song of the summer

Kendrick Lamar Fans Eviscerate Billboard For Not Crowning “Not Like Us” As “Song Of The Summer”

by

Once again, hip-hop fans are complaining about other publications and media companies passing judgement on the genre’s offerings. However, this time around, we’re sure that there’s a specific set of rap die-hards in support of a particular Canadian superstar that aren’t complaining. Moreover, Kendrick Lamar fans are outraged at how Billboard did not rank the Drake diss “Not Like Us” as “the song of the summer” for 2024. Instead, the outlet gave the crown to Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help.” However, Billboard does have a metric and an explanation that details how they arrived at this conclusion.

According to the publication, “the 20-position Songs of the Summer running tally tracks the most popular titles based on cumulative performance on the weekly streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Billboard Hot 100 chart from Memorial Day through Labor Day (this year encompassing charts dated June 8 through Sept. 7).” As such, the early May release of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is probably what impacted these numbers. Still, for the wider hip-hop, music, and pop culture spheres, you can’t deny that there wasn’t a more inescapable and moment-creating track that dominated the summer.

Read More: DJ Hed Praises Drake And Shocks Kendrick Lamar Fans & Haters In The Process

Kendrick Lamar Did Not Have The “Song Of The Summer,” According To Billboard

Maybe we’re not giving Sabrina Carpenter and others their due flowers, but it’s hard to deny the sheer scale and impact of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle in the summer of 2024. We’re still seeing developments in this area, such as the Toronto lyricist’s new music releases and the promise of a “Game 2” on his behalf. But when it comes to K.Dot, we really have no idea what he’ll do next apart from a few speculative theories and hints from his camp here and there. Will the robbed song of the summer become song of the year if this beef rages on?

Fans React

Nevertheless, we have to acknowledge how ridiculous it is that folks even care about what Billboard has to say about Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Even if the summer is wrapping up, this battle definitely has more legs. Some of it is reflective, like Adam22 thinking that the Compton MC should support his colleagues more. But as for what the future holds as the epilogue to this story, all we can do is excitedly wait.

Read More: Baby Keem Trolls Kendrick Lamar With Hilarious Viral Meme Referencing Drake Beef

[via]

The post Kendrick Lamar Fans Eviscerate Billboard For Not Crowning “Not Like Us” As “Song Of The Summer” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

What’s The ‘Song Of The Summer’ For 2024? The Candidates So Far

by
kendrick_sabrina_carpenter_shaboozey(1024x450)
Getty Image/Merle Cooper

“I love that song. It’s like the hit of the summer. When they play that jam, I’m jamming.”

Those are the words of tennis icon Serena Williams, speaking during a panel at Essence Festival this past weekend. She was talking about Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss “Not Like Us,” but Williams’ crowning of the tune begs the question: What is the “Song Of The Summer” for 2024?

It’s an unofficial distinction (well, Billboard has an official chart for it now) that annually carries some cultural weight. It’s also just a fun thing to think and debate about midway through the year. Technically, we’re only just at the start of summer, as the season officially runs from June 20 to September 22. There’s still so much summer left, so instead of handing out the title now, let’s look at the leading candidates at the moment, making the case for (and against) some of the most obvious contenders.

Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us”

The argument for: “Not Like Us” has everybody talking, so much so that Serena Williams is publicly discussing it. Rick Ross got punched (allegedly) over it. The song has reached “referenced in local weather reports” status. Plain and simple, it’s a mainstream hit.

The argument against: The song came on so strong in early May that it’s safe to wonder if it has already peaked. (The song’s recent well-received video demonstrates the track’s staying power, though.) Also, given that the whole thing is a Drake diss, it’s just not very nice! (Some of the following arguments against other songs may be equally flimsy. These are all beloved hits, after all.)

Post Malone and Morgan Wallen — “I Had Some Help”

The argument for: The longest-running No. 1 song on the Hot 100 of the year so far? It’s “I Had Some Help.” Pair that with the fact that this Malone and Wallen collab is currently the most visible crossover hit in the ongoing country music wave and it has a strong case.

The argument against: The main opposing force here is whether the song has enough juice on its own beyond the headline-making collaboration. Wallen and Post are two of music’s biggest stars and that certainly has helped the song’s trajectory. It’s hard to say if that will be enough to carry the tune through the hot months to come.

Shaboozey — “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

The argument for: There’s something about country music that’s routinely perfect for summer, and just like Malone and Wallen’s single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is landing at just the right time. It has had a gradual climb up the Hot 100 and as of yesterday, it’s his first-ever No. 1 single.

The argument against: The biggest reason to say “no” to this one has nothing to do with the song itself, but its competition. “A Bar Song” is fantastic, but it’s just going up against some heavy hitters that have demonstrated bigger and more sustained success. But, maybe its newfound No. 1 status is the start of a run of its own.

Tommy Richman — “Million Dollar Baby”

The argument for: If you’ve been online, you’ve heard “Million Dollar Baby”: In June, the song broke the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart. There’s no debating whether people are into this one.

The argument against: “Million Dollar Baby,” with its April release date, is older than the aforementioned songs. Given that viral hits like this often have relatively short shelf lives, this one very well could be a relic of viral history soon, well before summer is up.

Tinashe — “Nasty”

The argument for: Tinashe got to flex on her former label a bit with this one: The song is originally from April, but it started going viral on TikTok in June. Consequently, it has become her biggest solo hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The argument against: “Nasty” is really more of a viral hit than it is a chart hit so far: Despite its ubiquity online, it has yet to crack the top 40 on the Hot 100. “Nasty” could use some more reach before it truly enters the conversation.

Billie Eilish — “Birds Of A Feather”

The argument for: Billie is one of music’s favorite personalities, and she’s done it all by doing her own thing. She doesn’t chase radio-friendly hits, but that doesn’t mean she’s incapable of them. “Birds Of A Feather” is an example, a bit of romantic pop fun, and the people love when Billie gets a win.

The argument against: It’s still hard to tell the sort of staying power this one will have. It was only just released as a single last week, so at this point, predicting whether this will end up being the summer’s defining song would be a bold call.

Chappell Roan — “Good Luck, Babe!”

The argument for: Roan has been one of the year’s biggest breakout stars so far, so much so that it’s been challenging for her to handle. Leading the way is “Good Luck, Babe!,” which has swelled into her most significant hit to date.

The argument against: Chappell isn’t the most obvious of hit-makers. Sure, the song rules, but we’ve already seen one Kate Bush song top the charts this decade, it’s hard to imagine it happening again. So, who knows how much time this one has left in the summer sun. (It did just hit the Hot 100 top 10 for the first time yesterday, though.)

Sabrina Carpenter — “Espresso”

The argument for: Of course we had to mention “Espresso.” Carpenter was an emerging star before the caffeinated single, but the song absolutely took off and established Carpenter as a no-qualifier-necessary, S-T-A-R star. There’s also the fact that “Espresso” basically sounds like it was made to a summer smash, with its warm vibes and radio-friendly hook. Carpenter’s personality also just makes her a fun person to root for and listen to, which certainly works in favor of “Espresso.”

The argument against: Carpenter has moved onto pushing a new hit, “Please Please Please.” “Espresso” is still doing just about as well as the fresher single, though: “Please Please Please” had more Spotify streams in the US last week, but “Espresso” was No. 1 on the same chart globally. Ultimately, of all the songs on this list, “Espresso” may have the least working against it for “Song Of The Summer” consideration.

Latto Deems “Put It On Da Floor” To Be The Best Song Of The Summer This Year

by

Lotto’s “Put It On Da Floor,” in its original or remixed versions, had the rap game in a chokehold this past summer. Maybe you didn’t notice it if you’re not a fan of the 777 MC, but it was one of the hits that carried through the entire summer months. As such, it’s only natural that she would declare her own track the song of the summer. During a recent interview with Complex, the 24-year-old spoke on how that track became an organic hit thanks to people using it in social media trends. What’s more is that she said she didn’t really aim for it to have that effect, but is incredibly appreciative of the support and reception.

“That song got my heart,” Latto remarked to the publication. “That song was just so effortless. It was really all done in one day. I wasn’t trying to make the song of the summer. It’s a street record. It was fun. It was for the culture.” Of course, that could just be all talk, but if everyone knew exactly how to make a smasher, then the hits don’t become hits at all when compared to each other.

Read More: Latto Earns First #1 Hit On The Hot 100

Latto Crowns “Put It On Da Floor” The Song Of The Summer

Elsewhere in their conversation, the Columbus-born rapper also spoke on the state of rap today, its forefathers, the good hands it lays in, and its perceived dwindling in commercial success. “You got to pay respect to the people who came before, who made any of this even possible,” Latto expressed. “And then aside from that, I’m a real lover of music. I don’t just do this just for the money and to get cute and get my makeup and hair done. I really love what I do. My heart is for music. So I have a different type of respect for the genre.”

Meanwhile, that respect is evident when it comes to her efforts to uplift other female artists in the game. Sure, there’s beef and feuds in between, mostly driven by warring fanbases and a misogynistic tendency to pit femcees against each other. Still, those exceptions don’t define the rule, and the amount of women in hip-hop that jumped on “Put It On Da Floor” is a testament to that. For more news and the latest updates on Latto, stay logged into HNHH.

Read More: Social Media Thinks Ice Spice Shaded Latto During Her Acceptance Speech

The post Latto Deems “Put It On Da Floor” To Be The Best Song Of The Summer This Year appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kate Bush And Harry Styles Top Spotify’s Most-Streamed Songs Of The Summer Lists

by
Kate Bush Harry Styles
Getty Image/Derrick Rossignol

Every year, music fans crave the knowledge: What is the “song of the summer?” A lot of discussions about that sort of thing tend to be based on opinion, but now Spotify has some hard data to add to the conversation.

The methodology was simple: Check what songs got the most streams on Spotify from May 29 to August 29. That has been done, and if you’re looking at just the United States, Kate Bush’s Stranger Things-boosted hit “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” is No. 1, with Harry Styles’ “As It Was” behind at No. 2. If you check the global list, though, those positions are swapped, with Styles on top and Bush earning silver.

Perhaps the most dominant artist of both lists, though, is Bad Bunny: He has seven songs in the top 20 on the global list and six on the US rank. Besides Styles, Bush, and Bad Bunny, the only artist to make the top 10 of both lists is Joji with “Glimpse Of Us” (No. 5 globally, No. 4 in the US).

Check out the full lists below.

Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer globally
1. Harry Styles — “As It Was”
2. Kate Bush — “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
3. Bad Bunny and Chencho Corleone — “Me Porto Bonito”
4. Bad Bunny — “Tití Me Preguntó”
5. Joji — “Glimpse Of Us”
6. Bad Bunny and Bomba Estéreo — “Ojitos Lindos”
7. Bizarrap and Quevedo — “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52”
8. Bad Bunny — “Efecto”
9. Bad Bunny — “Moscow Mule”
10. Glass Animals — “Heat Waves”
11. Karol G — “Provenza”
12. Lizzo — “About Damn Time”
13. Harry Styles — “Late Night Talking”
14. Bad Bunny and Rauw Alejandro — “Party”
15. Shakira and Rauw Alejandro — “Te Felicito”
16. The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber — “Stay”
17. Bad Bunny, Jhay Cortez — “Tarot”
18. Camila Cabello — “Bam Bam” Feat. Ed Sheeran
19. Elton John and Dua Lipa — “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”
20. OneRepublic — “I Ain’t Worried”

Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer in the US
1. Kate Bush — “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
2. Harry Styles — “As It Was”
3. Bad Bunny and Chencho Corleone — “Me Porto Bonito”
4. Joji — “Glimpse Of Us”
5. Bad Bunny — “Tití Me Preguntó”
6. Steve Lacy — “Bad Habit”
7. Drake — “Jimmy Cooks” Feat. 21 Savage
8. Post Malone and Doja Cat — “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
9. Harry Styles — “Late Night Talking”
10. Lizzo — “About Damn Time”
11. Jack Harlow — “First Class”
12. Future — “Wait For U” Feat. Drake and Tems
13. Glass Animals — “Heat Waves”
14. Doja Cat — “Vegas”
15. Bad Bunny — “Efecto”
16. Bad Bunny — “Moscow Mule”
17. Bad Bunny and Bomba Estéreo — “Ojitos Lindos”
18. Morgan Wallen — “You Proof”
19. OneRepublic — “I Ain’t Worried”
20. Bad Bunny and Rauw Alejandro — “Party”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

What Are The 2021 Song Of The Summer Contenders?

by
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Now that the world is eagerly rushing a return to normalcy after over a year of shutdowns, cancellations, and rigid social distancing rules, the need for music to keep everyone’s spirits up is more integral than ever.

Since music serves as a snapshot of our life experiences, the Song Of The Summer plays a huge role in remembering and cherishing those moments. (I’ll never forget the summer before eighth grade thanks to Rihanna’s “Pon De Replay.”) If 2021 is as massive in real life as it is in theory, this year’s summer hit could be etched in our memories forever.

While we have the power to christen our own Song Of The Summer, there is often one song that the mainstream unofficially dictates as “the one.” This song is inescapable, often catchy, gives you the feeling of being carefree, and sometimes, it’s incredibly danceable. What better way to kick things off than with a prediction of what that coveted track will be?

Here’s a list of 10 potential “songs of the summer.”

Justin Bieber – “Peaches” Feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon

The sweet and tangy vibe of the Billboard chart-topper basically oozes fun in the sun, so this pick should be a given. Its continent-trotting chorus — where Biebs mentions hitting up Georgia, California, and his Canadian home up-north — also provides inspiration for listeners’ safe, CDC-regulated summer travel plans.

Dua Lipa – “Levitating” Feat. DaBaby

Lockdown didn’t allow Dua Lipa to have the summer anthem she deserved in 2020 after releasing the Grammy-winning album Future Nostalgia last spring. However, the rap remix to her hit “Levitating” continues to sit pretty on the 2021 charts, so there’s a chance her reign will finally hit. (Better late than never!) The song’s disco-heavy energy also capitalizes on the country’s collective yearning for better, simpler times.

Doja Cat – “Kiss Me More” Feat. SZA

Doja Cat owned summer last year with her ‘70s inspired “Say So,” so another hit for the singer/rapper during the sunny season would be most apropos. As with “Levitating,” “Kiss Me More” has old-school club vibes (with an interpolation of Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical”) that brings throwback themes to the forefront, while Doja’s slick-tongued rap and SZA’s laid back swagger modernize the tune.

Kali Uchis – “Talepatía”

In a sea of chart-topping anthems, this is somewhat a dark horse in the competition. However, given the song’s theme about a long-distance lover, it works perfectly given our socially-distanced circumstances. The TikTok-favorite found on Uchis’ sophomore album, “Talepatía” also comes equipped with production befitting of her Colombian heritage, which provides a different sound for those cross-country, top-down road trips.

Olivia Rodrigo – “Good 4 U”

Unlike other Song Of The Summer selections which utilize the disco/R&B sound, the pop-punk style is strong with “Good 4 U.” With Hayley Williams-levels of enthusiastic aggression overlaying the entire track, Rodrigo shows her range as a performer. Plus, if she rules the summer, it’s proof that the *future* Grammys Best New Artist nominee is a singer for all seasons. (Remember, she had winter on lock with “Drivers License.”)

Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”

The soulful, smooth, and silky song evokes vintage vibes (do we see a pattern here?), which is perfect for ditching our collective present-day COVID-19 nerves for a few minutes. The inviting, sensual lyrics could provide listeners with the courage to begin a potential summer fling, or to have a chill evening with that special someone…

“Twerkulator,” City Girls

…but if you’re trying to live out #VaxxedGirlSummer or #ShotGirlSummer to the fullest, look no further than “Twerkulator.” Thanks to long-awaited sample clearance (it uses Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force’s “Planet Rock”), the Miami rap mainstays released their highly-anticipated song just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. It certainly may be time for the twerkulator, so shake what ya mama gave ya.

Nicki Minaj – “Itty Bitty Piggy”

If you’re looking to be on your boss b*tch tip this summer, allow Nicki Minaj to give you the anthem. Now that the streets are opening back up, Onika’s enduring hit from her now-streamable mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty is a perfect contender for the coveted Song Of The Summer honor, especially since it continues to “go awf” 12 years after its initial release. The Queen of Rap could still be on top.

BTS – “Butter”

With synthy, ‘80s-drenched production, the Bangtan Boys’ latest dance-pop anthem (released May 21) hit DSPs just in time for the change in temperature, and is sure to keep things “hot like summer” for both their diehard fans and casual listeners.

Natasha Bedingfield – “Unwritten”

Though it was released in 2004, the English singer’s euphoric pop track was given new life thanks to a trap-friendly TikTok remix (“Like Yhop” by Esco featuring Shawn P). The original musical breath of fresh air has been heavily praised since the dance challenge popped off. Many hope that Summer 2021 is a reintroduction to freedom, and we’re ready to (safely) “feel the rain on [our] skin” again.

Honorable Mention: Whatever Drake Drops

Drake had the summer season in his clutches at least two times in the past. 2016 was the year of “One Dance,” and 2018 gave us “In My Feelings.” Given what he teased fans with his March EP Scary Hours 2, we don’t have any doubts that Certified Lover Boy will provide some sort of summer anthem whenever it drops. Kudos to you, Drake, for keeping us on our toes.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.