Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ Will Debut At #1 On Billboard Hot 100
by Karen
In a whirlwind of a week for Childish Gambino (and Donald Glover), his new single ‘This Is America’ which was accompanied by a surreal new video that highlights America’s issues with gun control, minstrel caricatures of Black Americans and social issues we can’t seem to get over. The song debuted during the middle of his performance (on Glover hosted) SNL (May 5th) and the subsequent video also hit the net and has accumulated over 50 million views on Youtube in less than a week.
According to industry forecasters and Nielsen Music data, America has drawn over 20 million U.S. streams and 2 million in radio airplay audience and sold over 50,000 downloads so far through the tracking week.
Related Everything You Have Missed In The ‘This Is America’ Video
When projected over a full week, the song will debut at #1 dethroning Drake’s Nice For What on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated May 19); the Hot 100 blends weekly streaming, airplay and sales data, according to Nielsen Music. This will be Childish Gambino’s first #1 single on the Hot 100. ‘Nice For What’ also debuted at #1, replacing Drake’s last effort ‘God’s Plan’ which also debuted at #1.
America marks Gambino’s first release on RCA Records, hit a No. 12 Hot 100 high last August with his fourth and most entry on the chart, “Redbone.” His three prior charted titles, in 2013-16, peaked between Nos. 64 and 86.