Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion drum up a top five debut on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as “Bongos” starts at No. 4 on the list dated Sept. 23. The track, released Sept. 8 via Atlantic Records, begins as the genre’s best-selling and one of the three most-streamed tracks of the week, and becomes each artists’ highest debut on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list.
In the tracking week of Sept. 8 – 14, “Bongos” launches with 16.8 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate. The sum prompts the collab’s No. 3 entrance on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart and yields Cardi B’s 14th top five effort and Megan Thee Stallion’s seventh such hit on the list. The song also sold 20,000 downloads in the same period and debuts at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales list. Thanks to the chart-topping arrival, Cardi B nabs her ninth genre sales champ, while Megan Thee Stallion earns her second leader.
For its radio airplay, “Bongos” becomes both acts’ highest debut on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, thanks to 8 million audience impressions registered at the format and its corresponding No. 14 opening on the list. Before “Bongos,” Cardi B recorded her best start with “Up” at No. 24 in 2021, while Megan Thee Stallion’s prior high was at No. 27 with “Body” in 2020. Elsewhere, “Bongos” bounces onto Rhythmic Airplay at No. 23 and likewise outdoes “Body” (No. 24) to become Megan Thee Stallion’s highest debut on the list. It’s the second-best entrance for Cardi B, after “Hot Shit,” with Ye and Lil Durk (No. 17) in 2022. In all, “Bongos” logged 13.7 million total audience impressions in its debut week and kicks off at No. 45 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart.
Elsewhere, “Bongos” marches onto the Hot Rap Songs chart at No. 3 and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 at No. 14.
“Bongos” reunites Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion for their second collaboration, following the megahit “WAP.” Their first teamup, released in 2020, was an instant smash: It debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, leading the former tally for four weeks and the latter list for 10 frames.
