Summer is unofficially bookended by Memorial Day and Labor Day, days when radio stations around the country air playlists of top songs by genre and decade. 24/7 Tempo is celebrating the summer season by identifying the most dominant reigns in Billboard history by reviewing historical data on song performance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Artists were ranked based on the maximum number of songs that charted simultaneously on the Hot 100 at any given time. An artist’s top song during the week of their Billboard dominance was determined using an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No 2 is worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through May 21, 2022.
The results might come as a surprise to some people. At No. 1 is Drake, who had 27 hits on the Hot 100 on July 14, 2018. He’s had a total of 263 in the Hot 100, the most of any artist. At No. 2 is Taylor Swift, whose best showing on the Hot 100 was on November 27, 2021, when she was just one song behind Drake with 26 hits. However, her career total of 167 hits is far behind his. Behind Swift is Kanye West with 23 hits on September 11, 2021, tying Swift with a career total of 167.
Click here to see the most dominant reigns in Billboard history
One thing that’s very clear from our list is the popularity and dominance of rap. As well as Drake and Kanye, the top 10 includes artists such as Lil Wayne, Bad Bunny, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, and Pop Smoke. And there are plenty of rappers farther down the list. (These are the rappers with the most hits.)
Country is also a popular genre. Taylor Swift began her career in Nashville before achieving crossover success as a pop artist. At No. 8 is controversial country singer Morgan Wallen, who had 19 hits on January 23, 2021 and a career total of 28. (Here are the 50 greatest country music stars of all time.)
40. David Cook
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: June 7, 2008 (11 hits on chart)
> Top song: The Time Of My Life (No. 3 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 15 (482nd most of any artist)
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39. Olivia Rodrigo
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: June 5, 2021 (11 hits on chart)
> Top song: Good 4 U (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 12 (651st most of any artist)
38. Lil Nas X
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: October 2, 2021 (11 hits on chart)
> Top song: Industry Baby (feat. Jack Harlow) (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 15 (482nd most of any artist)
37. Young Thug
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: August 31, 2019 (11 hits on chart)
> Top song: Hot (No. 11 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 77 (20th most of any artist)
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36. J. Cole
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: December 31, 2016 (12 hits on chart)
> Top song: Deja Vu (No. 7 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 65 (29th most of any artist)
35. Adele
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: December 4, 2021 (12 hits on chart)
> Top song: Easy On Me (No. 1 for 10 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 25 (219th most of any artist)
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34. Eminem
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: February 1, 2020 (12 hits on chart)
> Top song: Godzilla (No. 3 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 93 (13th most of any artist)
33. Beyoncé
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: May 14, 2016 (12 hits on chart)
> Top song: Sorry (No. 11 for 2 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 65 (29th most of any artist)
32. Tyler, The Creator
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: July 10, 2021 (13 hits on chart)
> Top song: WUSYANAME (feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign) (No. 14 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 27 (195th most of any artist)
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31. 21 Savage
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: October 17, 2020 (13 hits on chart)
> Top song: Mr. Right Now (feat. Metro Boomin & Drake) (No. 10 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 60 (35th most of any artist)
30. Cardi B
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: April 21, 2018 (13 hits on chart)
> Top song: I Like It (feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin) (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 40 (89th most of any artist)
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29. Ed Sheeran
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: March 25, 2017 (13 hits on chart)
> Top song: Shape Of You (No. 1 for 12 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 51 (55th most of any artist)
28. Rod Wave
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: April 10, 2021 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: Tombstone (No. 11 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 36 (115th most of any artist)
27. Polo G
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: June 26, 2021 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: Rapstar (No. 1 for 2 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 45 (70th most of any artist)
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26. Billie Eilish
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: April 13, 2019 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: Bad Guy (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 30 (160th most of any artist)
25. Migos
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: February 10, 2018 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: MotorSport (feat. Nicki Minaj & Cardi B) (No. 6 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 43 (75th most of any artist)
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24. Kendrick Lamar
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: May 6, 2017 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: Humble. (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 69 (26th most of any artist)
23. The Beatles
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: April 11, 1964 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: Twist And Shout (No. 2 for 4 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 71 (23rd most of any artist)
22. Ariana Grande
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: November 14, 2020 (14 hits on chart)
> Top song: Positions (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 71 (23rd most of any artist)
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21. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: October 9, 2021 (15 hits on chart)
> Top song: Life Support (No. 48 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 80 (17th most of any artist)
20. Gunna
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: January 22, 2022 (15 hits on chart)
> Top song: Pushin P (feat. Future & Young Thug) (No. 7 for 3 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 64 (32nd most of any artist)
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19. Meek Mill
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: December 15, 2018 (16 hits on chart)
> Top song: Going Bad (feat. Drake) (No. 6 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 64 (32nd most of any artist)
18. Lil Durk
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: March 26, 2022 (17 hits on chart)
> Top song: Broadway Girls (feat. Morgan Wallen) (No. 14 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 68 (27th most of any artist)
17. Juice WRLD
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: July 25, 2020 (17 hits on chart)
> Top song: Come & Go (feat. Marshmello) (No. 2 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 71 (23rd most of any artist)
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16. Travis Scott
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: August 18, 2018 (17 hits on chart)
> Top song: Sicko Mode (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 79 (18th most of any artist)
15. Justin Bieber
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: December 5, 2015 (17 hits on chart)
> Top song: Love Yourself (No. 1 for 2 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 104 (11th most of any artist)
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14. Summer Walker
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: November 20, 2021 (18 hits on chart)
> Top song: No Love (feat. SZA) (No. 13 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 31 (156th most of any artist)
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13. DaBaby
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: October 12, 2019 (18 hits on chart)
> Top song: Suge (No. 7 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 53 (47th most of any artist)
12. Future
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: May 14, 2022 (18 hits on chart)
> Top song: Wait For U (feat. Drake & Tems) (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 149 (5th most of any artist)
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11. Post Malone
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: May 12, 2018 (18 hits on chart)
> Top song: Better Now (No. 3 for 2 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 56 (41st most of any artist)
10. The Weeknd
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: December 17, 2016 (18 hits on chart)
> Top song: Starboy (feat. Daft Punk) (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 91 (14th most of any artist)
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9. Pop Smoke
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: July 18, 2020 (19 hits on chart)
> Top song: For The Night (feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby) (No. 6 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 34 (124th most of any artist)
8. Morgan Wallen
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: January 23, 2021 (19 hits on chart)
> Top song: Sand In My Boots (No. 30 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 28 (181st most of any artist)
7. Lil Baby
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: June 19, 2021 (19 hits on chart)
> Top song: Hats Off (feat. Lil Durk & Travis Scott) (No. 16 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 102 (12th most of any artist)
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6. Lil Uzi Vert
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: March 28, 2020 (22 hits on chart)
> Top song: Futsal Shuffle 2020 (No. 5 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 83 (16th most of any artist)
5. Bad Bunny
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: May 21, 2022 (22 hits on chart)
> Top song: Moscow Mule (No. 4 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 65 (29th most of any artist)
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4. Lil Wayne
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: October 13, 2018 (22 hits on chart)
> Top song: Uproar (No. 7 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 181 (3rd most of any artist)
3. Kanye West
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: September 11, 2021 (23 hits on chart)
> Top song: Hurricane (No. 6 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 138 (6th most of any artist)
2. Taylor Swift
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: November 27, 2021 (26 hits on chart)
> Top song: All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) (No. 1 for 1 week)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 167 (4th most of any artist)
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1. Drake
> Best week on Billboard Hot 100: July 14, 2018 (27 hits on chart)
> Top song: God’s Plan (No. 1 for 11 weeks)
> Career Hot 100 hits: 263 (the most of any artist)
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