Lil Uzi Vert claims their first No. 1 as a lead artist on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart as “Just Wanna Rock” ascends to the summit of the chart dated Feb. 25. The single, which spent the six previous weeks at No. 2, is their second overall champ, following their featured turn on Migos’ 12-week champ, “Bad and Boujee,” in 2017.
As “Rock” ascends from No. 2 on Hot Rap Songs, it ends a peculiar streak at the top. The eight previous champs all began their reigns with No. 1 debuts, making “Just Wanna Rock” the first song to climb into the No. 1 spot on Hot Rap Songs since Latto’s “Big Energy” advanced 2-1 in April 2022. In the 44 weeks between, here are the eight titles that all debuted at the top and passed the baton among themselves to prevent any challengers from ascending all the way.
Song, Artist, Weeks at No. 1, Date Debuted at No. 1
“First Class,” Jack Harlow, 14, April 23, 2022
“Wait for U,” Future featuring Drake & Tems, two, May 14, 2022
“Jimmy Cooks,” Drake & 21 Savage, one, July 2, 2022
“Staying Alive,” DJ Khaled featuring Drake & Lil Baby, one, Aug. 20, 2022
“Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj, 11, Aug. 27, 2022
“California Breeze,” Lil Baby, one, Oct. 29, 2022
“Rich Flex,” Drake & 21 Savage, 13, Nov. 19, 2022
“Superhero (Heroes & Villains),” Metro Boomin, Future & Chris Brown, one, Dec. 17, 2022
“Just Wanna Rock” advances to No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs as it posts weekly improvements in all three of the chart’s contributing metrics – streaming, radio airplay and sales – in the tracking week of Feb. 9 – 16, according to Luminate. In the foremost category, “Rock” totaled 17 million official U.S. streams, a 7% gain, and returns to No. 1 on the Rap Streaming Songs chart for a second overall week on top. The cut previously reigned in its second week on the list, the chart dated Nov. 12, 2022. “Rock” also sold 2,000 digital downloads in the tracking week, an increase of 5% from its previous week.
While the song had been steadily climbing, “Rock” received an extra promotional boost as an adopted anthem for the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team on their road to a Super Bowl appearance. The team used the hometown artist’s song as their warm-up introduction track in several playoff games, including Super Bowl LVII, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
For radio airplay, “Rock” registered 34.7 million in total audience, an 11% addition from the prior week and climbs 19-18 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart. Airplay advances trickle down to several genre formats as well, with “Rock” rising to No. 1 on the Rap Airplay chart (up 11% in audience), 4-2 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (up 11% in weekly plays at the format), 5-4 on Rhythmic Airplay (up 12% in weekly plays) and 34-33 on Pop Airplay (up 17% in weekly plays).
In other Lil Uzi Vert news, they land a No. 19 debut for “Watch This (Arizonatears Pluggnb Remix).” The song is based on “Watch This,” an unreleased track Lil Uzi Vert previewed in 2019 in an Instagram Live that was later leaked in 2022 and never officially released. This official remix version, released Feb. 5, earned 4.3 million official U.S. streams.