Cardi B Makes History on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart with “Up”

Cardi B is makin’ history on the Billboard charts…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar’s “Up” knocks down every current challenger on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as the single debuts at No. 1 on the list dated February 20.

Cardi B

With the start, Cardi B posts consecutive chart-topping debuts while she also claims a feat unseen on the Billboard Hot 100 in over 20 years.

With “Up,” Cardi B lands consecutive No. 1 debuts on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, after “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, likewise opened on top last August as it began a 10-week domination.

The combo makes Cardi B the first artist to post two straight No. 1 debuts on the chart as a lead artist, and second overall performer after Drake, whose consecutive starts came from a feature spot on Rihanna’s “Work” and his own single “Summer Sixteen” in 2016.

In all, “Up” is Cardi B’s sixth No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, notably with at least one in each of the last five years. Here’s the full collection:

Song Title, Artist (if other than Cardi B), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” six, Sept. 16, 2017
“Finesse,” with Bruno Mars, one, Jan. 20, 2018
“I Like It,” with Bad Bunny & J Balvin, one, July 7, 2018
“Please Me,” with Bruno Mars, one, March 16, 2019
“WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, 10, Aug. 22, 2020
“Up,” one (to date), Feb. 20, 2021

Elsewhere, “Up” begins at No. 2 on the all-genre Hot 100, behind Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License.” Still, the song’s arrival makes for a Hot 100 achievement that hadn’t happened in more than two decades.

Until “Up,” no woman had debuted higher on the Hot 100 with a song with no other billed artists that also made Billboard‘s Hot Rap Songs chart since Lauryn Hill‘s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998, the only other single in the club.

As implied in the prior stat, “Up” also debuts at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

“Up” arrives with, no surprise, a high streaming sum. The track, released February 5, registered 31.2 million U.S. streams in the week ending February 11, according to MRC Data. The total allows for a No. 1 start on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart, where it becomes Cardi B’s fifth leader of her career.

The No. 1 debuts keep coming as “Up” launches as Cardi B’s seventh song to reach the summit on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart thanks to 34,000 downloads sold in the week ending February 20.

For the final metric that contributes to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, radio airplay, “Up” is not No. 1 – no song is this early in its arc – but does establish some personal bests for Cardi B’s career. The track’s No. 24 debut last week (on the chart dated Feb. 13) marked her highest entrance among 20 singles on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, while its 24-18 increase on the current chart ties “Motorsport,” her collaboration with Migos and Nicki Minaj, as her best second-week rank of those entries. “Up” ascends as it registers 8.7 million in audience impressions in its first full tracking week on the radio format, which wrapped on February 14.

Elsewhere, “Up” rallies 17-9 on Rap Airplay in its second chart week and flies 31-17 on Rhythmic Airplay.

Mariah Carey Releases “Live at the Tokyo Dome” In Celebration of 30th Anniversary of Her Debut Album

Mariah Carey has found her Dome on the range…

The 50-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer has celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut album by releasing her full Live at the Tokyo Dome concert, which was filmed during her 1996 Daydream World Tour.

Mariah CareyThe breathtaking performance is currently available on YouTube as part of a seven-day run, which was released on Friday, October 2.”

The concert film arrives in conjunction with The Rarities, a 15-track collection featuring a new song recorded during sessions of the #MC30 annivesary of the singer’s self-titled 1990 debut, “Here We Go Around Again,” as well as the B-sides “Slipping Away” and “Everything Fades Away,” a song from The Paperboy soundtrack (“Mesmerized“) and the Lauryn Hill collab “Save the Day.”

 

Live at Tokyo Dome, Carey’s first concert in Japan, includes live versions of “Emotions,” “Fantasy,” “Always Be My Baby,” “One Sweet Day,” “Dreamlover,” “Vision of Love,” Hero” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

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

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 FugeesGrammy-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.”

Rosalía to Perform at This Year’s Glastonbury Festival

Rosalía is headed to England…

The 25-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter is set to perform at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Rosalía

Rosalia, making her first-ever appearance at the five-day festival of contemporary performing arts, joins a roster that includes headliners The KillersThe CureStormzyKylie Minogue and Janet Jackson

The superstar lineup also includes George EzraLiam GallagherMiley CyrusTame ImpalaThe Chemical BrothersVampire WeekendLauryn HillJanelle MonaéChristine and the QueensBillie EilishHozier and Wu-Tang Clan.    

This year’s festival will take place June 26-30 near Pilton, Somerset, England.

Cardi B Makes History as Her Latest Single “I Like It” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Cardi B is making history…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rapper has become the first female rapper with two No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100, after her hit single “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin rises from No. 2 to No. 1 on chart.

Cardi B

Cardi B first reigned with her debut single, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” for three weeks beginning October 7, 2017.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny and Balvin earn their first Hot 100 No. 1 each.

Cardi B passes four female rappers who previously topped the tally with one No. 1 apiece: Lauryn Hill, with “Doo Wop (That Thing),” in 1998; Lil’ Kim, with “Lady Marmalade,” with Christina Aguilera, Mya and P!nk (2001); Shawnna, as featured on Ludacris‘ “Stand Up” (2003); and, Iggy Azalea, with “Fancy,” featuring Charli XCX (2014).

Cardi B’s bilingual track reworks the venerable “I Like It Like That,” originally performed by Pete Rodriguez in 1967 and taken to No. 25 on the Hot 100 in 1997 (titled “I Like It”) by The Blackout Allstars; the latter act included Tito Nieves, who also recorded a notable solo version. (In between, the composition appeared in the 1994 film I Like It Like That and earned a synch in a 1996 Burger King commercial.)

“I Like It” is from Cardi B’s debut album, Invasion of Privacy, which launched atop the Billboard 200 chart dated on April 4 and includes “Bodak Yellow.”

Cardi B is the first artist to notch a pair of Hot 100 No. 1s from a debut album since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, whose The Heist yielded “Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz and “Can’t Hold Us,” featuring Ray Dalton in 2013.

Cardi B is the first soloist with a pair Hot 100 leaders from a debut LP since Bruno Mars, whose Doo-Wops & Hooligans produced “Just the Way You Are” (2010) and “Grenade” (2011).

And, Cardi B is the first female soloist with two Hot 100 No. 1s from a debut album this decade, and the first since Lady Gaga, whose The Fame generated “Just Dance,” featuring Colby O’Donis and “Poker Face,” both in 2009.

Prior to “I Like It,” Bad Bunny reached a No. 36 Hot 100 high with “Te Bote,” with Casper Magico, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam and Ozuna.

J Balvin notched a prior No. 3 best with “Mi Gente,” with Willy William and featuring Beyoncé, last October.

“I Like It” concurrently takes over atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where Cardi B previously led with “Bodak Yellow,” for six weeks, and “Finesse” (one). It  becomes her second No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, after “Bodak Yellow” (eight). Bad Bunny and J Balvin lead each list for the first time.

Camila Cabello’s Solo Album “Camila” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Camila Cabello is a woman on top, as she joins an elite group of fellow musicians…

The 20-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with her first solo album, Camila.

Camila Cabello

The album — released through SYCO/Epic Records on January 12 — earned 119,000 equivalent album units in the week ending January 18, according to Nielsen Music.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

With Cabello’s arrival at No. 1, she joins an exclusive club of female performers who initially reached the Billboard 200 as part of a group, and then later hit No. 1 with a solo album.

As a former member of the all-female vocal group Fifth Harmony, Cabello claimed three top 10s while in the group. Cabello departed Fifth Harmony in December of 2016.

Cabello now joins a list of the ladies who hit No. 1 after previously scoring chart success with a group, including Gwen Stefani, LeToya, Beyonce,, Lauryn Hill, Patti Labelle, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross and Janis Joplin.

An honorary mention goes to Selena Gomez, who notched three albums first with Selena Gomez & the Scene, before going totally solo with the No. 1 album Stars Dance in 2013.

Cabello is also the first woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with her debut full-length album in three years – since Meghan Trainor’s Title (also on Epic) opened atop the list dated Jan. 31, 2015. (Trainor had a previous EP, also named Title, which reached No. 15.) If we count all initial chart appearances by women (including EPs), Cabello is the first woman to top the list with her first overall charting effort since Ariana Grande bowed at No. 1 with her first full-length album — and chart debut — Yours Truly on Sept. 21, 2013.

In addition, as Cabello is just 20 years and 10 months old, she is the youngest person to debut at No. 1 with their first full-length album since 2015, when a 16-year-old Shawn Mendes opened at No. 1 with Handwritten on the May 2, 2015-dated chart. Cabello is the youngest woman to bow at No. 1 with her first full-length set since 2013, when Ariana Grande (then 20 years and two months old) debuted at No. 1 with Yours Truly (Sept. 21, 2013).

Cardi B Lands Four Singles in Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart

Cardi B is the company of music royalty on the Billboard charts…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rap, who was 2017’s breakout star, joins Beyonce, aka Queen B, as the only two female artists to have four songs land in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart at the same time.

Cardi B

G-Eazy’s “No Limit,” featuring Cardi B, sits at number 2, Migos’ “Motorsport,” with Cardi B, follows at No. 4. “Bodak Yellow” sits at number 5, while her latest single “Bartier Cardi” is currently at No. 9.

Beyonce accomplished the feat in 2016 with songs from her Lemonade album. This included “Sorry,” “Formation,” “Hold Up,” and “6 inch,” featuring The Weekend.

The news of Cardi B’s recent Bey-sized accomplishment comes only a few months after rumors of a possible Cardi B-Beyonce collaboration.

Previously, Cardi B became the first female artist since Lauryn Hill, to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, without a feature. She scored three songs in the top 10 simultaneously. To start the New Year, she was featured on the In Living Color themed, Bruno Mars’ “Finesse Remix,” which she’ll perform at the Grammys.

The two-time Grammy nominated artist, joins a list of other accomplished rappers to achieve the same feat in the past. This list includes Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and 2 Chainz.

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

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.

 

Bryan Keith Has His “Moment” on NBC’s “The Voice”

It’s Bryan Keith’s moment to shine on NBC’s The Voice

During Monday night’s “Top 12” performances, the 23-year-old Latino singer/songwriter and Team Adam member had his “breakout” moment while performing Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.”

Bryan Keith

Hernandez – the son of Latin jazz and salsa singer Ray De La Paz, who was a member of the Grammy-winning band Spanish Harlem Orchestra – received major kudos from the Voice coaches.

“Bryan, I think you just took the lead for Team Adam,” said Blake Shelton. “That was really good, congratulations. Solid!”

Christina Aguilera complimented him on his “cool, modern day raspy [Frank] Sinatra thing,” while his coach called his performance a “moment.”

“You definitely had that kind of break-out thing just happen, that really showed everybody how incredible you are,” said Adam Levine. “This was your day and this was your moment to show to kind of show America what was happening.”

But Hernandez wasn’t the only Team Adam member to impress the judges…

Melanie Martinez, who started her performance seated on the floor before bolting up to end her song with gusto, looked uniquely chic in her black and white striped dress.

The 17-year-old Latina singer performed Young the Giant’s “Cough Syrup” and earned raves from the judges for her uniqueness.

“I’ve never heard you project as much as you did on that one,” said Shelton. “And I enjoyed it ‘cause there’s a quality to your voice that I just found out that, no matter what range you’re singing in, it’s always there.”

Aguilera called it her “most emotional” performance, while Martinez’s coach said she has something that’s all her own.

“There’s only one Melanie in this competition,” said Levine. “You’re spectacular and you’re the only one like you in this competition.”

Meanwhile, Aguilera’s two Latino contestants still left in the competition did not disappoint…

Dez Duron performed a jazz-induced version of Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” a la Lauryn Hill.

 

“I thought that performance was impeccable; I thought that it was wonderful through and through,” declared Cee Lo Green of the 22-year-old Latino singer. “[Christina’s] absolutely right in saying that you are the total package. You’ve got so much charisma, so much control and you’ve got such natural appeal, sexual appeal.

Levine complimented Duron on finding his voice with a song that was “decisively you,” while his coach asked the audience and America one simple question about her “old soul crooner with a modern twist”:

“How can you guys not love this guy?” asked Aguilera, adding, “When you get on there stage, I really notice there’s a certain… there’s no other way to describe it other than just a true star quality feel that you do have. ” “Old soul crooner voice with a modern twist”

But Duron wasn’t the only Team Xtina member to bring their A-game.

Adriana Louise, shining bright like a star in her gold sequined dress, performance a sassy and raspy rendition of Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl.”

“You looked beautiful tonight. I thought you sounded as great as ever and just continuing to improve,” said Green, adding, “Regardless of tempo, song or styling, you always seem very committed and convicted to what you’re singing. And I can appreciate that.”

Shelton and Levine both applauded Adriana for adeptly taking on Underwood’s song.

“ I am so happy that you did a country song, and Carrie Underwood song,” said sole country coach Shelton. “And I think you made it your own and I appreciate that.”

Aguilera called Adriana’s performance “so playful and so cute” and talked about how easy she made performing that song looked.

“You don’t get it on the radio how hard that is to execute live, but it’s really hard,” said Aguilera. “Even this, like all those runs in between, to execute that so perfectly is really hard you guys… “The best is yet to come from you. And, if you make it through to the next round, America I won’t disappoint you with Adriana, she is a firecracker!”

Natti Natasha: Reggaeton’s Next Big Star

It may be a traditionally male-dominated genre… But that hasn’t stopped Natti Natasha from carving out her place in the world of reggaeton.

The 25-year-old Dominican singer, who credits her musical godfather Don Omar and his record label with helping her make her mark in the genre.

Natti Natasha

“It is a privilege to be with the company and to be supported by such a recognized artist as Don Omar, since I consider him a brother and a teacher, because he has taught me much through his own experiences,” Natasha, whose real name is Natalia Alexandra Gutierrez Batista, recently told Efe in an interview with Efe.

Natasha says the opportunity to be part of the Orfanato Music Group came two years ago, when Don Omar walked into the New York studio where she’d just recorded a song with producer Link-On.

After listening to the track, the reggaeton star called her and asked that she come back to the studio, where he greeted her warmly and praised her work with Link-On.

The video of Natasha’s  first single with Don Omar, “Dutty Love,” has logged more than 34 million hits on YouTube, and the cut will be part of Orfanato’s upcoming release Meet The Orphans: The Next Generation.

From an early age, Natasha—who attended the School of Fine Arts in Santiago when she was only 8—has always had an enormous admiration for artists like Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill and Jerry Rivera, and felt great admiration and affection for Hill, who she still calls one of her favorites.