Cardi B brings “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs airplay chart as it jumps from No. 5 to lead the list dated Sept. 26. The pop-culture phenom single becomes the most-played tune at the Rhythmic radio format through a 20 percent surge in plays in the week ending Sept. 20, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
The 5-1 jump makes “WAP” one of only 10 songs to rise directly to No. 1 from No. 5 or lower since the Rhythmic Songs chart began in 1992, and the first since Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” went 5-1 in July 2019.
“WAP” gives Cardi her seventh Rhythmic Songs leader. Here’s a full rundown of her collection to date:
Song Title, Artist (if other than Cardi B), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” four, Oct. 7, 2017
“No Limit,” G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B, two, Dec. 16, 2017
“Finesse,” with Bruno Mars, two, Feb. 17, 2018
“Be Careful,” one, July 7, 2018
“I Like It,” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, four, July 14, 2018
“Please Me,” with Bruno Mars, April 13, 2018
“WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, one (to date), Sept. 26, 2020
Megan Thee Stallion, meanwhile, nabs her third No. 1 on Rhythmic Songs, following “Hot Girl Summer,” her collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign, which ruled for one week in 2019, and “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, a two-week leader earlier this year.
Beyond its Rhythmic radio victory, “WAP” darts 6-2 on Rap Airplay thanks to a 22 percent hike in audience in the week ending Sept. 20 and pushes 10-5 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay as it picks up a 23 percent burst to 16.5 million in format audience in the same period.
Airplay gains at the rhythmic and R&B/hip-hop formats help “WAP” climb 27-21 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart. There, it improves to 32.6 million in audience impressions, up 21 percent from the prior frame.
Elsewhere, “WAP” retains its standing as the incumbent champ on the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth total week, while it rules the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts each for a sixth week.
