For the first time in over six months, Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart welcomes a new champ, as Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” deposes Wizkid’s “Essence,” featuring Tems, after the latter’s 27 weeks at No. 1. “Essence” wraps its stint as one of the three longest-leading No. 1s in the chart’s history.
“Gremlin” rises from No. 3 to lead the list dated March 12. It climbs through a 9% surge to 19 million audience impressions in the week ending March 6, according to MRC Data. “Essence” falls to No. 2 with 18.8 million audience (down 2%).
A new coronation, though, means the end of another reign, that of Wizkid’s “Essence” featuring Tems. The former champ had posted 27 consecutive weeks in charge, beginning Sept. 4, 2021, to tie for the second-best stretch since the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart began in 1992. “Essence” matched the run of Chris Brown’s “No Guidance,” featuring Drake in 2019-20; the pair trail only the record 29-week stay of Brown and Young Thug’s “Go Crazy” in 2020-21.
With the leaderboard paused for the moment, here’s a look at the longest-running R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay leaders. Notably, the top four titles all belong to the RCA record label.
Weeks at No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
29, “Go Crazy,” Chris Brown & Young Thug, Aug. 22, 2020
27, “No Guidance,” Chris Brown featuring Drake, Aug. 24, 2019
27, “Essence,” Wizkid featuring Tems, Sept. 4, 2021
23, “Adorn,” Miguel, Sept. 22, 2012
18, “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic, April 24, 2021
16, “Boo’d Up,” Ella Mai, June 23, 2018
Returning to the new champ, Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” also wins a fourth term at No. 1 on the Rap Airplay chart, where it added 5% in audience in the week ending March 6. It also posts a third week on top of the plays-based Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, with an 8% boost in plays in the same period. The gains offset the single’s 2-6 drop on Rhythmic Airplay through a 5% decline in weekly plays.
Net radio positivity helps “Gremlin” crack the top 20 of the overall all-genre Radio Songs chart after its 21-19 rise there. On the survey, it improves with a 4% bump to 27.5 million in audience in the week ending March 3, according to MRC Data.
