Michael Jackson sends four singles — “Rock With You,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” “Smooth Criminal” and “Bad” — back to the same Billboard chart as Drake slips away. American musician Michael Jackson performs onstage at the Rosemont Horizon during his ‘BAD’ tour, Rosemont, Illinois, April 19, 1988. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
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Drake is typically referred to as a rapper, but in reality, the music he releases can be classified under many different genre labels. Hip-hop is often most appropriate, but sometimes – hundreds of times, actually – he has landed hits on Billboard‘s R&B charts.
That was the case recently, when he unleashed three albums, Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour, simultaneously. The projects all became major wins, and they launched at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, on the Billboard 200, a historic first.
Most of the tracks on those albums were classified as rap or hip-hop, but Billboard classified some of them as R&B. Drake scored multiple new smashes on the R&B Streaming Songs tally last week, and a handful of tunes from his most recent full-lengths debuted inside the top 10 on that ranking only a few days ago – but now many of them have fallen.
As a number of Drake tracks vacate the R&B Streaming Songs list, Michael Jackson returns with some of his most popular singles.
Michael Jackson Returns With Four Hit Singles
The R&B Streaming Songs chart only features 15 spaces, and yet this week, four tracks by Jackson return. Only one, “Rock With You,” bounds back into the top 10 after not finding space on the rundown just days ago. “Rock With You” is back at No. 10, nearing its No. 7 high point.
Jackson’s three other comebacks land side by side-by-side-by-side. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” “Smooth Criminal” and “Bad” settle at Nos. 12, 13 and 14, respectively.
Michael Jackson Fills Two-Thirds of the List
Jackson currently fills two-thirds of all the spaces on the R&B Streaming Songs chart. His quartet of returning favorites improves his fortunes, but it is holdovers that ensure he remains the king of the tally.
The late superstar occupies the highest four slot, with “Billie Jean” earning another stint at No. 1. That Thriller classic blocks Jackson from scoring another No. 1 as “Chicago” advances to a new high point of No. 2.
Here are all of Michael Jackson’s current hits on the R&B Streaming Songs chart.
- No. 1 – “Billie Jean”
- No. 2 – “Chicago”
- No. 3 – “Human Nature”
- No. 4 – “Beat It”
- No. 6 – “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough”
- No. 9 – “Dirty Diana”
- No. 10 – “Rock With You”
- No. 12 – “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
- No. 13 – “Smooth Criminal”
- No. 14 – “Bad”
Drake Keeps Three Streaming Hits on the R&B Chart
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Drake performs live on stage during day two of Wireless Festival 2025 at Finsbury Park on July 12, 2025 in London, England. Drake is headlining an unprecedented all three nights of Wireless Festival. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
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Drake only scores three wins on the current edition of the R&B Streaming Songs register. “I’m Spent,” his collaboration with Loe Shimmy, slips from No. 2 – where it stopped short of ruling thanks to “Billie Jean” – to No. 5. “Classic” and “Fort Worth,” which also credits PartyNextDoor, dip to Nos. 8 and 11, respectively, after launching at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, last time around.
Michael Jackson Fills Drake’s Spots
Drake keeps his three highest-debuting tunes from last week on the current version of the R&B Streaming Songs roster, while at the same time, several other recent successes vanish. “Gen 5” and “White Bone” launched at Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, last week, ensuring the Grammy winner occupied half of the slots within the top 10. “New Bestie,” “BBW” and “Prioritizing” started their time on the tally at Nos. 12, 13 and 14, respectively. Now, each and every one of those positions is claimed by one of Jackson’s most memorable tunes.
Justin Bieber Returns With “Yukon”
Just one other single makes its way back to the R&B Streaming Songs chart, now that it is not quite so packed with Drake cuts. Justin Bieber’s “Yukon,” a former No. 1, celebrates 35 frames on the tally as it reenters in last place, at No. 15.
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