If there are two acts defying the odds and waving the flag for R&B in an oppositional musical climate, they’re definitely Chris Brown and SZA.
SZA (born Solana Rowe) may have released her long-awaited sophomore album, ‘SOS,’ in December 2022, but the LP continues to be a major commercial force well into summer 2023.
In addition to bowing at #1 on the Billboard 200 last winter with the largest streaming week ever for an R&B effort, the ‘CTRL‘ follow-up controled the chart for a whopping 10 weeks – making it longest-running #1 female studio album by a Black woman since Whitney Houston‘s 1987 eponymous project and Mariah Carey‘s 1990 debut ruled over the tally for 11 weeks apiece.
The ‘SOS’ domination was also felt on the Hot 100 side of Billboard, thanks in large part to singles ‘Snooze‘ and ‘Kill Bill.’ While the former cracked the top 20 this week and is rising steadily, the latter marked a personal milestone for the GRAMMY winner as her first #1 hit and was later printed in record books for a history-making run at #2.
Both songs enjoyed their 26th appearances on the Hot 100 this week – making them Rowe’s longest-running solo singles on the hitlist yet. Overall, her lengthiest tenure on the tally comes courtesy of the Doja Cat-led ‘Kiss Me More‘ (which tapped out after a 43-week run).
Solana wasn’t the only one marking major personal milestones this week.
The refreshed Hot 100 sees Brown’s ‘Under the Influence‘ holding at #46 in its 39th print, making it the longest-running solo single of his career yet. The tenancy surpasses his previous best, the 38-week run of his 2005 debut single ‘Run It.’
Found on Brown’s Billboard 200-topping ninth studio album ‘Indigo,’ ‘Influence’ got a second chance at chart domination in 2022 when it unexpectedly went viral on TikTok. Since then, the song has been a mainstay on the Hot 100 – even charting as high as #12 thanks to the reawakened interest.
When all credited Chris tunes are considered, ‘Under’ ranks #3 on the list of his longest-charting hits and is currently bested by ‘Go Crazy’ (with Young Thug) and ‘No Guidance‘ (with Drake).