Megan Thee Stallion’s “Lover Girl” debuts at No. 1 on three Billboard charts, outpacing hits from Michael Jackson, Nicki Minaj, and BigXthaPlug in a massive showing. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 08: Megan Thee Stallion attends the “Mean Girls” premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on January 08, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
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Megan Thee Stallion seems to be gearing up for a new album, her first since her self-titled Megan dropped last summer. That project was later followed by Megan: Act Two, a reissue that arrived in October a little over a year ago. This past spring, she delivered “Wherever,” and now she’s returned with another catchy cut.
“Lover Girl” is the Grammy-winning rap artist’s latest focus track, and the tune helps her score new No. 1s on multiple Billboard charts, beating several major superstars in the process.
“Lover Girl” Opens at No. 1 on Three Billboard Charts
“Lover Girl” starts its time at No. 1 on three different Billboard charts. The Stallion cut opens in first place on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales, Rap Digital Song Sales, and Rap Streaming Songs tallies. The superstar beats three different tracks across that trio of rosters, including some of the most successful names in these genres of all time.
Megan Thee Stallion Keeps Michael Jackson From No. 1
On the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales tally, “Lover Girl” outpaces Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which surges in consumption — especially pure purchases — every October. “Thriller” lifts from No. 3 to No. 2, failing to recapture the throne on the biggest sales ranking that touches on R&B, hip-hop, and rap in America during the tracking frame that represents the lead-up to Halloween.
Megan Thee Stallion’s New Single Beats BigXthaPlug
On the Rap Streaming Songs list, “Lover Girl” replaces a different tune. “Hell at Night,” fronted by hip-hop powerhouse BigXthaPlug and featuring country musician Ella Langley, dips to No. 2 as Stallion’s single takes over. The unlikely duet sat at No. 1 just days ago, propelled by the release of BigXthaPlug’s recent full-length, which saw him straddling the line between rap and country.
Megan Thee Stallion Keeps Nicki Minaj From Another Chart-Topper
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Nicki Minaj attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Over on the Rap Digital Song Sales tally — a slightly more specific version of the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart — “Lover Girl” keeps Nicki Minaj from another champion. The most successful female rapper of all time returns to No. 2 with “Beez in the Trap,” her collaboration with 2 Chainz. That song, which is currently going viral thanks to yet another social media trend, reappears out of nowhere at its all-time high point.
How Many No. 1 Songs Has Megan Thee Stallion Charted?
Stallion has previously conquered all three Billboard charts where “Lover Girl” debuts this frame. She has racked up the fewest number of leaders on the Rap Streaming Songs tally, where she earns her fifth this week. “Lover Girl” marks Stallion’s ninth champion on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart and her milestone tenth on the Rap Digital Song Sales list. In terms of top 10s, she’s now up to 17 on the streaming-only tally and 34 on the rap sales roster.
Who Beats Megan Thee Stallion to No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs Chart?
“Lover Girl” just misses out on bringing Stallion back to the top spot on the Hot Rap Songs chart, as the cut enters at No. 2. Even the highly-anticipated cut was unable to best “Luther,” the historic duet between friends Kendrick Lamar and SZA, which months ago beat out Lamar’s own “Not Like Us” to become the smash with the most frames in charge of the most competitive rap tally in the country.
Megan Thee Stallion’s New Top 10s on Several Charts
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 16: Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2024 Planned Parenthood Of Greater New York Gala on April 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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“Lover Girl” also gets off to a strong start inside the top 10 on several other Billboard rosters. The cut opens in third place on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart and at No. 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list. Over on the Digital Song Sales ranking, “Lover Girl” launches at No. 5 with almost 4,300 pure purchases, according to music industry organization Luminate.
Megan Thee Stallion Brings Rap Back to the Hot 100’s Top 40
Stallion narrowly enters the top 40 on the only other two Billboard charts where “Lover Girl” appears this frame. The cut opens at No. 36 on the Streaming Songs tally and No. 38 on the Hot 100. Stallion helps bring rap music back to the important tier on the Hot 100, where, for the first time in decades, the genre was recently entirely missing, according to Billboard.