Christmas is fast fading into the distance as we slowly, begrudgingly begin to return to our daily routines. The same goes for the charts, the previous few weeks have seen them awash with classic cheesy Christmas songs. One week into the New Year and it’s clear that along with all manner of detoxes, we’re also musically cleansing ourselves of cheesy Christmas overindulgence. Let’s go straight in and see how the first chart of the year is shaping up.
Ed Sheeran gets the first number one of the year with both his album Divide and the fourth single to drop off the album “Perfect” topping the singles chart. With Christmas festivities over its business as usual for golden boy Stormzy, with Gang Signs and Prayer reclaiming its place well inside the top 40 sitting at number 28.
The singles charts have seen some seismic shifts in just a few weeks. “Man’s Not Hot” edges ever closer to number one, landing the number three spot. I think Mr Dapaah himself wouldn’t have believed you if you said that he’d have a song in the charts sitting alongside Ed Sheeran and Eminem in a year’s time.
One of the biggest climbers is Ramz with his infectious banger “Barking” jumping from a very respectable number 30 to a simply unbelievable number eight. 2018 is most certainly looking like a very exciting one for the young MC.
“Barking” isn’t the only huge climber of 2018 though, as Dave and Mostack’s “No Words” flew up the charts from 40 all the way to number 17, and deservedly so as its most certainly one of the songs of the year despite being released at the tail end of 2017. Hopefully 2018 we’ll get full length projects from both Mostack and Dave.
Stormz and “Blinded by your Grace Pt 2” also make massive leaps, rising from number 35 and comfortably secure the number 20 spot. It;s the same for Not3s too, whose track “My Lover” sits just behind Stormzy at number 23, after languishing at number 48 the previous week.
The Hustla seems to go from strength to strength, cleaning up awards shows and collecting plaque after plaque for his incredible debut album Common Sense. After such an awe inspiring debut release it’s hard to imagine how this could be topped! But we wait with baited breathe to see what J Hus has in store for us in 2018, he’s already started the year off strong with “Fisherman” featuring Mostack and Mist going Silver; and “Bouff Daddy” soaring up the charts from number 57 to number 29.
After a very exciting start to 2018, be sure to keep it locked on GRM Daily for the definitive chart round up to see how the rest of the year unfolds. If you’re looking to rekindle that festive spirt one last time, check out our Christmas edition of “Doing Numbers” right here.