Chart toppers and new sounds

 

This new week comes with its interesting set of fresh facts from the world of music, namely:

 

When it comes to charts

To start with, Future ended Mr Harry Styles’ apparent reign with new single “Wait For U” knocking “As It Was” back to second place (the second time it happens too: let’s see what the future – no pun intended – brings). It is a rather momentous occasion, bringing Future his second #1 song — and first as lead performer. It is also featured artist Tems‘ first ever #1. The other featured artist on the track is none other than Drake: he’s had other #1 hits to be sure, 10 total to be exact. Again, this week keeps on giving…

Meanwhile, on the album charts, big things are happening as well. Pusha T took over the Billboard 200 last week with his excellent, star-studded fourth solo album, It’s Almost Dry. Co-produced by Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, it offered a remarkably strong and lyrically refined set list to the world. Although it arguably didn’t move all that many units, 55 000 to be exact, i.e. the lowest number in several years for a #1 album. Likely a quality vs quantity scenario… This week, not quite surprisingly, there’s a new sheriff in Billboard 200 town — Future, again! Non-content with having the biggest song out there, the man also has the biggest album, the aptly titled I Never Liked You. This is the eighth time it happens to him too, and with over 220 000 equivalent units sold. No argument there…

 

When it comes to releases

There are a couple of exciting releases happening on the heels of Future’s massive moment. For one, rising star Jack Harlow dropped his sophomore effort last Friday, Come Home the Kids Miss You. Ever since the young — white — rapper exploded onto the (mainstream) scene with his highly noteworthy featuring on Lil Nas X’s juggernaut “Industry Baby“, his star has been rising faster than the planes Tom Cruise flies in Top Gun II, the highly awaited — and Lady Gaga-scored — sequel. But we digress: if projections are anything to go by, Future is in trouble in the very near future…

Meanwhile, another even greater event shook planet music a mere hours ago: Kendrick Lamar released a new single. Ever since the 2017 release of his fourth album Damn — and subsequent Black Panther work — the world has been eagerly waiting for the next and fifth chapter in the man’s legacy. His performing at this year’s Super Bowl half time show didn’t help: everyone remembered how incredibly powerful and distinctive his work was. To be sure, Lamar is not only a prominent musician and a chart topper, but he is one of those rare artists who manage to be even more than that — he is game changer in rap in particular and music in general. “The Heart Part 5” all but confirms that: a slick and gripping track, its accompanying video shows deep fake versions of the rapper looking like O.J. Simpson, Kanye and Nipsey Hussle among others. As is pretty much always the case with this artist, what apparently looks simple and straightforward in the beginning gradually opens up to a world of intelligence and subtlety… Full album coming soon!