Month: September 2023

Kenya Grace’s viral track “Strangers” is taking the elevator on the U.K. chart.

Based on sales and streaming data gathered from the first 48 hours in the chart week, “Strangers” is set for a podium finish; should it hold its early position when the chart proper is presented, “Strangers” would finish at No. 3.

It’s been a strange month for the British artist as her breakthrough hit opened at No. 20 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, for her first appearance on the national tally. Last Friday, Sept. 15, the single rocketed to No. 12.

“Strangers” is Grace’s first release through a major music company, issued through FFRR, a dance-focused sub-label of Warner Music.

At the top of the chart blast is Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” (Ministry of Sound), which is on track for a third week at No. 1, while “Vampire” (Geffen), lifted from Olivia Rodrigo’s current No. 1 album Guts, is set to retain second place.

Meanwhile, Casso, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) is poised to lift 5-4, for a new high, while Tate McRae’s viral number “Greedy” (RCA) could land the Canadian singer-songwriter a third U.K. top 10 appearance. It’s expected to start its chart journey at No. 9, for what would be the week’s highest debut. McRae previously impacted the top tier with “You Broke Me First” (No. 3 peak in 2020) and with her Tiesto collaboration “10:35” (No. 8 in 2022).

Finally, Issey Cross’s drum ‘n’ bass number “Bittersweet Goodbye,” which interpolates the Verve’s 1997 hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (Atlantic), which in turn is based on the strings sample from the Rolling Stones’ 1960s release “The Last Time,” could bounce into the top 20 for the first time. It’s up 22-19 on the chart blast. “Bittersweet Goodbye” is the British artist’s third U.K. top 40 appearance, and her highest charting record to-date.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, Sept. 22.

Doja Cat holds off a hattrick of hot Olivia Rodrigo numbers for a second week at No. 1 in the U.K. with “Paint The Town Red” (via Ministry of Sound).

The leader at the midweek stage, “Paint The Town Red” completes the cycle as the most-streamed track in the country for a second consecutive week, the Official Charts Company reports.

As Rodrigo scores her second albums chart title, with Guts (via Geffen), three songs from it spill on up the U.K. singles chart.

Former chart-topper “Vampire” is up 3-2, while “Bad Idea Right” soars 12-3, for a new peak position. Also, Rodrigo owns the highest new entry on the latest Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Sept. 15, as “Get Him Back” bows at No. 7, for her seventh U.K. top 10.

Also heading north on the weekly tally is Fred Again and Obongjayar’s “Adore U” (Atlantic) up 9-4; Cassö, RAYE & D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) up 7-5; newcomer Kenya Grace’s viral number “Strangers” (FFRR), up 20-12 in its second week; and Troye Sivan’s “Rush” (Polydor) up 22-21.

BTS member V bags his first solo singles chart top 40 entry with “Slow Dancing” (BigHit Entertainment), from his solo debut LP Layover. It’s new at No. 24. As a member of BTS, V has an additional nine top 40 appearances, with three of those songs reaching No. 3.

Leigh-Anne enjoys a top 40 debut with “My Love” (Warner Records) featuring Ayra Starr. It’s new at No. 28 for both artist’s second top 40 appearance.

Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones’ roll into the chart once more. “Angry,” lifted from the legendary rock band’s forthcoming album Hackney Diamonds, is new at No. 34. The Rock And Roll Hall of Famers now boast 44 top 40 hits in their homeland, across a career spanning more than 60 years.

Finally, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion crack the top 40 with their latest collaboration “Bongos” (Atlantic), new at No. 35. It’s the followup to the U.S. rappers’ controversial hit from 2020 “WAP,” which spent three weeks at No. 1. “Bongos” is Cardi’s 14th and Megan’s fifth U.K. top 40.

Olivia Rodrigo is crowned on the U.K. albums chart as Guts (Geffen) flies to No. 1.

At the midweek point, Guts had what appeared to be an unassailable lead, capturing 33,000 combined sales. That proved to be the case when the Official U.K. Albums Chart was published late Friday, Sept. 15, with Guts cruising to the top with 60,300 chart units, the Official Charts Company reports.

Not only was Guts the best-selling and most-streamed album of the latest chart cycle, it outsold the rest of the top 10 combined for the biggest first-week tally for any LP in 2023.

Rodrigo is now a perfect two-from-two. Her debut from 2021, Sour, spent five weeks at the summit and racked up a handful of U.K. chart records.

When Sour and “Good 4 U” reached No. 1 in the same week in May 2021, Rodrigo became the youngest solo artist in history to nab the chart double, aged 18 years and 3 months.

Also, Sour set a benchmark for the most first-week streams for a debut album in the U.K. Then, in June 2021, the U.S. pop singer became the first female solo artist to claim three simultaneous U.K. top 5 singles with “Good 4 U,” “Déjà vu” and “Traitor.” With three No. 1s, she’s the female solo artist with the most U.K. No. 1 singles this decade.

As Guts completes its sprint to the top, Sour enjoys a return to the top 10. Rodrigo’s debut effort rises 18-8 in its 121st week on the tally. Guts separately reigns over the Billboard 200, and the ARIA Albums Chart.

Unchanged at No. 2 on the latest U.K. survey is Travis Scott’s former leader Utopia (RCA), while English indie rockers the Coral enter at No. 3 with Sea of Mirrors (Modern Sky/Run On), for their seventh top 10 appearance. The Wirral indie band also appears further down the list with accompanying album Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show, new at No. 36.

Former Moloko singer Roisin Murphy enjoys her first solo top 10 appearance with Hit Parade (Ninja Tune), new at No. 5; veteran electronic pair the Chemical Brothers land a tenth U.K. top 10 with For That Beautiful Feeling (EMI), new at No. 6; and M Huncho’s My Neighbours Don’t Know (MYB) starts at No. 9, for the masked U.K. rapper’s fourth top 10.

Outside the top tier are new releases from the xx vocalist Romy (Mid Air at No. 15 via Young), Public Service Broadcasting (This New Noise at No. 28 via Test Card), Fleetwood Mac (Rumours Live at No. 34 via Rhino) and Yussef Dayes (Black Classical Music at No. 37 via Brownswood Recordings).

Teyana Taylor confirmed that she and husband Iman Shumpert have separated. The singer gave an update about the couple’s relationship Sunday afternoon (Sept. 17).

“In all fairness, Iman and I are separated and have been for a while,” Taylor wrote in a post on Instagram. “To be 1000% clear, ‘infidelity’ ain’t one of the reasons for our departure.”

She added, “We are still the best of friends, great business partners and are one hell of a team when it comes to co-parenting our 2 beautiful children. Most importantly we are FAMILY & in the 10yrs together, 7yrs married we ain’t ever played with or about THAT.”

The singer and former NBA player wed in October 2016, after announcing their engagement at Taylor’s baby shower in November 2015, when she was pregnant with their first child, Junie.

Junie was born in December 2015 — unexpectedly delivered by Shumpert himself at home in the couple’s bathroom — and they welcomed their second child, Rue, in September 2020.

In her note on Sunday, Taylor explained why they’d kept quiet about the split. “We just keep y’all asses out the group chat lol, which is the reason we’ve been able to successfully & peacefully separate without all of the outside noise,” she said. “The only reason I’m even sharing THIS part of the chat is because the narratives are getting a little out of hand & it’s unfair to all parties involved. I hope this provided some clarity for y’all.”

Halle Berry claims she told Drake she did not want him to use her image to promote his new single “Slime You Out” feat. SZA — even though Drake did just that.

The track was released on Friday (Sept. 15) as the first single from Drake’s upcoming album For All the Dogs. The green slime-covered art he shared on Instagram for “Slime” depicts Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

After the single and its art dropped, Berry put up an Instagram post featuring a pink square with the words “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy … even if you’re a woman!” on it. Though Berry didn’t say anything about Drake on her original post, followers interpreted the subtext.

When a follower asked the actress what her thoughts were about Drake using a photo of her soaked in slime to promote “Slime You Out,” Berry hit the comments section to talk about the situation.

“Didn’t get my permission,” she replied. “That’s not cool I thought better of him !” She then followed up with another comment, writing, “hence my post today. When people you admire disappoint you you have to be the bigger person and move on !”

A representative for Drake declined to comment when Billboard reached out Sunday (Sept. 17).

In a different remark left on Berry’s Instagram post, a person said they’d be upset about “the meaning of the pic. ‘Slime you’ what does that mean exactly? Hmm.”

“exactly! What does that mean?” Berry wrote back.

Berry later clarified why she was upset in another comment, after someone suggested the picture is owned by Getty and Drake could have paid the photo service to use it on social media.

“Cuz he asked me and i said NO that’s why. Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do ! That was the f— you to me. Not cool,” wrote Berry in reply. “You get it?”

At press time the “Slime” image in question remains posted on Drake’s Instagram page and is also shared on SZA’s account.

After being postponed, For All the Dogs‘ release comes on Oct. 6 via OVO Sound and Republic Records. The set marks Drake’s eighth studio album as a solo artist, and his first solo album since Honestly, Nevermind arrived in June 2022. Five months later, he teamed up with 21 Savage on a joint LP, Her Loss. Both releases debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.