Mary J. Blige’s reign at radio won’t let up. Her latest single “Still Believe in Love,” featuring rapper Vado, is now in its fourth week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
“Still Believe in Love” now joins 1995’s “Not Gon’ Cry” and 2021’s “Good Morning Gorgeous,” which both spent four weeks atop the chart.
Blige’s best run on this chart was in 2016 with “Thick of It,” written and produced by Camper and Jazmine Sullivan, which claimed the No. 1 spot for 16 weeks.
Coming in second place is her Grammy-winning single “Be Without You” (14 weeks at No. 1) and her 2008 duet with Musiq Soulchild, “Ifuleave,” in third place (8 weeks at No. 1).
In a 2023 interview with Rated R&B, Soulchild spoke about what it meant for Blige to collaborate with him on their Grammy-nominated duet.
“The fact that she was willing to put time aside to contribute to my timeline, I will forever be grateful for that. I really appreciate her doing that,” Soulchild told Rated R&B. “She Mary’d it, you know what I’m saying? You couldn’t ask for a better combo at that time. I’ve been a fan basically my whole life and appreciate that moment.”
Getting back to “Still Believe in Love,” Blige has stated that the song, which samples Mtume’s “C.O.D. (I’ll Deliver),” is a standalone single.
Released Oct. 27, 2023, on Blige’s Beautiful Life Music, the song debuted on the Adult R&B Airplay chart during the week of Nov. 4, 2023. It marked her 61st entry on the chart.
Here is a breakdown of all of Blige’s No. 1 hits on the Adult R&B Airplay chart:
- “Be Without You,” 14 weeks at No. 1 (2006)
- “Thick of It,” 16 weeks at No. 1 (2016)
- “IfULeave,” Musiq Soulchild featuring Mary J. Blige, 8 weeks at No. 1 (2009)
- “Still Believe in Love,” 4 weeks at No. 1 so far (2024)
- “Good Morning Gorgeous,” 4 weeks at No. 1 (2022)
- “Not Gon’ Cry,” 4 weeks at No. 1 (1996)
- “U + Me (Love Lesson),” 3 weeks at No. 1 (2017)
- “Take Me As I Am,” 1 week at No. 1 (2007)
In other news, Blige will receive the Entertainment Icon Award at the 2024 Urban One Honors. The ceremony airs Sunday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. ET on TV One and will simulcast on CLEO TV.
“Mary’s immeasurable talent and award-winning music has shaped our culture and has had a profound impact on artists and music across all genres, but most notably the elevation of female artists in both R&B and Hip Hop across generations. She fully personifies the ‘Best in Black’ theme of this year’s Urban One Honors,” said Michelle L. Rice, president of TV One and CLEO TV.
Other honorees include Dionne Warwick (Lifetime Achievement), Frankie Beverly (Living Legend), Chlöe (Generation Next), and Donald Lawrence (Inspirational Impact).
Stream “Still Believe in Love” by Mary J. Blige featuring Vado below.
