Easily the biggest story of this past week was the announcement of J. Cole's new album, 4 Your Eyez Only, the release of a "making of" documentary, and the ensuing drama. The doc contained videos for two new tracks, "False Prophets" and "Everybody Dies," which have been construed to contain disses of Kanye West and Lil Yachty, respectively. A J. Cole album is big enough news for hip hop fans, but with the added excitement of disses, all of the hoopla surrounding 4 Your Eyez Only reached a fever pitch. Neither of his tracks were released individually, but the view count from the page containing both videos would be good enough to finish second if it was included in our top tracks list.
Only one guy makes more than one appearance on this week's list, which is rare, and it's Future. New tracks barely missing out on a spot include Childish Gambino's "Stand Tall" (#14), Lil Yachty's "Judgement Free" (#15), Wiz Khalifa's "Washingtons By Your Side" (#19), and 24hrs, Ty Dolla $ign, and Wiz Khalifa's "What You Like."
10. Post Malone - Leave
After a few false starts, Post Malone's debut album Stoney looks like it's all systems go for this Friday, December 9th. "Leave" is the fifth release we've heard from the upcoming release, meaning that we're privy to over a quarter of the album already. The new track makes its debut at #10.
9. The Weeknd Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Sidewalks
The consensus on both side of the staff/users divide is that The Weeknd's Starboy is pretty amazing, and the Kendrick Lamar-assisted "Sidewalks" is certainly one of the highlights. It's the first time that these two superstars have appeared on the same track, and hopefully it won't be the last. IN its second week out, "Sidewalks" holds at #9.
8. Quavo - Shine
It's been a big couple of weeks for Quavo, with long-anticipated CDQs of Migos' "Show'll Is" and his solo joint "Trapstar" dropping, and Migos' "Bad & Boujee" tearing up the radio. To top it all off, another new solo joint by the name of "Shine" leaked out this past week, and judging by its 88% approval rating, it went over well with our users. "Shine" debuts at #8.
7. Future - Ain't Tryin'
Originally dropping as an OVO Sound Radio exclusive three weeks ago, Future's "Ain't Tryin'" has proven to be one of the ATL star's most successful tracks on our charts this year. The track's ostensibly from Fewtch and Zaytoven's upcoming sequel to 2015's white-hot Beast Mode tape, but only time will tell if that's truly the case. In its third week out, the track falls six spots from #1 to #7.
6. Mac Miller Feat. Anderson .Paak - Dang!
The first of our two ageless wonders, obviously, is back for an umpteenth time. I haven't even heard Mac Miller and Anderson .Paak's "Dang!" on the radio in a while, but on our charts, it's holding strong as ever. In its 19th week out, the track falls one spot from #5 to #6.
5. YG Feat. 21 Savage - I Be On
Unlike the aforementioned Weeknd album that we also reviewed last week, YG's Red Friday EP didn't fare all that well with editors and users, sitting at ratings around 10 points lower than Starboy. Nevertheless, "I Be On," bolstered by a 21 Savage guest appearance, has racked up a ton of views and a decent (for 21's standards) 79% approval rating. In its second week out, the track falls one spot from #4 to #5.
4. DJ Khaled Feat. Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Future, August Alsina, Jeremih & Rick Ross - Do You Mind
And yet again, the GOAT immortal track returns to Top Tracks, or more accurately, it never left. Unlike "Dang!," which dropped the same day, DJ Khaled's "Do You Mind" has never once slipped out of the top ten, and it's usually appeared in the top five to boot. In its 19th week out, the track drops one spot from #3 to #4.
3. Wale - Groundhog Day (J. Cole Response)
Despite the fact that neither of J. Cole's tracks were released in streamable form on their own, his presence is still felt on the chart this week. Wale's response to a perceived diss by Cole only dropped about 48 hours ago, but if there's one thing HNHH users will surely click on with no hesitation, it's a diss track. "Groundhog Day" debuts at #3.
2. Gucci Mane Feat. Bryson Tiller - Drove U Crazy
We're now less than two weeks away from GuWop's third album of the year, The Return Of East Atlanta Santa, and after hearing the holiday-themed intro track a few weeks back, ATL's elder statesman gifted us a huge collab from the project last week. "Drove U Crazy" is big for both parties involved, with Gucci hopping on the wave of one of R&B's most ascendant stars, and Tiller getting a cosign from a living legend. The track makes its debut at #2.
1. Kid Cudi Feat. Travis Scott - Baptized In The Fire
After doling out praise to each other for the better part of the last four years, past and present Kanye proteges Kid Cudi and Travis Scott have finally gotten the chance to actualize their bromance this year. After Cudi popped up on Scott's Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight twice, Scott's returning the favor on Cudi's upcoming Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin, namely the track "Baptized In The Fire." The fact that these two are HNHH favorites rocketed the track to the top of the chart in its first week out.
