The modern reality of music is seeing songs blow up on streaming services and social media platforms such as TikTok and Triller going mainstream before they’re even crowned by the radio. The tracks don’t even have to be that new with the latest example being Doja Cat’s 2019 “Streets” scorching thanks to TikTok’s Silhouette challenge.
The Hot Pink cut is climbing a pair of Billboard charts and has RCA Records scrambling to maximize the record’s potential by finally sending it to Hip Hop and R&B radio stations starting the week of February 23, according to Billboard.
Doja earned her second Top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated February 13 with “Streets” soaring from No. 11 to No. 7 after collecting 18.7 million U.S. streams, according to MRC Data.
Without any airplay, “Streets” is dominating the streaming world by holding strong at No. 2 behind SZA’s “Good Days” on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and R&B Streaming Songs charts.
Following the release of “Up,” Cardi B was met with critics calling her out for making songs strictly to blow up on TikTok with certain challenges. Cardi shut down the accusations immediately and showed receipts of her choreographing the videos for her recent singles.
“Dont try to play me like I just started this shit cause of tiktok,” she wrote. “My last 4 videos I gave choreography & at award shows as well. Please me, press, wap & up was my last videos. EAT IT UP!”
The Bronx bombshell continued, “It wasn’t me who started the wap challenge. I didn’t even knew how to the dance that’s why I never did the challenge in the first place. How ya mad that these female rappers songs becoming tiktok challenges because people genuinely wants to dance to it.”
Dont try to play me like I just started this shit cause of tiktok .My last 4 videos I gave choreography & at award shows as well .Please me , press ,wap & up was my last https://t.co/qi8Hjm6VPB IT UP !
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) February 8, 2021
It wasn’t me who started the wap challenge.I didn’t even knew how to the dance that’s why I never did the challenge in the first place .How ya mad that these female rappers songs becoming tiktok challenges because people genuinely wants to dance to it.
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) February 8, 2021
Plenty of tracks have received the TikTok stimulus package recently with Erica Banks’ “Buss It” being another example. The “Buss It” Challenge took over social media in January and vaulted the viral track onto the Hot 100 and earned Banks her first No. 1 on the Triller charts. Keeping the momentum going, Travis Scott blessed the Dallas native’s official remix on Thursday (February 11).
Even after his death, Pop Smoke was a staple on the Billboard charts. TikTok played a role in his ascension with singles such as “What You Know Bout Love” and “Mood Swings” featuring Lil Tjay receiving a boost thanks to becoming the subject of dance crazes.