Soul Sweep: December 19, 2015...

We're at the hump of this week's "music sweeps", sampling the songs making their debut on the singles charts in Billboard magazine, and this time up I'm serving the latest hits on R&B radio...

On their main R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart, Drake spends a ninth week on top with "Hotline Bling"...

Missy Elliott makes the big R&B list at #39 with "WTF (Where They From)". The former "Soul Pick" is already on the Rhythmic chart. She's topped the soul chart as a lead artist twice; in 1999 for six weeks with "Hot Boyz", and again in 2002 for five more with "Work It". And this one matches all her other work beat for beat...

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R&B/Hip Hop singer Jeremih enters at #47 with the third single from his Late Nights album, "oui". The other two, "Don't Tell 'Em" and "Planes", both topped this chart. It's an enjoyable enough track that doesn't break any new ground...

Rapper French Montana enlists Chris Brown and rap duo Migos for "Moses" at #48. It's from his Casino Life 2: Brown Bag Legend mixtape. Braggadocio and foggy verses. Meh.

Neo-soul singer Tank and rapper Wale are at #50 with "You Don't Know". The track interpolates Patti Labelle's classic "If Only You Knew". He does get outshined by Wale's sort of sloppy rap...

Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult R&B radio panel, Tyrese claims a seventh non-consecutive week at #1 with "Shame"...

Veteran crooner Johnny Gill hooks back up with his bandmates in New Edition at #23 for "This One's for Me And You", my "soul pick of the week". The ultra-smooth record recaptured the great vocal interplay between the boys...

Singer and reality show fodder Keke Wyatt returns at #29 with "Sexy Song". It's a by-the-numbers millennial soul song, technically ok but again, nothing new...

Singer/songwriter Mali Music (aka Kortney Pollard), was nominated for a Grammy last year for his debut album Mali Is... He's back at #30 with "Contradiction" featuring Jhene Aiko. It's from the new Spike Lee joint Chi-Raq.

Lastly, on the Rhythmic format, whose stations include more dance-pop music in their playlists, Alessia Cara scored her first American #1 with "Here", while the aforementioned "oui" from Jeremih enters at #32...

At #40 is rap mogul Rick Ross with Chris Brown on "Sorry". Jeez, Brown is this year's Pitbull, being featured on practically everything he gets offered...

I'll be back with the latest in country radio...