Controversy – even inadvertent brands of it – still sells records. Ask Lil Nas X: the 20-year-old singer/rapper who recently burst onto the scene thanks to a controversial call from Billboard that initially excluded his Country-tinged Hip Hop song – ‘Old Town Road’ – from riding onto Country charts.
Once the decision was reversed (thanks to harsh criticism from a number of supporters who slammed Billboard for making such a rule in the first place), last week saw the Billy Ray Cyrus-assisted tune shoot to the top of the Hot 100 (as we reported here). Retaining the spot for a second run this week, the retention came on the heels of some jaw dropping streaming figures.
Billboard reports:
“Road” rockets by 207%, from 46.6 million U.S. streams to 143 million, shattering the record for the most in a week. “Road” also roars by 454% to 124,000 downloads sold…That’s the biggest weekly total since Drake’s “God’s Plan” debuted with 127,000 sold (Feb. 3, 2018).
Click below to see who joins him in the top 25:
I’m so here for this. I love this kid. He’s really singlehanded you’re pioneering Country Rap did the new millennium and I live
Fun song and he’s a cutie…
Heard the song first time yesterday….kudos to him it’s catchy as well