribing) to Billboard’s Chart Beat Podcast and Pop Shop Podcast, all posting this week. And again, be sure to visit Billboard.com tomorrow (Nov. 7), when all charts, including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh. The Hot 100 and other charts will also appear in the next issue of Billboard magazine, on sale Friday (Nov. 10).
(11/6/17) Hot 100 Preview: Post Malone #1, Camilla #2, Taylor #19, Gomez #35
Alex
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