Rae Sremmurd's 'Black Beatles' Is The New No. 1 Song In America

After 12 weeks in a row at No. 1, “Closer” finally steps aside to make room for a new song at the top of the charts here in America, and it’s a hit single that few saw coming.

“Black Beatles,” the latest release from hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, has taken the crown, surprising many in the process. The track, which is now the biggest single of the pair’s career, only broke into the top 10last week, when the song settled at No. 9. A jump from ninth to first is rare, and it just goes to show the incredible rate at which people are listening to, buying, and spreading “Beatles” across the internet.



The hip-hop tune is catchy and was working its way up the charts on its own, but it really has a viral sensation to thank for its chart-topping success. The song has been soundtracking the “mannequin challenge,” the latest viral video craze that sees people posing and staying still with a cameraperson showing how many people are involved and what crazy poses they have. For those that haven’t seen an example of this yet (have you not been on the internet for the past few weeks?), think of it like being inside a photograph. Thousands of these videos have been created and shared across social media in the past few weeks, with everyone from Hillary Clinton’s team to Sir Paul McCartney himself getting in on the fun.




The ascent of “Black Beatles” finally ends the lengthy reign of “Closer,” the international smash from The Chainsmokers and Halsey. The track, which is featured on the duo’s just-releasedCollage EP (which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 this week), ruled the singles tally for 12 uninterrupted weeks, making it the longest-running No. 1 hit in over a year. This week, it moves down just one peg, and it’s sure to remain in the region for weeks to come.



“Black Beatles” is an enormous win for both Rae Sremmurd and featured vocalist Gucci Mane charting-wise, as it easily marks a new highpoint for both acts. Before last week, both Rae Sremmurd and Gucci Mane had never broken into the top 10 before, let alone come close to the No. 1 spot. Both have charted a handful of top 40 hits in their careers, but this frame is an exceptional achievement for all involved.