Tank rolls over the competition on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart, as his song, “I Deserve,” ascends from No. 2 to lead the list dated March 19. The single climbs thanks to a 12% boost in the week ending March 13 to become the most-played song on monitored U.S. adult R&B stations, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.
“Deserve” gives the R&B hitmaker his sixth No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay. Despite more than 20 years since his debut on the list, the pace of his champs has accelerated in recent years. Four of the No. 1s have come since 2017, after “When We” reinvigorated his standing at radio.
Now with a half-dozen leaders, here’s a rundown of Tank’s six No. 1s on Adult R&B Airplay:
“Please Don’t Go,” 10 weeks at No. 1, beginning May 19, 2007
“Next Breath,” one, June 16, 2012
“When We,” 11, Nov. 18, 2017
“Dirty,” three, April 20, 2019
“Can’t Let It Show,” two, July 3, 2021
“I Deserve,” one (to date), March 19, 2022
Thanks to “Deserve,” Tank becomes the 10th male artist to accumulate at least six No. 1s on the Adult R&B Airplay chart since its launch in 1993. He joins Charlie Wilson, who leads the count with eight, Kem, Maxwell and R. Kelly, (each with seven) and matches Brian McKnight, Bruno Mars, Luther Vandross, Robin Thicke and Usher.
The new release also extends Tank’s career-best of having his last five consecutive Adult R&B Airplay chart entries all reach the top five. The streak includes his four most recent No. 1s and “I Don’t Think You’re Ready,” which rose to No. 3 in 2019.
Notably, the new champ brings Tank’s career full circle. “I Deserve” samples the R&B veteran’s very first single, “Maybe I Deserve,” which reached No. 5 in 2001. The new “Deserve” and with previous single “Can’t Let It Show” are expected to appear on Tank’s forthcoming album, R&B Money, slated to be his final release.
In addition to the Adult R&B coronation, “Deserve” pushes 18-14 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks by audience impressions from both the adult-leaning and mainstream-oriented sectors. There, the single rallies 19% in weekly audience to reach 7.5 million in the week ending March 13. The improvement also secures it weekly Greatest Gainer callout among the chart’s 50 titles.
