Muni Long’s breakthrough hit nets a crowning achievement, as “Hrs and Hrs” becomes the new No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart. The single rises from No. 2 to lead the list dated Feb. 19 despite an overall dip in activity but improvements in the radio sector.
“Hrs and Hrs,” released on Supergiant, is the first track from an independent label to reach No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs in nearly four years, since Commission sent Lil Dicky’s “Freaky Friday,” featuring Chris Brown, to the top in April 2018. The pair are the only independent tracks to rule the chart since it began in October 2012.
The new champ also ousts “Smokin Out the Window,” by Silk Sonic — the duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak — after the latter’s 11 nonconsecutive weeks in charge.
“Hrs and Hrs” rules Hot R&B Songs, which combines radio airplay, sales and streaming into its calculations, despite a drop in the latter two metrics. The tune registered 13.8 million U.S. streams in the week ending Feb. 10, according to MRC Data, down 7% from 14.8 million from the prior week. Still, it retains its status atop the R&B Streaming Songs chart for a fifth consecutive week. Sales slide to 2,300 in the same period, an 11% decline that leads to a 1-4 dip on the R&B Digital Song Sales list.
Airplay, however, picks up as the song’s viral buzz has translated into an active radio campaign. “Hrs and Hrs” climbs 15-13 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, with a 16% surge to 10.7 million in audience in the week ending Feb. 13, according to MRC Data. The new sum is the track’s first time crossing the eight-figure weekly audience mark. Likewise, it jumps 16-13 on the plays-based Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart with 21% more plays in the latest tracking week. WQOK-FM in Raleigh leads the way with 87 spins in the period, with Philadelphia’s WRNB-FM and Washington, D.C.’s WKYS-FM just behind at 85 and 82 plays, respectively.
In addition, “Hrs and Hrs” continues upward progress on Rhythmic Airplay through a 30-23 hike. In its third week there, it adds 40% more plays in the week ending Feb. 13 than the previous frame. Similarly, the tune debuts on Adult R&B Airplay at No. 29, with a 36% boost in weekly plays.
Elsewhere, “Hrs and Hrs” repeats at its No. 5 peak thus far on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the fourth straight week. On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, it backtracks 18-19 after peaking at No. 16 two weeks ago.