Welcome back everyone, I hope you were able to recharge the batteries, spend some time with family and friends, etc. The East Coast was hammered with unusually cold weather, so it’s been a tough start to the year. The charts have been just as screwy. Thanks to the way the holiday fell this year, we’re still seeing unusual numbers. I’m purposely not including the increases or decreases on the records, because most will definitely be back in the positive by week’s end. This is a “cheat sheet” of sorts, as the labels are still trying to find out what records are real and which ones will come back to solid research stories. I also want to welcome and congratulate Rick Sackheim on his new gig at Epic. Rick is second to none when it comes to promotion, and has an amazing track record and success rate. I look forward to hearing him bitch at me about some new artists.

And speaking of Epic, Camila Cabello f/Young Thug’s “Havana” (SYCO) starts the year at #1. This is the eighth #1 record for Sujit Kundu and Epic in the last 365 days. He also has Yo Gotti’s “Juice” (CMG) at #27, as well as Blac Youngsta’s “Booty” (916% Ent.) at #46. French Montana’s “Famous” (Bad Boy) is at #49, while Future & Young Thug f/Offset’s “Patek Water” is at #55. He’s doing a soft impact on the new Camila Cabello, “Never Be the Same” (SYCO), this week. It’s off to a great start at Top 40.



Gary Spangler and Davey Dee at Republic have Post Malone’s “I Fall Apart” at #10, Big Sean & Metro Boomin f/21 Savage’s “Pull Up N Wreck” (G.O.O.D/Def Jam/Boominati) at #23 and Jacquees f/Dej Loaf’s “At the Club” (Cash Money) at #25. Taylor Swift f/Ed Sheeran & Future’s “End Game” (Big Machine) comes in at #28 this week.

Columbia’s Ayelet Schiffman and James White have N.E.R.D & Rihanna’s “Lemon” at #9 and Farruko f/Nicki Minaj & 21 Savage’s “Krippy Kush” (Sony Latin) at #19. They’re impacting Lil Xan’s “Betrayed” this week. It’s really selling strong, and has a solid buzz.



RCA’s Inca and Lori G ring in the new year with Miguel f/Travis Scott’s “Sky Walker” (Bystorm Ent.) at #7. G-Eazy & Halsey’s “Him And I” comes in at #12, and will be Top 10 by week’s end. SZA’s “The Weekend” (TDE) is at #14, and right behind is A$AP Ferg’s “Plain Jane” (Polo Grounds) at #15. Chris Brown’s “Pills & Automobiles”—a Top 5 record at Urban—lands at #21. Khalid’s “Saved” (Right Hand) is at #38, and Justin Timberlake’s just-released “Filthy” is at #54. That latter will see a solid debut this coming week.

Capitol’s Greg Marella and Dixie Tipton have Migos f/Nicki Minaj & Cardi B’s “Motorsport” (QC/Motown) at #8 this week. Halsey’s “Bad at Love” is at #17. They debut Stefflon Don f/French Montana’s “Hurtin’ Me” at #37 this week.

A few records to really pay attention to include NF’s “Let you Down” (Caroline), which is #6 this week, and Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s “All the Stars” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope), which is impacting this week, and already on the building chart.

BUZZ RECORDS:
Justin Timberlake “Filthy” RCA
Migos “Stirfry” QC/Motown/Capitol
Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse” Atlantic
Lil Xan “Betrayed” Columbia
Kendrick Lamar & SZA “All the Stars” TDE/Aftermath/Interscope