The Top 10 Most Popular Hip Hop Singles The Week Of 3/19/2012

Our HipHopDX readers have very specific tastes, but aren’t above checking out something different if it’s for the right reasons. That’s what a part of this week’s Top Singles list suggests. Some artists would have no business sitting on this list without a certain push – whether it’s covering a track from The Throne or being paired with a favorite rapper. You know where we’re going with this. The rest are old faithfuls to us, and very obvious wins in listens. While most of these tracks are new, a few stay in rotation. Maybe Hip Hop fans aren’t so fickle after all. Here’s to some degree of staying power.

Nicki Minaj Visits The Trap, Katy Perry Visits Paris

A lot of women made their way to the list this week (I’m a woman, so I can say these things). While Nicki Minaj is always a surefire win, her Roman Reloaded track “Beez In the Trap” with 2 Chainz got on at #7. The song makes “beez” a double entendre, but is it reaching to think this is yet another subtle stab at the Queen Bee? Who really knows, but either way 2 Cheekz and 2 Chainz made the list this week. Then somehow Cassie got involved, helping Machine Gun Kelly out with “Warning Shot” at #6. Cassie manages to enter various conversations without a new album. Those are some slick power moves. The final female contender? Katy Perry. Don’t die of shock, but her cover of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “N*ggas In Paris” hit the #3 spot this week. Checking out the comment section, she’s getting some good reviews for her semi-singing / semi-rapping rendition of the song. Don’t worry, she says “ninja,” but her making this list at all is still cray. Ain’t it Jay?

Drake Turns a GQ Photo Shoot Into a Song, Nas and J.Cole Are Never Leaving

If anyone’s read Drake’s interview with GQ Magazine, they’ll know that the Young Money prom king sips white wine spritzers and has gold animals adorning his well manicured front lawn. It’s definitely an awkward interview, but Drizzy manages to sneak a few bars in for his fans in an acapella freestyle. That little ditty slid through at #8. Right below Drake at #9 is the latest of the J.Cole songs that never wants to leave our Top Singles list. This one, “Grew Up Fast” certainly did grow up fast, as it hit the top of the list upon arrival and has since stayed on board. Nas isn’t too far away. Last week “The Don” came in at #2, and this week he’s still right there. At #1? Obie Trice’s “Richard” featuring Eminem. Last week Mr. Real Name No Gimmicks got on with just a snippet. This week the full version arrived and rocked its way to the top of the list. We must inform you though – The Top 3 songs were all very tight in numbers. Imagine if Katy Perry was the #1 song? Well, there’s always next week.