Kendrick Lamar Is Keeping Drake From No. 1; Morgan Wallen May Soon Do The Same

Drake is inching closer to scoring another No. 1 hit on the Hot 100, and he’s clearly doing everything in his power to get there. The rapper’s single “Nokia” is gaining ground on the chart, and while it still has one more spot to go, it already looks like a real contender for the crown. This could be the one that gets him back to the top of the most competitive songs ranking in the U.S. – but he faces tough competition not only from his rival Kendrick Lamar, but also a brand new smash in the making.

Drake’s “Nokia” Hits a New High on the Hot 100

“Nokia” climbs one rung on the Hot 100 this week, moving from No. 3 to No. 2. That improvement brings him agonizingly close to a new leader. The cut swaps spots with “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which dips to No. 3 this frame.

The Canadian superstar now only trails one title: “Luther,” the runaway smash by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. That cut is steady at No. 1 for an eighth frame, refusing to budge as it continues to rack up points across every major metric. At this rate, it’s become one of the biggest wins for both Lamar and SZA, and it may prove hard to dethrone.

“Nokia” Could Help Drake Break His Tie With Michael Jackson

If “Nokia” does manage to climb just one more spot, it will become Drake’s fourteenth No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. That would push him past Michael Jackson, as the two are currently tied with 13 leaders apiece. Breaking that tie would be a major career moment for the rapper, and it would help him match with another, familiar face.

One more chart-topper would tie Drake with Rihanna, another pop powerhouse he’s worked with on numerous occasions. The two shared several No. 1s during their heyday, including “What’s My Name?” and “Work.”

“Luther” Remains Drake’s Main Obstacle

Right now, “Luther” is the biggest thing standing in the way of “Nokia” claiming the Hot 100 throne. Lamar and SZA’s collaboration is performing incredibly well when it comes to sales, streams, and radio airplay, with the latter seemingly doing most of the work to keep the cut on top. The tune is racking up spins faster than just about anything else at the moment, and as that airplay continues to grow, it makes it even harder for any competitor to catch up.

A music video for “Luther” just dropped recently, and that visual is bound to impact next week’s frame. The added YouTube views and social media attention could give the song an edge, at least for a little while longer.

Drake and Kendrick Lamar May Lose to Morgan Wallen

Even if “Luther” finally begins to slip in the coming weeks, Drake still might not find an easy path to No. 1. Another major release is also making a play for the Hot 100’s summit, and it could prove to be a serious problem.

Morgan Wallen just dropped a new single, and whenever he does that, it’s almost certain to be huge. The country superstar’s “I Ain’t Coming Back,” a collaboration with Post Malone, arrived on Friday (April 18). The last time the two musicians worked together, they dropped “I Had Some Help,” which soared straight to No. 1 on the Hot 100.

If “I Ain’t Coming Back” is anything like their last joint effort, it could debut in the top spot on the Hot 100, completely blocking Drake from reaching the summit with “Nokia.” The race may end up being between “Luther” and the country cut, while the Canadian hip-hop star’s latest begins to descend.