Tag Archives: Fugees

Mariah Carey Releases Ms. Lauryn Hill Collaboration “Save the Day”

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It’s a new Day for Mariah Carey, and she’s getting an assist from a fellow star.

The 50-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer has joined voices with Ms. Lauryn Hill on the new track “Save the Day.”

Mariah Carey

It’s the first release from Carey’s double-disc archival deep dive The Rarities (out October 2), which will be released shortly after the launch of her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey (out September 29).

With heartfelt, affecting vocals delivering a timely message (“We’re in this together”; “it’s curious, the fear still holding us down”), a few classic Mimi high notes and a sick beat drop courtesy Jermaine Dupri that accompanies the entrance of Hill’s voice (sampled from the Fugees‘ Grammy-winning “Killing Me Softly With His Song“), “Save the Day” is everything Carey’s fans love.

On a Zoom listening party with fans, journalists and friends just hours ahead of the song’s release, Carey said she’s always been a fan of Roberta Flack‘s original recording of the song and that the Fugees’ version was her “go-to record” back in the ’90s while on tour.

“I love Lauryn, I think she’s an incredible artist,” Carey said. “I was happy that Lauryn wanted to do this moment with me…. I only wanted to do it with her approval and excitement.”

Cardi B Makes History as “Bodak Yellow” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

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It’s an extra special (and historic) feat for Cardi B…

The 24-year-old part-Dominican American rapper, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, becomes the first female rapper in nearly 19 years to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart without the assistance of any other credited artists, as her debut hit “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” rises from No. 2 to No. 1 on the latest chart (dated Oct. 7). And she’s the first Dominican artist to reach the top of Billboard’s main singles chart.

Cardi B

“Bodak Yellow” makes Cardi B just the second female rapper to top the Hot 100 without any other billed artists, following Lauryn Hill‘s first solo Hot 100 entry (apart from the Fugees), “Doo Wop (That Thing),” for two weeks beginning with its November 14, 1998, debut at No. 1.

Cardi B is only the fifth female rapper ever to lead the Hot 100 at all. After Hill, Lil’ Kim ruled for five weeks in 2001 with Christina Aguilera, Mya and P!nk on “Lady Marmalade“; Shawnna reigned as featured on Ludacris‘ “Stand Up,” which topped the December 6, 2003, chart; and Iggy Azalea‘s introductory Hot 100 hit, “Fancy,” featuring Charli XCX, led for seven weeks in 2014.

Cardi B is also the first female soloist to top the Hot 100 with a debut track unaccompanied by another artist since Meghan Trainor, whose “All About That Bass” led for eight weeks beginning September 20, 2014.

“Bodak Yellow” rises at No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart with 46.4 million U.S. streams, up 14 percent, in the week ending September 21, according to Nielsen Music. It bounds 12-3 on Digital Song Sales chart, up 85 percent to 56,000 downloads sold in the week ending September 21, marking the Hot 100’s top gain in download sales (aided by a 69-cent discount price in the iTunes Store).

The track also lifts 16-13 on Radio Songs, with 62 million all-format audience impressions, up 8 percent, in the week ending September 24.

“Bodak Yellow” spends a fifth week at No. 1 on the Rap Airplay chart and a second week atop R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay; crowns the Rhythmic Songs airplay chart, with a 3-1 rise; and debuts on Pop Songs on at No. 37.

Cardi B’s breakthrough hit also spends a sixth week at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and a fourth frame atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.