Decades after it was released as a single from Thriller, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” climbs to a never-before-seen peak on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart. LONDON – NOVEMBER 15: Singer Michael Jackson performs on stage during the 2006 World Music Awards at Earls Court on November 15, 2006 in London. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
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Throughout his decades-long music career, Michael Jackson recorded songs that can be classified under many different genre names. He is often referred to as the King of Pop, but the superstar’s catalog also includes rock, R&B, dance and other styles as well.
These days, Jackson typically performs best when it comes to the Billboard charts on R&B-focused rankings. Much of his output fits under that label, and ever since the release of his namesake biopic, Michael, the chart-topper has dominated several R&B tallies like few before him, dead or alive.
Jackson once again claims more R&B hits in America than any other artist, and one of his most celebrated singles even manages to hit a new peak decades after its release.
Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” Hits a New Chart Peak
“Beat It” steps up one space on this week’s Hot R&B Songs chart. The Thriller smash ascends from No. 5 to No. 4 on Billboard‘s list of the most popular R&B cuts in the United States. Sales, streams and radio airplay help dictate where a tune will land, just as is the case with every other chart published by Billboard that begins with the word “Hot.” No. 4 is now as high as “Beat It” has climbed on the Hot R&B Songs rundown.
“Beat It” Becomes One of Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits
As it reaches its newly-established peak, “Beat It” now ranks as Jackson’s fourth highest-rising smash on the Hot R&B Songs chart. It shares that position with, coincidentally, three additional tunes, becoming one of four No. 4-peaking songs. “Love Never Felt So Good,” a posthumous collaboration with Justin Timberlake, stalled in that space more than a decade ago, back in May 2014. In only the past few weeks, both “Human Nature” and “Chicago” have soared to the same spot, and they’ve never pushed any higher.
Michael Jackson Dominates the R&B Top 10
“Beat It” is one of half a dozen tracks by Jackson that can be found on this week’s Hot R&B Songs chart. Amazingly, each and every one of them sits within the top 10. As “Beat It” rises higher than ever, both “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” keep at their previously-set peaks.
Here’s a look at where all of Michael Jackson’s tunes appear on this week’s Hot R&B Songs chart.
- No. 3 – “Billie Jean”
- No. 4 – “Beat It”
- No. 5 – “Chicago”
- No. 6 – “Human Nature”
- No. 7 – “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough”
- No. 9 – “Rock with You”
Michael Jackson Has Charted a Dozen Top 10s
Jackson first landed on the Hot R&B Songs chart in May 2014, several years after the roster was introduced by Billboard. Since then, he has scored 14 appearances, with all but two of those cuts – “A Place With No Name” and “Loving You” – breaking into the top 10 at one point or another. Notably, half of all of Jackson’s career top 10 smashes on the Hot R&B Songs roster are present within that tier right now.
Here are all of Michael Jackson’s top 10s on the Hot R&B Songs chart.
- “Beat It”
- “Billie Jean”
- “Chicago”
- “Dirty Diana”
- “Don’t Matter to Me” with Drake
- “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough”
- “Human Nature”
- “Love Never Felt So Good” with Justin Timberlake
- “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
- “Rock with You”
- “Slave to the Rhythm”
- “Thriller”
Michael Jackson Beats Drake on This Week’s R&B Chart
US rapper Drake poses in the press room during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bridget BENNETT / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP via Getty Images)
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Jackson beats Drake in the race to score the most hits on this week’s Hot R&B Songs chart, but he doesn’t win by much. The Canadian hip-hop talent, who is still riding high off of the release of three albums – Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour – keeps five cuts on the genre-specific ranking, all of which come from his latest eras. Chris Brown fills a trio of slots, while Kehlani appears twice.