Happy Memorial Day. The past week has been a wild one, what with the chaos at T.I.’s NYC show, Gucci Mane’s release from prison, and a new Kevin Gates tape. Summer’s officially here, so expect things to keep picking up in the rap game— we’ve got a ScHoolboy Q album, SremmLife 2, and a bunch of other heat on the way. On the top tracks side of things, there was quite a bit of turnover in our list this week, with only the bottom and top tracks from the last edition making return appearances.
As is usually the case, Drake is still the surest bet to rocket a track to the top, and so is dissing him. We did get a few artists making a return to the list after long droughts either due to lack of material, incarceration, or just a relative lack of sauce in recent times. Also interesting is the fact that only three of this week’s tracks are solo joints— big-name collars may not always be a sure bet for quality, but they’ll definitely get people to click.
10. Tyga - Cash Money
People were still checking to see what Tyga had to say about his old label this week, but in considerably smaller numbers. The Bitch I'm THe Shit 2 track "Cash Money" clung onto the last spot on the list, but plummeted from its number one debut last week. Still, after the relatively unsuccessful Gold Album, this is a big win for T-Raww.
9. Lil Durk Feat. Ty Dolla $ign - She Just Wanna
OTF's Lil Durk has a new project, Lildurk2x, coming soon, and things are looking up from the sound of the first track. Calling upon master hooksmith Ty Dolla, Durk delivered one of his finest tracks since "Waffle House," and its position on the charts reflects that. "She Just Wanna" makes its debut at #9.
8. Trey Songz - All I Had
One of the biggest surprise tracks of the past week is Trey Songz's latest, a smooth track that somehow also bangs. "All I Had" is in the same ballpark as a good deal of Tory Lanez's material (the instrumental coming from a Weeknd/Belly cut certainly supplies some of that 6 vibe), but this being one of the most accomplished R&B singers of the past decade, Trey keeps things decidedly singular. No telling if this a loosie or will be included on a future project, but "All I Had" debuts at #8.
7. Nipsey Hussle Feat. Young Thug & Mozzy - I Do This
What a combo. Nip, who's been gradually rolling out tracks from an upcoming project, pairs up yet again with Young Thug (and increasingly winning duo), and then throws ascendant Sacramento star Mozzy on this thing too. "I Do This" is a fantastic display of every involved party's distinct personalities, but Thug really steals the show with his coda on the end. "I Do This" debuts at #7.
6. Wiz Khalifa Feat. Lil Uzi Vert - Pull Up (Prod. by TM88 & Ricky P)
Lil Uzi once called Wiz Khalifa one of his favorite rappers, and after the Taylor Gang star guested on Vert's Luv Is Rage tape last year, Uzi returns the favor on a slapper from Khalifa, frequent collaborator Ricky P and 808 Mafia stalwart TM88. Both rappers flex their melodic gifts on a great hook, and Wiz keeps it typically chill with some stellar verses. "Pull Up" debuts at #6.
5. Meek Mill & Fabolous - All The Way Up (Freestyle)
Meek and Loso both played their parts as you'd expect here. Fabolous obviously had to hop on the hottest NYC track of the minute, as he did with Desiigner's "Panda" and even Bobby Shmurda's "Hot N*gga" a few years ago, and Meek obviously didn't pass up another opportunity to diss Drake. It's hard to tell how much impact bars like "You ain't write it don't record it" have these days, but you gotta respect Meek's devotion to outing ghostwriters. This "All The Way Up" freestyle makes its debut at #5.
4. YG Feat. Drake & Kamaiyah - Why You Always Hatin?
Still Krazy is about to be a movie. The Nipsey Hussle and 50 Cent-assisted "I Wanna Benz" was already wild, but "Why You Always Hatin?" is proving even more successful. YG proves that he's Fif's clearest descendent in the melodic flow department-- that first verse though-- Drizzy delivers better bars than he could muster on the majority of VIEWS, and Kamaiyah, though she doesn't do much, gets the biggest look of her career thus far. "Why You Always Hatin?" rises six spots from #10 to #4 in its second week.
1. Drake Feat. Lil Wayne - Hype (Remix)
Historically, Drake and Lil Wayne are the two best bets at success on HNHH, so it's no surprise that this remix of a VIEWS highlight rocketed to the top. This retooled version of "Hype" recalls some of their best collabs like "Used To," "HYFR," and "Believe Me," proving that they've still got chemistry and are one of the best mentor-mentee relationships hip hop has ever produced.As the tracks was released late last Saturday, it debuted at only #16, but with a full week of views behind it, it's now risen to #1.