Just a week after its debut with no video or major appearances until Sunday’s BET Awards, Janet Jackson‘s new single ‘No Sleeep’ has officially hit the top of Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Airplay charts. Via Billboard:
Janet Jackson makes her Billboard chart return as “No Sleeep” debuts at No. 15 on the Adult R&B Songs chart (dated July 11) The sultry song marks her first entry on the list in five years; her last, “Nothing,” peaked at No. 15 in May 2010.
“No Sleeep” grants Jackson her 27th hit on Adult R&B Songs (which originated in 1993), tying her with Faith Evans for third-most visits among women. Mary J. Bligeleads with 51, followed by Mariah Carey (33). The debut also earns Jackson her highest entrance ever on the chart.
The new single concurrently bows on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay at No. 27 with 6.7 million in first-week audience, according to Nielsen Music, marking her 36th hit on the chart. It’s her highest debut in more than 20 years: “Scream,” with brotherMichael, launched at No. 6 on June 3, 1995. Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes” remains the record-holder as the only song to debut at No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (May 1, 1993).
An early supporter of “No Sleeep,” adult R&B WDAS Philadelphia, played the track 22 times during the tracking week ending June 28. Derrick “DC” Corbett, the station’s director of urban programming, tells Billboard that the song “just felt like us. It’s a perfect summertime groove, and it’s rare when you hear a song and everyone’s opinion of the record within the building is ultra-positive. That, coupled with the fact that she’s an icon that we all grew up with, made it a no-brainer for us.
“We’re happy to be a small contributor to her success with [‘Sleeep’], and it’s exciting to have her back in the mix.”
Following the ‘Ultimate Icon’ tribute Janet received on Sunday, and the hype surrounding her appearance on the BET Awards where she looked absolutely flawless, we’re sure the single we continue to climb. As of the weekend the single was sitting right outside of the top 10 of iTunes singles charts.
