Twenty-three years ago, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” started off well at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Sixteen weeks after its hot shot debut, the ballad — from Carey’s fifth studio album Daydream — became the longest-running single in the Hot 100 history.
Today, Lil’ Nas X, one of the rising rock stars of 2019, has managed to unseat Carey and Boyz II Men’s collaboration (and Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” featuring Justin Bieber) for the most weeks at number one of the Hot 100.
His viral hit “Old Town Road” has spent the last 17 weeks atop the chart, surpassing Carey and Boyz II Men’s 16-week residency of their emotional record.
It took a total of five versions of the track — “Old Town Road (Original Edition),” a remix with Billy Ray Cyrus, a remix by Diplo, a remix with Young Thug and a remix with RM of K-pop group BTS — to compete against “One Sweet Day.”
Carey, who sent 14 songs to the top spot on the Hot 100 in just a decade, still holds the undisputed title for the most chart-toppers (18) by any other female artist. “We Belong Together,” which ranks as her most successful solo song on this chart, spent 14 strong weeks at its peak in 2005.
Carey’s latter ballad isn’t the only single to clock in at 14 weeks on the Hot 100 chart. In fact, Whitney Houston’s (“I Will Always Love You”) and Boyz II Men’s (“I’ll Make Love to You”) had an equal run for their respective hit singles.
Speaking of Boyz II Men, they are the highest-ranking R&B group on the Hot 100. Out of their four number-one hits, three of them have spent more than 10 weeks at the peak. Their first chart leader, “End of the Road,” from the Boomerang soundtrack and their debut album Cooleyhighharmony, won first place for a then-record of 13 weeks in 1992. The song dethroned Elvis Presley’s two-sided single “Don’t Be Cruel / Hound Dog,” which presided over the Hot 100 for 11 weeks in 1956.
Two weeks later, Houston’s outstanding rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” overthrew Boyz II Men’s impassioned ballad and set another new record on the Hot 100 in 1993.
Over the years, singles by many R&B/soul singers — including the previously mentioned artists — have secured 10 weeks (and longer) on the Hot 100. Check out a list of other songs by lead and featured R&B artists that have dominated the popular singles chart for a 10-week consecutive run and beyond.
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars [2015]
“Uptown Funk” — (14 consecutive weeks)
Brandy & Monica [1998]
“The Boy is Mine” — ( 13 consecutive weeks)
Usher featuring Lil’ Jon and Ludacris [2004]
“Yeah!” — (12 consecutive weeks)
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell [2013]
“Blurred Lines” — (12 consecutive weeks)
Toni Braxton [1996-1997]
“Un-Break My Heart” — (11 consecutive weeks)
Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 [1997]
“I’ll Be Missing You” — (11 consecutive weeks)
Destiny’s Child [2000/2001]
“Independent Woman Part. 1” — (11 consecutive weeks)
Ashanti [2002]
“Foolish” — (10 consecutive weeks)
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx [2005]
“Gold Digger” — (10 consecutive weeks)
Beyoncé [2006/2007]
“Irreplaceable” — (10 consecutive weeks)
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain [2008]
“Low” — (10 consecutive weeks)
Pharrell [2014]
“Happy” — (10 consecutive weeks)
