Drake’s “Search & Rescue” finds the superstar in a very familiar place: No. 1. The single jumps from No. 3 to crown Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart dated June 10 and gives the rapper his record-extending 38th champ on the radio list. Likewise, the track climbs from the runner-up spot to rule Rap Airplay, securing Drake’s unprecedented 42nd leader.
On Rhythmic Airplay, “Search & Rescue” ascends after an 8% gain in plays that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the week ending June 4, according to Luminate. Its Rap Airplay coronation, meanwhile, comes following a 4% boost in audience in the same tracking period.
The new leader marks Drake’s second Rhythmic Airplay No. 1 of 2023, following “Rich Flex,” a collaboration with 21 Savage, which ruled for two weeks in January – February. Thanks to his most recent champs, Drake secures a ninth straight year with multiple Rhythmic Airplay No. 1s.
As Drake continues to lap the competition, here’s the current standings for the artists with the most No. 1s on Rhythmic Airplay since the list launched in 1992:
38, Drake
17, Rihanna
13, Bruno Mars
13, Chris Brown
13, The Weeknd
13, Usher
12, Beyoncé
12, Lil Wayne
10, Post Malone
And though Drake, like all artists, owes part of his total to songs on which he’s featured, the superstar would still rank first if only lead credits are counted. Of the 38 No. 1s, Drake is a lead or co-lead billed act on 25 champs, while 13 are through supporting spots on other artists’ tracks.
Plus, as “Search & Rescue” features co-writing and co-production credit from Lil Yachty, the rapper/singer finds himself involved in his fourth Rhythmic Airplay No. 1. He previously led the list twice as an artist – as featured on both D.R.A.M.’s “Broccoli,” a one-week champ in 2016, and on Kyle’s “iSpy,” which reigned for two weeks the following year. As a writer, he later returned to the summit via Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign’s one-week No. 1, “Hot Girl Summer,” in 2019.
On Rap Airplay, Drake adds further proof that he’s in a class by himself. He’s now a staggering 31 No. 1s ahead of his nearest challenger, Lil Wayne, who owns 13. Kanye West, the only other act in double-digit territory, is in third place with 10, dating to the chart’s launch in 1999.
Drake’s 42nd Rap Airplay No. 1 comes just two weeks after his 41st departed the top slot. “Spin Bout U,” another collaboration with 21 Savage, ruled for four weeks in May, before ceding the throne to Toosii’s “Favorite Song” last week. Beyond those pair, Drake also logged a third ruler in 2023 with “Rich Flex.”
