Following some discussion of the real titans in recent weeks, some new blood is beginning to crop up on this week’s MD Tracks. Indie sensation Bella Kay, newly-minted hit duo Dave & Tems, and erstwhile industry titan DaBaby emerge as the biggest winners.
Up first in this group is Bella Kay hitting a high on many traditional charts and our rankings this week; her “iloveitiloveitiloveit” flirts with the upper crust at #17. While we try to give you as much background as possible in this format, for the most part that’s not possible with the 20-year-old singer-songwriter.
Overnight sensations are never truly made overnight, this breakout single comes as truly the start of her journey, catching traction on a word of mouth level and earning her an incredibly early mainstream hit. Structurally, the emotional candor and stripped-back production that has rocketed so many social media sensations before Kay does the same here, shooting her up to the position she now holds. Moreover, “iloveitiloveitiloveit” first made its Billboard introduction on the chart dated February 24; it’s proven some genuine legs in its story so far.
For a certain branch of hip-hop fan, seeing the name Dave here will be a pleasant surprise (for this writer, it certainly is.) His “Raindance” could’ve warranted inclusion in past weeks, as it’s been on every single one of our 2026 charts in some form or fashion. However, after some weeks flitting in “bubbling under” positions, the song barrels up to #25, easily its highest to date. Making the narrative a bit knottier, the song comes from the UK rapper’s The Boy Who Played The Harp; so though Tems has been synonymous with commercial success in recent years, that doesn’t tell the full story of why this song is peaking almsot six months after release.
Dave & Tems and DaBaby Make A Splash Further Down
As is often the case, a dance challenge is the missing link in that equation; it’s brought the song to a brand new audience who is finally holding onto it on streaming and traditional channels. Overall, it gives Dave his first US Billboard hit after years of success in his home country. “Sprinter” with Central Cee from their collab EP Split Decision marked Dave’s closest stateside beforehand
Finally, we have DaBaby, back in the mix with his “POP DAT THANG.” Hard-hitting and unabashed has been the Carolina native’s formula for years, so overall it’s unsurprising to see this no-frills concept succeed once again. The real intrigue lies in the fact that this truly is a comeback hit for the “SUGE” MC, having been, in his words “blackballed” following homophobia allegations stemming from a music festival performance toward the start of the decade.
That ended what’d been a dominant run since that surge into the conversation around his BABY ON BABY. Rather than this marking a “come out of the woodwork” type return to relevance, it’s the biggest moment in what’s been a steady run of releases in the time since that moment; at #46, it earns him his first traditional hit since the similarly-themed “Shake Sumn” in 2023.
As always, you can catch the music featured throughout this piece wherever you find your music.
