Billboard Defends Lil Nas X: No.2 Debuts Is The New No.1 Debuts

[RAMROD 107,700]

For the second time in 2021, Lil Nas X has made an explosive debut on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks in large part to a captivating music video and an ensuing public discourse. Following the No. 1 bow of "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" in April, this week, "Industry Baby" -- alongside Jack Harlow, and with production from Take a Daytrip and Kanye West -- pulls up just short of that benchmark, with a No. 2 start.

The song does it with Lil Nas X's second headline-grabbing video of the year, a prison-set visual featuring the rapper being twerked on by fellow male prisoners, and then leading a group of them in a nude shower dance routine. The clip was No. 1 on YouTube the past week, and has drawn a ton of attention from the culture in general -- particularly in the wake of fellow rap star DaBaby's recent homophobic remarks live on stage at Miami's Rolling Loud festival, and T.I.'s comments in support of him, which even claimed "If Lil Nas X can kick his s--t in peace… so should DaBaby."

What is the significance of the song's debut? And what does it mean for the artists involved? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.

 

Andrew Unterberger: Yep, he's there. The success of "Montero" may have seemed largely hype-driven at first, but the song has stuck around -- spending 14 of its 18 weeks on the Hot 100 in the chart's top 10 -- and now "Industry Baby" looks on its way to following a similar trajectory. (As long as BTS is going to sell as many copies as they need to stay on top each week, No. 2 debuts are basically the new No. 1 debuts.) He's got the hits, he's got the videos, he's got the live performances, he's certainly got the personality and the social media presence -- that adds up to a pop star in 2021, and a rather important one.

 

Source:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9609602/lil-nas-x-industry-baby-five-burning-questions/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

The shade to ScamTS. Did they lowkey acknowledge ScamTS's fraud with that comment??  

[TSUNAMI 20,879]

Yes, king. 

We approve. 

[badfaith 5,689]

Oh the army is gonna come for their necks at that  

[Teletubby 144,931]

what happened this week that Butter fall to 4th place ? did they run out of money?

[ThisGuyTony 29,613]

Yet they dragged Gaga for Applause and Chromatica sales.  

[Bradley 58,699]

Bad Romance is finally a #1.

[RAMROD 107,700]

2 minutes ago, Bradley said:

Bad Romance is finally a #1.

[President Biden 5,898]

 we should ban BTS from the US, unironically. 

[judaspriest 934]

I'm not a fan because I only like music from my time but I wish him nothing but success

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 24,201]

28 minutes ago, Bradley said:

Bad Romance is finally a #1.

We wish

But it didn't debut at #2 and wasn't blocked by a fraud so... 

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

They literally check off all the boxes for him.

King things. 

 

[Biagio2103 6,101]

1 hour ago, KEVIN STEVE said:

We wish

But it didn't debut at #2 and wasn't blocked by a fraud so... 

Well, Bad Romance was first blocked by Empire State of Mind, which at that time had a ridiculous amount of airplay, some said it was payola because the song didn't even decrease during Xmas.

[Gagaplayer315 13,872]

King of new number 1 debuts 

[Butters Stotch 5,364]

2 hours ago, Bradley said:

Bad Romance is finally a #1.

I'll never get over the fact Bad Romance wasn't #1 on Billboard 

[P0JffionRowQat 27]

I was hoping Billboard say ScamArmy broke the rules, BTS #1's for the past 10 weeks were disqualified and banned.  However, Billboard didn't say that.  BB basically said they expanded the chart, to have two number 1s.  So, "Good 4 U" and "Industry Baby" were streaming #1s for the past 10 weeks.  While BTS were sales #1s.

Billboard cannot ban sales because their second biggest chart is the Billboard-200, which is based on album sales.