Soul Sweep: April 5, 2014...


We're at the "hump" of today's "chart sweeps", as I serve up the latest R&B songs to make the Billboard radio charts...

On the main R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart, Pharrell remains on top for a second week with "Happy"...

Kelly Price claims the top debut at #39 with "It's My Time", a former "Soul Pick" winner when it entered the Adult R&B list, where it sits at #13 this week. Kelly topped the chart back in 1998 with her debut single "Friend Of Mine". I hope this record has legs - her big, lifting voice and ease of flow is a welcome breath of fresh air on the chart...


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Another crossover from the Adult R&B format at #42 is Mali Music with his "Beautiful". The gospel singer's breathy, non-pyrotechnic shuffler is a treat for people of any faiths...


Rapper Yo Gotti comes in at #48 with "I Know" featuring Rich Homie Quan. It's the third single from his I Am album, and it is maybe the thousandth song to sample Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?". Props for the sick bass; demerits for the overuse of the n-word.


Atlanta rap hero Ludacris returns at #50 with "Party Girls", inviting singer Jeremih and rapper Wiz Khalifa and producer Cashmere Cat. After a veer into dance music recently, he comes back to bedroom emo-rap a la Drake that works well as a re-introduction, though the crib of lyrics of "Barbie Girl" by Aqua is kind of weird/funny...


Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult R&B radio panel, "Happy" finally makes it to #1...

Entering at #24 is Tank with this week's "Soul Pick of the Week", "You're My Star", which makes a cool interpolation of the Jacksons' "Heartbreak Hotel"...


And arriving at #30 is K. Michelle with "Can't Raise A Man", which sits at #15 on the main R&B chart. This format has been embracing more contemporary R&B and lite-hip-hop, and this somewhat A-tuned reality star benefits...Is it me, or does this song seems like a mashup of "I Still Believe" and "Summer Breeze"?


Finally, on the Rhythmic format, which incorporates more dance music in their playlists, Jason Derulo climbs to the top spot with "Talk Dirty"...

Australian hip-hop siren Iggy Azalea drives in at #29 with "Fancy" featuring Charli XCX. I'm not sure 100% about this track, though I'm a sucker for that bassline, and the video is pretty cool...


Newcomer Kid Ink links up with Chris Brown (does everybody have to still use him?) at #33 with "Main Chick". It's the follow-up to "Show Me", which topped this format and still stands at #6. Full of slick hip-hop buzzwords and pretty much nothing else..


Miami DJ Infamous skates in at #39 with "Double Cup" with a van-load of guests including Ludacris, Jeezy, The Game, Juicy J, and Hitmaka. I feel like I've heard this a hundred times, maybe because so many rappers are just passing too much...


The last entry at #40 is Justin Timberlake with "Not A Bad Thing" from his second 20/20 Experience album. You know, someday this "forced viral" thing is gonna backfire. Until then, the song is a highlight from the album, which could've been such a tight single set.


I'll be back in 90 with the latest on country radio. Groove on!

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