On The SoundCloud Top 50 (6-2-2017)

Hi everybody! We’re back at it again looking at the SoundCloud charts in the unofficial start of summer.

• There is a new #1 this week! Lil’s Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3” reclaimed the crown from Travis Scott’s “Butterfly Effect.” There isn’t too much I wanted to add on to shake-up, because I think Uzi’s song is far far more popular than Travis’s and despite how long it feels the song’s been out — centuries, it’s was only released in late March. Streaming may help the long tails of songs, but when looking at the SoundCloud charts song that peak early on SC often aren’t even on their way into crossing over into the mainstream. An example I think of is “Tunnel Vision,” which peaked in the Billboard Top 10, so early in it’s life cycle that one would be forgiven to think the song didn’t reach it’s full potential, because usually when songs debuts very high, they rebound and pick back up if they’re going to be a hit. But, steaming hits that aren’t out and out capital-H hits, often can just peak and then spend weeks never fully recovering. “Tunnel Vision” for instance has been in and out of the Top 10 for weeks on SoundCloud for a few months, but never really broke through on the Billboard charts except for the week it’s video dropped. Sorry this is more speculation than hard facts, but this tweet showing the difference between radio and Spotify rankings keep ringing in my head. Also small programming note: I added play count to the list along with position change, which I’m sure I’ll talk about more in later weeks and as I have more consistent number to reference.

• The song that truly came out of nowhere this week to break into the Top 3is the Philadelphia singer PnB Rock’s freestyle over French Montana’s “Unforgettable.” I like PnB Rock, even if his debut album isn’t all there, I thought it was fairly good move just to put it out earlier this year when he had some buzz than waiting for a true hit. The only evidence I can say that’s a good idea is — again not hard data — that I hear his music out of cars in Brooklyn quite often and I feel I see his name more now cause there is a specific project one can now point to. That might be why this freestyle is sort of annoying is that it doesn’t play on any of his melodic strengths or slight romantic persona. It’s fine and likely a throwaway, so round of applause. This also feels like a good moment to point out that in addition to “Unforgettable,” PnB Rock right has three other songs on the charts: “Horses” (#14), “Too Many Years” (#33), and “Selfish” (#6). “Selfish” is by far the best song of those four and of course it’s the one on his album and the lowest ranking *upside down smiley face*. Also before I forget shout to Atlantic Records!

• Lil Pump, the sprite-like Florida rapper, right now holds three spots on the Top 50 with: “Boss” (#22), “D Rose” (#28), “Flex Like Ouu” (#37). Lil Pump, who is 16 or 17 certainly right now is maybe the most memeable SoundCloud rapper — XXXTentacion certainly has more memes but he feels bigger than them at this point. Similar to Sahbabii, I’m holding a bit judgement to damn or praise this kid, cause his music is fun, but isn’t there really at all. It’s goofy and I’ve tagged many Instagram stories with “Flex Like Ouu,” but I don’t get the same careerist vibes I get from a XXXTentation or even a Lil Peep. Time will tell and certainly never count out a teenager rapper who arrived at fame too early.

In related meme activities: Matt OX’s “Overwhelming” is at #39 on the chart and last week he was in The Paper of Record, cause ball is life. #protectmattyb #ilovemyfidgetspinnerson

• Last week I wanted to talk a little bit about Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” which right now sits at #31. For an actually interesting cultural breakdown of the song, please read Remezcla and the discussion between Isabelia Herrera and Julianne Escobedo Shepard, because they go into a lot of topics about the and particular America’s fraught relationship with Latino music. My main observation I wanted to make before rapping up this week is that I don’t think I’ve seen a Spanish song this high ever on the SoundCloud charts. Again SoundCloud please tell me if I’m wrong, but before “Despacito” I couldn’t think of any Spanish Language songs that cracked the Top 40, now I’m sure J Balvin did it last year and I don’t remember, again give me the numbers SoundCloud. Now there is some concern this might be a one off novelty, but I don’t think that’ll be the case. Last week on the chart there was “La Ultima Vez” by Anuel AA, which makes me think “Despacito” may be a start of something slightly bigger than people are expecting at the moment. Still, at least focused on SoundCloud, because of its particular niche — African-American music — I’m not sure how much that will make it’s way onto the SoundCloud charts. But, Latin America styles already dominate the YouTube music charts, but sadly — at least for now — this isn’t a YouTube charts column.

1. Lil Uzi Vert — “XO TOUR Llif3” (3.68 Million Plays) (+4)
2. Travis Scott — “Butterfly Effect” (2.79 Million Plays) (-1)
3. PnB Rock — “Unforgettable (Freestyle)” (2.76 Million Plays) (+18)
4. XXXTentacion — “garette’s REVENGE” (2.59 Million Plays) (-3)
5. Travis Scott — “A man” (Tk Million Plays) (2.41 Million Plays) (-1)
6. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (feat. Kodak Black) — “Drowning” (2.35 Million Plays) ( — )
7. Post Malone (feat. Quavo) — “Congratulation” (2.19 Million Plays) (+1)
8. Travis Scott (feat. Playboi Carti) — “Green & Purple” (2.18 Million Plays) (-4)
9. Playboi Carti — “Magnolia” (2.04 Million Plays) (-1)
10. Tee Grizzley (feat. Lil Yachty) — “From the D To The A” (1.96 Million Plays) ( — )
11. Kodak Black — “Tunnel Vision” (1.8 Million Plays) ( — )
12. XXXTentacion — “Look At Me” (1.66 Million Plays) ( — )
13. Migos — “To Hotty” (1.65 Million Plays) (Debut)
14. PnB Rock, Kodak Black, & A Boogie — “Horses” (1.62 Million Plays) ( — )
15. Migos (feat. Gucci Mane) — “Slippery” (1.5 Million Plays) (+4)
16. KYLE (feat. Lil Yachty) — “iSpy” (1.44 Million Plays) ( — )
17. $uicideBoy$ (feat. Shakewell) — “Venom” (1.43 Million Plays) ( — )
18. Future — “Mask Off”* (1.43 Million Plays) ( — )
19. Khalid — “Location” (1.41 Million Plays) (-2)
20. Swoosh God (feat. Rich The Kid & Famous Dex) — “Get Out My Face” (1.34 Million Plays) (-5)
21. Rich Chigga (feat. Keith Ape & XXXTentacion) — “Gospel” (1.26 Million Plays) (-10)
22. Lil Pump — “Boss” (1.26 Million Plays) (+2)
23. Migos (feate. Lil Uzi Vert) — “Bad and Boujee” (1.25 Million Plays) ( — )
24. Playboi Carti (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) — “Woke Up Like This” (1.2 Million Plays) (-3)
25. DJ Khaled (feat. Quavo, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, & Chance the Rapper) — “I’m The One”* (1.18 Million Plays) (+2)
26. Migos — “T-Shirt” (1.12 Million Plays) ( — )
27. Childish Gambino — “Redbone” (1.09 Million Plays) (+11)
28. Lil Pump — “D Rose” (1.06 Million Plays) (+2)
29. Playboi Carti (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) — “Woke Up Like This”* (1.02 Million Plays) (+7)
30. XXXTentacion — “I Don’t Wanna Do This Anymore” (1.02 Million Plays) (-5)
31. Luis Fonsi — “Despacito” (983K Plays) (+13)
32. Ski Mask The Slump God (feat. XXXTentacion) — “Take A Step Back” (973K Plays) (-1)
33. Kodak Black (feat. PnB Rock) — “Too Many Years” (971K Plays) (+1)
34. Lil Yachty (feat. Migos) — “Peak A Boo” (953K Plays) (+15)
35. SahBabii (feat. Loso Loaded) — “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick” (944K Plays) (-3)
36. PnB Rock — “Selfish” (935K Plays) (+4)
37. Lil Pump — “Flex Like Ouu”* (921K Plays) ( — )
38. Smokepurpp — “Audi.” (916K Plays) (-3)
39. Matt OX — “Overwhelming” (908K Plays) (Debut)
40. XXXTentacion — “Looking For a Star (Can’t Get You Out Of My Head)” (907K) (-27)
41. XXXTentacoin — “YuNg BrAtZ” (894K Plays) (-8)
42. Tee Grizzley — “First Day Out” (855K) (Debut)
43. Mostafa Mohamed — “ زمار رأس السنه 2017 عبد السلام 🎤🎹🎶🎶🎧”**
44. Gucci Mane (feat. Drake) — “Both”* (808K Plays) (-3)
45. Lil Uzi Vert — “Money Longer” (799K Plays) (-3)
46. $uicideBoy$ — “O’ Lord I Have My Doubts” (791K Plays) (Debut)
47. Travis Scott (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) — “RaRa” (790K Plays) (-8)
48. A$AP Rocky (feat. Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, Frank Ocean) — “RAF”* (789K Plays) (-2)
49. Wiz Khalifa — “Stay Stoned (Redbone Weedmix)” (783K Plays) (Debut)
50. Migos — “Get Right Witcha” (767K Plays) (-2)

• “*”Indicates the song isn’t on an official artist page.
• **Medium didn’t like the formatting of this song, so lol the stats were: 833K Plays and a -21 dip on the chart from last week.
• This chart as of 10:02am EST, June 2, 2017