Megan Thee Stallion has made main influence with “Hiss,” not solely debuting atop the U.S.-based Billboard Sizzling 100 and Sizzling R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, however crowning the Billboard World 200 (dated Feb. 10).
In accordance with Luminate, “Hiss” drew 39.6 million official streams worldwide in its first week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1.
Whereas that’s a sizeable international determine, “Hiss” owes most of its worldwide success to Megan Thee Stallion’s American fanbase, with 73% of its streams, in addition to an awesome 95% of its gross sales, from the U.S. The observe doesn’t seem on any of Billboard’s 40-plus worldwide Hits of the World lists.
So whereas “Hiss” hits its mark atop Billboard’s flagship international rating, it’s more durable to seek out on its sister chart. On the Billboard World Excl. U.S. rating, which removes American consumption from the equation, the observe arrives at No. 104. It’s simply the fourth occasion because the international charts started in September 2020 that the World 200 No. 1 is outdoors of the highest 10 of the World Excl. U.S. – not to mention the highest 100. The earlier greatest disparity? Simply the highest 15: Drake ranked at Nos. 11 (“What’s Subsequent,” March 2021) and No. 12 (“IDGAF,” that includes Yeat, October 2023) on World Excl. U.S. whereas main the World 200 and Encanto’s “We Don’t Discuss About Bruno” sat as little as No. 13 whereas atop the World 200 in February 2022.
It’s uncommon for hip-hop tracks to guide the World 200, however “Hiss” isn’t Megan Thee Stallion’s first. She topped the inaugural chart, as featured on Cardi B’s “WAP,” which was No. 1 for 3 of the chart’s first 4 editions. Doja Cat is the one different girl rapper to hit the highest (“Paint the City Crimson” for 4 weeks in September-October 2023), with Drake and Jack Harlow chargeable for the style’s different chart-toppers. That quantities to 13 weeks out of 178, or simply 7%, that rap has topped the World 200.
Rap, significantly by North American artists, has struggled on each international charts, however particularly on World Excl. U.S., the place “Paint the City Crimson” stays the style’s solely No. 1. Inherently extra centered on (rapid-fire) lyrics than melody makes the style a harder promote in non-English-language territories than hook-based pop music. To that finish, Doja Cat and Harlow scored their chart-toppers with tracks that lean towards pop, significantly by way of acquainted samples. For his half, Drake stays an elite star who can summon a No. 1 debut on command.
“Hiss” depends closely on Megan Thee Stallion’s sharp wordplay and speedy supply. That separates it from even her earlier chart-topper, with “WAP” cruising alongside a repeated hook and a pattern of its personal, to not point out an immediately viral and meme-able music video, along with a bevy of quotable lyrics.
By the character of its musical and lyrical construction, “Hiss” was primed to be an even bigger home success story than worldwide. However a lot of the hype that pushed the observe to the highest feels insular too. Following its launch, listeners noticed one lyric as a reference – and never a well mannered one – to fellow American-born rap luminary Nicki Minaj. Minaj herself jumped in and launched “Large Foot” three days later, a seething retort that generated its personal World 200 debut at No. 36.
The context round their beef spawned memes and social media back-and-forth, drawing in followers of every act, in addition to these aware of every artist’s private lives and profession historical past. Nevertheless it didn’t do a lot to promote the music itself to worldwide audiences that weren’t beforehand invested within the private drama of two outstanding U.S. stars that didn’t have already got as robust a foothold in markets outdoors North America.
That’s to not say that there was no worldwide curiosity in “Hiss.” The observe generated 10.8 million streams outdoors the U.S. The truth that it debuted in any respect on World Excl. U.S., albeit midway down the chart, is greater than could be stated for Minaj’s personal “Large Foot,” or ascendant rapper Ice Spice’s new “Assume U The Shit (Fart)” (No. 78 on World 200).
“Hiss” marks Megan Thee Stallion’s twenty third look on the World 200 and eleventh on World Excl. U.S. On the latter, she’s gone as excessive as No. 3 with “WAP” and hit the highest 40 on tracks with Dua Lipa, Maroon 5, and Ozuna. “Hiss” is her highest charting solo unaccompanied entry on World Excl. U.S., of 4 total.
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