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‘Savage’ Challenge Powers Megan Thee Stallion's Top 10 Debut on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

The song also explodes into the Hot 100's top 20.

Megan Thee Stallion becomes the latest winner of a social media sensation, as the #SavageChallenge generates a top 10 debut on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and top 20 showing on the Billboard Hot 100 for its namesake song.

“Savage” enters at No. 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated April 4, to give the Houston rapper her second top 10 start. She previously opened at No. 7 with “Hot Girl Summer,” a collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign, in August.

“Savage” concurrently bows at No. 5 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, tying “Summer” as her best starting position.

@keke.janajahNEW DANCE ALERT! if u use my dance tag me so i can see @theestallion ##writethelyrics ##PlayWithLife ##foyou ##fyp ##foryoupage ##newdance ##savage♬ Savage – Megan Thee Stallion

The challenge is a short, choreographed dance to the song’s hook created by TikTok user Keara Wilson, who posted a clip of the routine on March 10. Megan The Stallion took note on March 15 and began re-sharing others’ clips and one of her own in the coming days. Many celebrities have also joined the trend, including Normani, KeKe Palmer and Hailey Bieber (with Justin as backup).

A popular twist has fans overlaying career highlights above the “sassy, bougie, ratchet,” hook for superstars such as Mariah Carey, Kerry Washington and Janet Jackson, whose share left the Houston rapper “screaming.”

 

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Yallll I am mf screaming Janet Jackson posted her #savagechallenge I love you @janetjackson

A post shared by Hot Girl Meg (@theestallion) on

The trend prompted a sales and streaming surge: “Savage” sold 11,000 downloads in the week ending March 26, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data, up 302% from the week prior. The sum fuels a 17-2 flight on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and an 11-1 jump on Rap Digital Song Sales, the rapper’s first time atop the latter list.

“Savage” streams rise to 15.8 million U.S. clicks in the same period, a 102% improvement from the prior week, enabling a No. 11 start on R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and a No. 14 entrance on the all-genre Streaming Songs chart.

Radio, too, has begun to pick up on the buzz, with “Savage” debuting on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at No. 47. There, it earns 2.5 million in format audience in the week ending March 29, a 150% gain from the previous frame.

The gains across all metrics thrust “Savage” 98-20 on the Hot 100, trailing only “Hot Girl Summer” (No. 11) as the rapper’s best result on the chart.

“Savage” appears on Megan Thee Stallion’s latest release, Suga, which debuted at No. 7 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 10 on the Billboard 200 last month.