Kendrick Lamar punches his ticket into a select club on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart by replacing himself at No. 1. The rapper’s “TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay, advances 2-1 to lead the list dated Dec. 14 and in the process, evicts Lamar’s “Squabble Up” from the summit to No. 3. Both songs are from Lamar’s new album, GNX, which posts a second week at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
“TV Off” ascends to No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs thanks to a combination of 34.6 million official U.S. streams, 2,000 purchased digital downloads and 6.6 million in radio airplay audience in the tracking week of Nov. 29 – Dec. 5, according to Luminate. Although the song drops 26% in streams (from 46.9 million last week), it is the week’s most-streamed R&B/hip-hop title and climbs 2-1 to lead the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart. It repeats at No. 2 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (behind “Squabble Up”) and is the week’s top debut, at No. 25, on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
While “Squabble Up” was the main GNX focus for the surprise album’s first week, “TV Off” emerged as a fan favorite, with Lamar’s extended shout of producer Mustard’s name becoming a viral meme. In addition to its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs coronation, “TV Off” likewise takes the top spot from “Squabble Up” on Hot Rap Songs and slides 2-3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the drop, it’s the highest non-holiday hit on the flagship chart, as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” vault to Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
In all, “TV Off” is Lamar’s sixth No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and notably, his first to not debut at the summit. Here’s a review of his chart-topping collection:
“HUMBLE.,” two weeks at No. 1, beginning May 22, 2017
“Mona Lisa,” Lil Wayne featuring Kendrick Lamar, one, Oct. 13, 2018
“Like That,” with Future and Metro Boomin, five, April 6, 2024
“Not Like Us,” 21, May 1, 2024
“Squabble Up,” one, Dec. 7, 2024
“TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay, one, Dec. 14, 2014
Featured artist Lefty Gunplay, meanwhile, lands his first No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, a week after the premiere of “TV Off” gave the West Coast rapper his first Billboard chart appearances.
With “TV Off” succeeding “Squabble Up,” Lamar becomes the 17th artist to complete a self-replacement atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. He enters the list just a month after Tyler, The Creator, whose Daniel Caesar-featured “St. Chroma” yielded to “Sticky,” featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne.
Lamar nearly joined the club earlier this year, missing it only by a single week. After a five-week stint at the top, “Like That,” Lamar’s collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, fell to Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby.” The singer’s breakout hit enjoyed one week in the lead before Lamar’s “Not Like Us” stormed onto the list, the start of a record-tying 21-week domination.