Cardi B on SNL | Will Heath/NBC
Cardi B’s “Be Careful” and Drake’s “Nice For What” are in a tight race for #1 on this week’s Mediabase rhythmic radio chart.
“Be Careful” currently holds a slight lead. It received 5,229 spins during the first six days of the June 24-30 tracking period; “Nice For What” received 5,203 spins during that same window.
The Cardi B song also seems to have the momentum advantage. Whereas its spin count is up 2.4% from the same time last week, the “Nice For What” tally is down 4.0%.
The X factor, however, concerns the potential impact of Drake’s “Scorpion” release. Buzz over the new album will almost certainly impact Drake’s presence at rhythmic radio.
Granted, it is unclear how that buzz will specifically affect “Nice For What.” Will the official single receive additional airplay as radio celebrates the new album? Or, will it lose airplay as radio samples some of the other “Scorpion” tracks?
The answer will come when Mediabase releases its official chart Sunday.
“Nice For What” is vying for an eighth consecutive week at #1. “Be Careful” would represent Cardi B’s fourth career #1 at rhythmic radio (after “Bodak Yellow,” “No Limit,” and “Finesse”).