Kehlani achieves a first No. 1 as lead artist on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, as “Folded” crowns the list dated Dec. 13. The single, released and promoted through Atlantic Records, ascended from the runner-up spot after becoming the most-played song on U.S. panel-contributing mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations for the tracking week of Nov. 28–Dec. 4, according to Luminate.

For its coronation week, “Folded” improved 2% in plays compared to the prior frame. As the song enters the summit, it unseats Chris Brown’s “It Depends,” featuring Bryson Tiller, from the top after a nine-week reign. The former chart-topper slipped one rung after shedding 2% in weekly plays.

As a lead artist, Kehlani’s previous best showing was a No. 2 result for “Beautiful Lies,” a collaboration with Yung Bleu, in March 2022. In addition to “Folded,” Kehlani claims two more songs on this week’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Both of these tracks once again support Cardi B, but this time on the rapper’s “Safe,” which slides from No. 7 to No. 8 on the chart (down 11%) after peaking at No. 3 last month. Additionally, Kehlani’s own “Folded” follow-up, “Out the Window,” pushes from No. 32 to No. 30 in its third week on the chart thanks to a 9% jump in weekly plays.

Elsewhere, “Folded” continues to make an impact across a slate of airplay charts. It earns a fifth frame at its No. 2 peak on the audience-based R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, where, despite settling for the runner-up position again, it increased 1% to 21.1 million in audience listenership for the week.

A former Rhythmic Airplay chart-topper, having led that list for a week in October, “Folded” backtracked from No. 7 to No. 8 at that format (down 2%). However, it improved in plays on Adult R&B Airplay (up 13%, rising from No. 23 to No. 21) and Pop Airplay (up 1%, though it slipped slightly from No. 30 to No. 31 in rank).

Kehlani’s continued success with “Folded” highlights the singer’s growing influence across multiple radio formats and cements her presence as a leading voice in contemporary R&B and hip-hop airplay.
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kehlani-folded-number-1-mainstream-rb-hip-hop-airplay-chart-1236132999/