Several music industry veterans topped the Billboard Hot 100 this year, but it would be wrong to say they’re the ones ruling it. The domination of the breakout artists is the biggest chart trend of 2021, and these three are currently leading the way.
“Rapstar” – Polo G
If you still haven’t heard of the rapper Polo G, it’s finally time to learn his name. His latest single “Rapstar” became his first no. 1 single in the U.S. after topping the Hot 100 this week. To make the whole thing even more impressive, he managed to reach the top after beating the likes of Lil Nas X, Justin Bieber, and Silk Sonic.
“Drivers License” – Olivia Rodrigo
With eight consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, “Drivers License” is currently the longest-running no. 1 smash hit of 2021. It cemented Olivia Rodrigo’s status as the biggest rising star of the year and created a lot of buzz for her upcoming debut album.
“Mood” – 24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior
“Mood” was originally released in the summer of 2020, and became a viral hit thanks to TikTok. It spent several weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 last year and returned to the no. 1 spot shortly after the holidays. It was later featured on 24kGoldn’s debut album El Dorado, which included collaborations with several hip-hop superstars, including DaBaby and Future.