Chris Brown achieves a remarkable milestone with his 20th No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, thanks to his latest single “Residuals.” This track ascends to the top position on the chart dated December 7, marking it as the most-played song across U.S. monitored mainstream R&B and hip-hop radio stations during the tracking week of November 22 to 28, as reported by Luminate. This impressive accomplishment underscores Brown’s significant impact and enduring presence in the music industry, particularly in the R&B and hip-hop genres, where his influence continues to resonate with audiences nationwide.

“Residuals” makes an impressive leap from the runner-up position, registering a notable 4% increase in weekly plays. As it rises to the top, the track displaces GloRilla’s “TGIF,” which has held the No. 1 spot for ten nonconsecutive weeks, including a consecutive nine-week reign. This victory marks Brown’s second chart-topping single in 2024, following his previous hit “Sensational,” featuring Davido and Lojay, which also claimed the top spot for one week back in March. The continued success of “Residuals” not only showcases Brown’s musical versatility but also his ability to connect with listeners in an ever-evolving music landscape.

With this latest achievement of reaching 20 No. 1 hits, Chris Brown ties with Lil Wayne for the second-most chart-toppers among all artists since the inception of the chart in 1992. The only artist ahead of them is Drake, who boasts an impressive 46 leaders. This statistic highlights Brown’s remarkable career trajectory and solidifies his status as a leading figure in the R&B and hip-hop genres. Below is a summary of the artists who have achieved the most No. 1 hits on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, reflecting the competitive nature of the industry and the talent present within it.

46, Drake
20, Chris Brown
20, Lil Wayne
17, Usher
13, Beyoncé

“Residuals” is featured on the deluxe edition of Brown’s latest studio album, 11:11, and has quickly become a fan favorite. The song has gained significant attention, with numerous clips circulating on social media showcasing Brown’s electrifying performances during his spring and summer tour dates. The growing popularity of “Residuals” led to its debut on the multi-metric Hot R&B Songs chart in April, prior to its official radio push that began in mid-August. Furthermore, the single has garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance at the upcoming ceremony, further solidifying its status as a standout track in Brown’s discography.

Chris Brown first reached the pinnacle of the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart back on December 9, 2006, when he collaborated with Johnta Austin on Bow Wow’s hit “Shortie Like Mine.” His first solo No. 1 came exactly one year later on December 8, 2007, with the track “Kiss Kiss,” featuring T-Pain, which captured the top spot. This early success laid the groundwork for what would become a prolific and influential career in the music industry, showcasing his talent and versatility as an artist.

Here’s an in-depth look at Chris Brown’s impressive collection of No. 1 hits on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, demonstrating his sustained success and popularity over the years:

Song Title, Artist (if other than Chris Brown), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Shortie Like Mine,” Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown & Johnta Austin, two, Dec. 9, 2006
“Kiss Kiss,” featuring T-Pain, two, Dec. 8, 2007
“With You,” one, March 22, 2008
“Deuces,” featuring Tyga & Kevin McCall, 10, Sept. 4, 2010
“No BS” two, Feb. 5, 2011
“Look at Me Now,” featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, seven, April 4, 2011
“Strip,” featuring Kevin “K-Mac” McCall, two, March 31, 2012
“Birthday Cake,” Rihanna featuring Chris Brown, three, May 19, 2012
“It Won’t Stop,” Sevyn Streeter featuring Chris Brown, eight, Nov. 30, 2013
“Loyal,” featuring Lil Wayne & French Montana or Too $hort or Tyga, nine, May 17, 2014
“New Flame,” featuring Usher & Rick Ross, Oct. 18, 2014
“Hold You Down,” DJ Khaled featuring Chris Brown, August Alsina, Future & Jeremih, three, Nov. 15, 2014
“Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, four, Jan. 10, 2015
“Post to Be,” Omarion featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, six, May 23, 2015
“All Eyes on You,” Meek Mill featuring Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj, three, Sept. 19, 2015
“No Guidance,” featuring Drake, 10, Aug. 10, 2019
“Go Crazy,” with Young Thug, six, July 18, 2020
“Under the Influence,” eight, March 11, 2023
“Sensational,” featuring Davido & Lojay, one, March 16, 2024
“Residuals,” one (to date), Dec. 7, 2024

In addition to its Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay success, “Residuals” also maintains its position at No. 2 for the third consecutive week on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which evaluates songs based on combined audience across monitored adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop stations. During this period, the song climbed to 15.6 million in weekly audience, reflecting a 6% increase from the prior week. Additionally, “Residuals” has made slight progress on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, moving from position 28 to 27, thanks to a 9% boost in plays, showcasing its widespread appeal across various demographics.