Where has this year gone? By the time you read this column, we will be in July.

I know I sound like a broken record, but since Drake dropped his LP, he’s been the king of Rhythm radio. Summer Sixteen could not be more apropos. This is most certainly Drake Season. His single with Wizkid and Kyla, "One Dance" (YMCMB/Republic), has been #1 for eight weeks, new track "Controlla" is now Top 10, and “For Free,” his track with DJ Khaled (let's be honest, it really is a Drake track), is #11 and up nearly 1000 spins. And that doesn't include the other tracks he’s on and hot album cuts, like Drake f/Rihanna’s "Too Good," which debuted this week. I honestly can't think of an artist in recent history who’s had so much pop appeal, while being an automatic at Rhythm and still having the Urban stations banging his tracks, and he’s a first-week add as well. Track AFTER track. Staying with Republic, Gary Spangler, Davey Dee and Stef Cole also have T.I.’s “Dope” at #17, gaining 420 spins. Marc E. Bassy f/G-Eazy’s “You & Me” moved to #23, adding 170 spins to his total. S-8ighty’s “Halfway” continues to develop and is now at #46. They’re impacting Ariana Grande’s “Into You,” coming off her last track, “Dangerous Woman,” which was a Top 10 record.


Sujit Kundu and the Epic staff are hard at work, locking in Kent Jones’ “Don’t Mind” (We The Best) for the #1 spot. On the building chart, as of Monday AM, it was already printing at the top! DJ Khaled f/Drake’s “For Free” (We The Best) was up a cool 1000 spins to land at #11. That one’s going to be a Top 5 record in the next few weeks. Fifth Harmony’s “All in My Head” (SYCO) climbed #21-18, after a 400-spin addition. Future’s “Wicked” (A1/Freebandz) moved inside the Top 30, after gaining another 240 spins. Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too” just missed charting, coming in at #41. Young Thug & Travis Scott’s “Pick Up the Phone” leapt to #59, up 100 spins. Meanwhile, they’re impacting DJ Khaled f/Jay Z & Future’s brand new one, “I Got the Keys.” Man, Epic is on fire!

Def Jam’s Rick Sackheim, Noah Sheer and Scott Maness have Rihanna’s “Needed Me” (Westbury Road/Roc Nation) coming in Top 5. It was up 820 spins, and at press time, it was already #3 on the building chart. YG f/Drake’s “Why You Always Hatin” moved #33-27, gaining an additional 260 spins. Right behind that is Kanye West’s “Father Stretch My Hands” (G.O.O.D.) at #28, up 215 spins, and Twenty88’s “On the Way” (G.O.O.D./Artium) is at #54.

Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White are red-hot with three records inside the Top 10. The Chainsmokers f/Daya’ “Don’t Let Me Down” is at #4, gaining 300 spins. Beyonce’s “Sorry” glided to #8, up 430 spins. Right behind that one is Calvin Harris f/Rihanna’s “This Is What You Came For” at #9, grabbing 450 new spins. Adele’s “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” (XL), meanwhile, is at #49.


RCA’s Inca and Lori G are full steam ahead with Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” which was up 180 spins to hold at #7. G-Eazy f/Chris Brown’s “Drifting” was up 200 spins, moving to #13, while Usher f/Young Thug’s “No Limit” came in at #25. It tacked on 550 spins, good enough for the week’s highest debut! Sia f/Sean Paul’s “Cheap Thrills” (Monkey Puzzle) also debuted, but at #37, up 200 spins. Alicia Keys’ “In Common” is at #38, and Chris Brown’s “Grass Ain’t Greener” is at #45. They’re impacting that one now. Kid Ink f/Jeremih & Spice’s “Nasty” is just getting started. It was up 120 spins, and is a few weeks away from charting.

Dixie Tipton and Capitol continue to grow Niykee Heaton’s “Bad Intentions,” which jumped to #31, after gaining 190 spins. This was the best week yet for the track.

John Strazza and RECORDS has Trinidad James “Just a Lil Thick” at #16.

MOST INCREASED:
DJ Khaled f/Drake “For Free” YMCMB/Epic-Republic
Rihanna “Needed Me” Westbury Road/Roc Nation
Kent Jones “Don’t Mind” We The Best/Epic
Drake “Controlla” YMCMB/Republic
Usher f/Young Thug “No Limit” RCA

BUZZ RECORDS:
DJ Khaled f/Jay Z & Future “I Got the Keys” We The Best/Epic
Kid Ink f/Jeremih & Spice “Nasty” RCA
Young Thug & Travis Scott “Pick Up the Phone” Epic
Ariana Grande “Into You” Republic
Sia f/Sean Paul “Cheap Thrills” Monkey Puzzle/RCA