Lil Uzi Vert’s latest single, “What You Saying,” is quickly climbing the streaming charts, showcasing the rapper’s enduring appeal. At a concise 2:10 minutes, the track has already garnered over 76 million streams, positioning it at #6 on Spotify. The song continues to gain traction, moving from #13 to #11 in weekly requests, with fans voicing their enthusiasm for it across various platforms. This follows Uzi’s streak of successful hits, including the viral sensation “Just Wanna Rock,” which peaked at #5 on the Liveline chart three years ago.
In a broader context, the popularity of “What You Saying” highlights a notable trend in pop radio’s current landscape. While hip-hop has maintained dominance among the core listener demographic of stations, there appears to be a hesitance among programmers to embrace rhythmic music. In a recent analysis, most-requested songs on Liveline predominantly featured hip-hop artists such as SZA, Metro Boomin’, and the Weeknd, alongside select pop tracks like “Flowers” and “Unholy.” However, there is an increasing demand for variety across genres, with emerging artists like Ella Langley and Noah Kahan also making waves.
“What You Saying” resonates with listeners in a similar vein to Lil Tecca’s “Dark Thoughts,” which, despite ranking high in streams, struggled to break into the top 30 of the CHR charts. This pattern raises questions about the support that rhythmic music receives from Top 40 stations, especially when audience preferences clearly indicate a desire for greater diversity in their music. Many programmers have expressed concerns about engaging audiences who may have already turned away from Top 40, yet songs like “What You Saying” and other recent hits are eliciting significant requests, suggesting that these listeners are still very much engaged with radio.
As for Harry Styles’ track “Aperture,” its initial enthusiasm on Liveline has dwindled, sliding to #14 on Spotify, even while maintaining a presence at #16 on the Liveline chart. This juxtaposition underscores the vitality of listen-driven programming, as audiences are looking for music that reflects their tastes, regardless of prior radio perceptions.
Overall, “What You Saying” stands as a testament to Lil Uzi Vert’s relevance in today’s music scene, and with the ongoing listener interest in rhythmic music, there is hope that it will receive the recognition it deserves. The shift in listener preferences offers a promising outlook for the diverse sounds shaping the contemporary music landscape, suggesting that radio might benefit from embracing this shift sooner rather than later.