After two weeks in charge, Childish Gambino’s powerful new single “This Is America” steps down from the throne, sliding just one rung to second place for the first time since it started on the Hot 100. The title debuted at No. 1 earlier this month, becoming just the thirty-first song in history to do so, but now a familiar smash is back in charge once again.
“This Is America” has been replaced by Drake’s “Nice For What,” which also debuted at the peak over a month ago. The hip-hop star’s fifth leader has now controlled the all-encompassing Hot 100 for five non-consecutive frames, and it could continue to rule...unless another new track from Drake steps in and steals the spotlight. Coincidentally, Drake also holds at No. 3 with his other previous chart champion “God’s Plan,” which once controlled the listing for 11 weeks.
Just behind the two Drake tracks and Childish Gambino’s first No. 1 comes a pair of powerful musicians, Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign, who keep their collaborative hit “Psycho” at No. 4. Just behind that successful song is Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey’s “The Middle” at No. 5, which breaks up the streak of hip-hop which fills the majority of the top five.
The highest-ranking new tune to break into the Hot 100’s top 10 comes from rappers Lil Baby and Drake, who once again sees his name appear in three slots within the uppermost area. Lil Baby’s “Yes Indeed” bolts from outside the Top 40 to No. 6, granting the musician his first top 10 hit and giving Drake his twenty-sixth. The streams “Yes Indeed” racked up helped the album it is featured on, Harder Than Ever, launch at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 this week.
Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line keep their history-making country-pop crossover tune “Meant to Be” inside the top 10 for another turn, this time placing it at No. 7. Down two slots at No. 9 is Ariana Grande’s recent release “No Tears Left to Cry,” while two new cuts occupy positions Nos. 8 and 10.
New to the top 10, but not the Hot 100, is English R&B singer-songwriter Ella Mai, who sees her breakout single “Boo’d Up” finally break into the region after weeks of climbing. The song is her first appearance on the American chart, and clearly, she has a bright future ahead of her if success found her so quickly.
The third and final new title that manages to find room inside the top 10 on the Hot 100 this week comes from K-pop powerhouses BTS, who debut their current single “Fake Love” at No. 10. The tune, which is featured on their album Love Yourself: Tear (which currently stands at No. 1 on the Billboard 200) is the vocal group’s first top 10 hit in America, and by far their highest-charting song yet. Before this, they reached as high as No. 28 with 2017's "MIC Drop," so they now have a pair of Top 40 hits to their credit in this country.
