For ten out of the 24 weeks of 2016 we've experienced thus far, Drake has held the top spot in our Top 100 tracks list. Similar to the streak VIEWS is currently enjoying at the top of the Billboard charts, Drizzy's dominance in our metric of streaming-and-viewing success is pretty astounding, especially considering the mixed reaction his new album received. This week though, he's been unseated by the only other dude with more than two #1s in our Top 100 this year, Kanye West (this will be his fifth of the year).
Only two cuts (both featuring Drake, obviously) remain in the top ten from the huge batch of new ish we got two weeks ago, so there's plenty of room for new material this week. Drop-offs from the last list are as follows: Gucci Mane & Drake's "Back On Road" (#12 this week), Kanye West & G.O.O.D. Music's "Champions (Round & Round)" (#15), Usher & Young Thug's "No Limit" (#22), Meek Mill, Rick Ross & Wale's "Make It Work" (#21), Pusha T & Jay Z's "Drug Dealers Anonymous" (#18), Lil Wayne's "Off Off Off (Cavs Song)" (#16), Drake & Justin Bieber's "One Dance" remix (#13). New tracks barely missing out include The Game's "Death Row Chain," Rick Ross' "Same Hoes," and Nipsey Hussle and Snoop Dogg's "Question #1."
Before we get started, I'd also like to note that this is the first week I can remember in which all ten songs are streamable (thanks streaming-exclusive deals!), as at least a couple usually get taken down by the time we publish this list on Monday.
10. Young Thug - No Wendy's (Controlla Remix)
If Young Thug's in the top ten, you can bet that the track in question will almost always boast the lowest user approval rating, and this "Controlla" remix is no exception. "No Wendy's" currently sits at 49%, but it got numbers where it really matters (view counts), so Thug's reputation as the most controversial top-tier rapper in the game persists. "No Wendy's" debuts at #10.
9. Chief Keef - According To My Watch (Prod. By Sonny Digital)
Back From The Dead 3 OTW?!? Sosa and Sonny hinted that they'd be pairing up for the third edition of Keef's series a while back, but "According To My Watch" is the first glimmer of hope we've gotten in quite some time. It doesn't disappoint, merging both artists' strengths in seamless fashion. "According To My Watch" dropped last Sunday, so technically this is its second week out, and it rose a whopping 94 places to put it at #9.
8. Belly Feat. The Weeknd, 2 Chainz & Yo Gotti - Might Not (Remix) [CDQ]
Tity Boi and Yo Gotti lit the second half of Kanye's "Champions" the fuck up a few weeks back, and despite the fact that it dropped off the list this week, they're back on a remix of Belly and The Weeknd's "Might Not," which only dropped on Saturday. 24 hours was all it needed to rack up over 100,00 views, good for a #8 debut on the charts.
7. DJ Mustard Feat. Nicki Minaj & Jeremih - Don't Hurt Me
Mustard's got a new album on the way, and he pulled out all of the stops for the first single, recruiting Jeremih for the hook and Nicki Minaj for a verse, which is only her fourth of the year. Time will tell if the rest of the yet-unnamed project can live up to this. "Don't Hurt Me" debuts at #7.
6. Tory Lanez - Luv (Prod. By Benny Blanco & Cashmere Cat)
With "Luv," Tory became the member of an increasingly large team of rappers dipping their toes into dancehall this year (Tyga also joined those ranks the other day). It seems to be paying off, as the track stays in the top ten for its second straight week. "Luv" stays stagnant at #6 this week.
5. Juicy J Feat. Travi$ Scott - No English (Prod. By TM88 & Lex Luger)
By now, the triumphant second act of Juicy J's career is old news, but how about Lex Luger? After all but falling off shortly after his initial boom in 2011, he's back with a vengeance this year, producing high-profile cuts for Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Ferg, and G.O.O.D. Music, often alongside his 808 Mafia cohorts. "No English" is another surefire banger, and it debuts at #5 this week.
4. Logic - Flexicution
Who invented this term? It's debatable, but Logic is running with "Flexicution" in a big way. It's his first new track as a lead artists since last December's "Tree Of Life," and his fans clearly came out to support their guy, to the tune of a #4 debut for "Flexicution."
3. Drake - 4PM In Calabasas (Prod. By Vinylz & Frank Dukes)
In these crazy, fast-paced summer times, not many tracks last more than two weeks in our top ten, but then again, few rappers currently enjoy Drake's level of omnipresent popularity. "4PM In Calabasas" seemed to appease all of those disappointed by VIEWS, and thusly, it hangs on for a third week, dropping two places from #1 to #2.
2. DJ Khaled Feat. Drake - For Free
We haven't had a song hit a million views on HNHH since "Pop Style" debuted in April (I know, not that long ago), but Drizzy seems on pace to do it again, this time with DJ Khaled along for the ride. "For Free" has proven huge, remaining in the top two spots for three weeks straight, which bodes well for Khaled's next album. This time, it holds at #2.
1. Kanye West Feat. Sampha - Saint Pablo (CDQ/Final)
Is Kanye done updating Pablo? With a new version appearing on Spotify this week sans Twitter announcements of additional alterations in the future, it seems likely. As a bonus, Yeezus blessed us with an entirely new title track of sorts, the Sampha-assisted "Saint Pablo," which debuts at #1.