Mary J. Blige wraps up the year on a high note as her single “Still Believe In Love” featuring Vado claims the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart. In its ninth week on the chart, the track successfully surpasses Usher‘s “Good Good,” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage, which held the lead for five non-consecutive weeks.
This achievement marks the eighth time that the Queen of Hip Hop Soul has secured a No. 1 position on this chart, solidifying her status as one of the leading women in the industry. Among female artists, Blige ranks third for the most chart-topping hits, with Alicia Keys at the top with 14 and Toni Braxton following with 11. Notably, Blige holds the overall record for the most top 10 hits among all artists, boasting 26 to her credit.
“Still Believe In Love” is a Mtume-sampled track and serves as Blige’s second rapid ascent to the No. 1 spot on the Adult R&B chart. Her previous track to achieve this feat was 2016’s “Thick of It,” which spent 16 weeks at the top. Blige’s longest climb to the summit was with “Take Me As I Am,” reaching No. 1 in its 22nd week on the chart, a song co-written by Keri Hilson and featured on 2005’s The Breakthrough.
Blige’s recent chart-topping hits on the Adult R&B Airplay chart include “Not Gon’ Cry,” “Be Without You,” “Take Me As I Am,” “IfULeave” with Musiq Soulchild, “Thick of It,” “U + Me (Love Lesson),” “Good Morning Gorgeous,” and now “Still Believe In Love” featuring Vado.
“Still Believe In Love” also holds the distinction of being Blige’s first song to reach No. 1 on her Beautiful Life Music label. The track entered the top 10 on the Adult R&B chart in late November and simultaneously reached the top 10 on R&B radio.
Speaking of R&B radio, the track currently sits at No. 2, with Muni Long’s “Made For Me” taking the top spot this week.
Released on October 27, accompanied by a music video co-directed by Blige and Eif Rivera, “Still Believe In Love” has garnered over 3.4 million views on YouTube. In a previous interview with Mike Shannon of SiriusXM’s Heart & Soul, Blige clarified that the song is a standalone track and not part of any upcoming album. DJ Cassidy and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman co-produced the nostalgic track.
In other recent news, Blige contributed to the soundtrack for the musical adaptation of The Color Purple, currently showing in U.S. theaters. The track she performed, “When I Can’t Do Better,” was co-written by Johntá Austin, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Gabriel Blizman. Additionally, Blige produced a remake of Boyz II Men’s “Please Don’t Go” by the emerging boy band WanMor.
Listen to “Still Believe In Love” here.
