Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by Billboard. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity.[1] The chart had 100 positions but was shortened to 50 positions in October 2012.[2][3]
The chart is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African-American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, rock and roll, soul, and funk, it is today dominated by contemporary R&B and hip hop. Since its inception, the chart has changed its name many times in order to accurately reflect the industry at the time.
History[edit]
Beginning in 1942, Billboard published a chart of bestselling African-American music, first as the Harlem Hit Parade, then as Race Records. Then in 1949, Billboard began publishing a Rhythm and Blues chart, which entered "R&B" into mainstream lexicon.[4] These three charts were consolidated into a single Hot R&B Singles chart in October 1958.
From November 30, 1963, to January 23, 1965, there were no Billboard R&B singles charts.[5][6] The "Hot R&B Singles" chart was discontinued when Billboard determined it unnecessary due to so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop charts in light of the rise of Motown. The chart was reinstated as Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles on January 30, 1965.[7]
Beginning August 23, 1969, the rhythm and blues was replaced in favor of "soul", and the chart was renamed to Best Selling Soul Singles. The move was made by a Billboard editorial decision that the term "soul" more accurately accounted for the "broad range of song and instrumental material which derives from the musical genius of the black American".[8][9] In late June 1982, the chart was renamed again, this time to Hot Black Singles because the music that African-Americans were buying and listening to had a "greater stylistic variety than the soul sound" of the early 1970s. Black Singles was deemed an acceptable term to encompass pop, funk, and early rap music popular in urban communities.[10]
Beginning October 27, 1990, the Hot Black Singles chart was returned to the Hot R&B Singles name first used in 1958.[11] Hip hop was introduced to the chart beginning with the December 11, 1999 issue, when Billboard changed the name to Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks to recognize the influence and relationship of hip hop to the genre.[12] Within a few years, the crossover of R&B titles onto the pop chart was so significant that all Top Ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 11, 2003, were by black artists.[13] The lengthy title was shortened to "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" on April 30, 2005.
The chart's methodology was changed starting with the October 20, 2012 issue, to match the Billboard Hot 100's---incorporating digital downloads and video streaming data (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs) and combining it with airplay of R&B and hip-hop songs across all radio formats, to determine song position. Also at this time, the chart was shortened to 50 positions.
| Date range | Title |
|---|---|
| October 1942 – February 1945 | The Harlem Hit Parade |
| February 1945 – June 1949 | Race Records |
| June 1949 – October 1958 | Rhythm & Blues Records (two or three separate charts—see above) |
| October 1958 – October 1962[14] | Hot R&B Sides |
| November 1962 – November 1963 | Hot R&B Singles[15][16] |
| November 1963 – January 1965[17] | No chart published (see above) |
| January 1965 – August 1969 | Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles |
| August 1969 – July 1973 | Best Selling Soul Singles |
| July 1973 – June 1982 | Hot Soul Singles |
| June 1982 – October 1990 | Hot Black Singles |
| October 1990 – January 1999 | Hot R&B Singles |
| January – December 1999 | Hot R&B Singles & Tracks |
| December 1999 – April 2005 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
| April 2005 – present | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
Significant song achievements[edit]
Most weeks at number one[edit]
21 weeks
20 weeks
- "Old Town Road" (2019) – Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus[19]
18 weeks
- "The Honeydripper (Parts 1 & 2)" (1945) – Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers[20]
- "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (1946) – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five[20]
- "One Dance" (2016) – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla[21]
- "Industry Baby" (2021–22) - Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow[22]
17 weeks
- "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" (1947) – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five[20]
16 weeks
- "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" (1946) – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra[20]
- "Blurred Lines" (2013) – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams[23]
15 weeks
- "Trouble Blues" (1949) – The Charles Brown Trio[20]
- "Be Without You" (2006) – Mary J. Blige[23]
14 weeks
- "Don't Cry Baby" (1943) – Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra[20]
- "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" (1947) – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five[20]
- "The Huckle-Buck" (1949) – Paul Williams and His Hucklebucklers[20]
- "Black Night" (1951) – Charles Brown[20]
- "Sixty Minute Man" (1951) – The Dominoes[20]
- "The Things That I Used to Do" (1954) – Guitar Slim[20]
- "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" (1998–99) – Deborah Cox[23]
- "We Belong Together" (2005) – Mariah Carey[23][24]
- "Blame It" (2009) – Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain[23]
- "Pretty Wings" (2009) – Maxwell[23]
- "Diamonds" (2012–2013) – Rihanna[23]
- "Thrift Shop" (2013) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz[23]
- "See You Again" (2015) – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth[25]
- "Rockstar" (2017–18) – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
13 weeks
- "Pink Champagne" (1950) – Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers[20]
- "Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2)" (1956) – Bill Doggett[20]
- "Can't Be Friends" (2010–2011) – Trey Songz[23]
- "The Monster" (2013–14) – Eminem featuring Rihanna[citation needed]
- "Fancy" (2014) – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX[citation needed]
12 weeks
- "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" (1947) – Julia Lee and Her Boy Friends[20]
- "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (1949) – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five[20]
- "Searchin'" (1957) – The Coasters[20]
- "Bump n' Grind" (1994) – R. Kelly[23]
- "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008–09) – Beyoncé[23]
- "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (2010) – Alicia Keys[23]
- "Happy" (2014) – Pharrell Williams[citation needed]
- "Blinding Lights" (2021) – The Weeknd[citation needed]
Songs with most weeks on the chart[edit]
- 89 weeks – "Sure Thing" – Miguel (2011)
- 75 weeks – "Be Without You" – Mary J. Blige (2005)[26]
- 74 weeks – "God In Me" – Mary Mary (2009)[27]
- 73 weeks – "On the Ocean" – K'Jon (2009)[28]
- 71 weeks –
- "You Make Me Wanna..." – Usher[29] (1997)
- "There Goes My Baby" – Usher (2010)
- 70 weeks – "Step in the Name of Love" – R. Kelly (2003)[30]
- 68 weeks - "Can't Let Go" - Anthony Hamilton (2005)[31]
- 66 weeks –
- "Blinding Lights" - The Weeknd (2020)[32]
- 63 weeks –
- 61 weeks - "Cool" - Anthony Hamilton, David Banner (2008)[33]
- 60 weeks – "Too Close" – Next (1998)
- 59 weeks –
- "Pretty Wings" – Maxwell[34] (2009)
- "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" – Alicia Keys[35] (2010)
- 58 weeks –
- "When I See U" – Fantasia (2007)
- "Teachme" – Musiq Soulchild (2007)
- "Love on Top" – Beyoncé[36] (2011)
- 56 weeks –
- "If I Ain't Got You" – Alicia Keys (2004)
- "Lost Without U" – Robin Thicke (2007)
- "Until the End of Time" – Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé[37] (2008)
- 55 weeks –
- "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole[38] (2008)
- "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson (2008)
- "Drank in My Cup" – Kirko Bangz[39] (2011)
- "Adorn" – Miguel (2012)
- "Snooze" – SZA (2023)
- 54 weeks –
- "Ain't I" - Yung L.A., Young Dro, T.I.[40]
- "Stay" – Tyrese[41] (2011)
- "Thrift Shop" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz (2012)
- 52 weeks –
- "We Belong Together" – Mariah Carey[42] (2005)
- "Up!" – LoveRance feat. Iamsu & Skipper or 50 Cent[39] (2011)
- "Thinkin Bout You" – Frank Ocean[43] (2013)
- "Can't Hold Us" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton (2013)
- "All of Me" – John Legend (2014)
Longest climbs to number one[edit]
- 43rd week – "Step in the Name of Love" by R. Kelly
- 35th week – "All of Me" by John Legend
- 32nd week – "Needed Me" by Rihanna
Source:[44]
Significant artist achievements[edit]
Most number-one singles[edit]
The artists with the most No. 1 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since October 1958.
| Number of singles |
Artist | Source |
|---|---|---|
27
|
Drake | [45] |
| 20 | Aretha Franklin | [46] |
| Stevie Wonder | [47] | |
17
|
James Brown | [48] |
16
|
Janet Jackson | [49] |
15
|
The Temptations | [50] |
| 13 | Marvin Gaye | [51] |
| Michael Jackson | [52] | |
| Usher | [53] |
Artists with most weeks at number one on the chart[edit]
| Weeks | Artist | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 113† | Louis Jordan | [54] |
† Pre-October 1958 charts.
Most top 10 singles[edit]
| Number of Singles |
Artist | Source |
|---|---|---|
117 |
Drake | [45] |
57 |
James Brown | [55] |
46 |
Nicki Minaj | [56] |
42 |
Chris Brown | [57] |
Most chart entries[edit]
Most entries on chart since October 1958.
| Entries | Artist | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 309 | Drake | [45] |
| 198 | Lil Wayne | [58] |
| 150 | Jay-Z | [59] |
| 146 | Kanye West | [60] |
| 140 | Chris Brown | [61] |
| 125 | Nicki Minaj | [62] |
Self-replacement at number one[edit]
- Dinah Washington, July 25, 1960: "A Rockin' Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love)" with Brook Benton replaced by "This Bitter Earth"
- Freddie Jackson, November 15, 1986: "A Little Bit More" with Melba Moore replaced by "Tasty Love"
- Nelly, August 24, 2002: "Hot in Herre" replaced by "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland
- Jay-Z, August 16, 2003: "Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z) replaced by "Frontin'" (Pharrell featuring Jay-Z)
- 50 Cent, April 16, 2005: "Candy Shop" featuring Olivia replaced by "Hate It or Love It" (The Game featuring 50 Cent)
- Alicia Keys, January 5, 2008: "No One" replaced by "Like You'll Never See Me Again"
- Drake, February 26, 2011: "Fall for Your Type" (Jamie Foxx featuring Drake) replaced by "Moment 4 Life" (Nicki Minaj featuring Drake)
- Lil Wayne, July 26, 2011: "Motivation" (Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne) replaced by "I'm on One" (DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
- Drake, February 25, 2012: "Make Me Proud" featuring Nicki Minaj replaced by "The Motto" featuring Lil Wayne
- 2 Chainz, August 18, 2012: "Mercy" with Kanye West, Big Sean, and Pusha T replaced by "No Lie" featuring Drake
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, May 4, 2013: "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz replaced by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton
- The Weeknd, October 3, 2015: "Can't Feel My Face" replaced by "The Hills"
- Drake, Feb. 20, 2016: "Work" (Rihanna featuring Drake) replaced by "Summer Sixteen"
- DJ Khaled, July 29, 2017: "I'm the One" featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne replaced by "Wild Thoughts" featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller
- Drake, April 21, 2018: "God's Plan" replaced by "Nice for What"
- Drake, July 21, 2018: "Nice for What" replaced by "In My Feelings"
- Travis Scott, November 3, 2018: "Zeze" (Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott and Offset) replaced by "Sicko Mode"
- Post Malone, April 6, 2019: "Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse)", with Swae Lee replaced by "Wow"
- Lizzo, November 23, 2019: "Truth Hurts" replaced by "Good as Hell"
Source:[63]
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[edit]
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[64] was a chart composed of 25 positions that represented songs making progress to chart on the main R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Many times, songs halted their progress at this chart and never debuted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart could have also been seen as a 25 position quasi-addendum to the chart, since the chart represented the 25 songs below position number 50 that had not previously appeared on the main chart.
See also[edit]
- List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)
- Rhythm and blues
- Hip-hop music
- Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
References[edit]
- Works cited
- Sanneh, Kelefa (2021). Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres. New York: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-525-55959-7.
- Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Menomonee Falls: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-115-2.
- Notes
- ^ "Current Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Shakes Up Genre Charts With New Methodology". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ "The Year In R&B/Hip-Hop 2012: Drake, Nicki Minaj Among Year's Chart Champs". MSN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ Sanneh 2021, p. 91.
- ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xiii.
- ^ Sanneh 2021, pp. 87–88.
- ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xiv.
- ^ "R&B Now Soul". Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 34. August 23, 1969. p. 3. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ Sanneh 2021, p. 95.
- ^ George, Nelson (June 26, 1982). "Black Music Charts" What's in a Name?". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 25. pp. 10, 43. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Hot R&B Songs 1942-2010 (PDF) (6th ed.). Menomonee Falls: Record Research. p. 9. ISBN 9780898201864.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (October 18, 2003). "Black-Music's Historic Week" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 42. pp. 20, 22.
- ^ "Hot R&B Sides", Billboard, October 27, 1962. p. 37. Accessed October 1, 2015
- ^ "Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, November 3, 1962. p. 37. Accessed October 1, 2015
- ^ "Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, November 23, 1963. p. 22. Accessed October 1, 2015
- ^ Whitburn, Joel. (2006). The Billboard book of top 40 R & B and hip-hop hits. New York: Billboard. pp. x. ISBN 0-8230-8283-0. OCLC 62413058.
- ^ Trust, Gary (2023-05-30). "Morgan Wallen's 'Last Night' Leads Billboard Hot 100 for Eighth Week, Bad Bunny's 'Where She Goes' Debuts in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: April 20, 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Whitburn 1996, p. 644.
- ^ "Summer '16: Drake's 'One Dance' Set Record for Most Weeks Atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Won Song of the Summer Honors & More". Billboard. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ Trust, Gary (2023-05-15). "Morgan Wallen's 'Last Night' Is No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Toosii's 'Favorite Song' Hits Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Ramirez, Rauly (September 9, 2013). "Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' Breaks Record Atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
- ^ Bronson, Fred (August 25, 2005). "Chart Beat". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales: See You Again Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Billboard.biz Login". Archived from the original on 2012-12-31.
- ^ "Billboard.biz Login". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Feb 20, 2010 – (Weeks on chart) | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 2010-02-20. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Billboard.biz Login". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15.
- ^ "Anthony Hamilton Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "Anthony Hamilton Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ WebCite query result
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Oct 13, 2012 – (Weeks on chart) | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 2012-10-13. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ "Billboard.biz Login". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15.
- ^ "Keyshia Cole – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2014-07-03. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ a b "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Page 1". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-12-25. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ "Young Dro Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Aug 18, 2012 – (Weeks on chart) | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 2012-08-18. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ "Billboard.biz Login". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs : Mar 23, 2013 – (Weeks on chart) | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 2013-03-23. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ^ Mednizabal, Amaya (September 12, 2016). "Rihanna's 'Needed Me' Rises to No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Drake Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Stevie Wonder Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "James Brown Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Janet Jackson Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "The Temptations Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Marvin Gaye Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Usher Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "This Day in Music". Billboard. 4 February 2007. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
He is the record holder of most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B charts with 113.
- ^ Anderson, Trevor (29 June 2018). "Drake Extends Record Top 10 Total on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart With 'I'm Upset'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Chris Brown Chart History Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Lil Wayne R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "Jay-Z R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "Kanye West R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "Chris Brown - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Nicki Minaj R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Post Malone Replaces Himself at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.