The week ending July 13, 2024, was a long time ago. The arrival of GNX, the surprise album–slash–victory lap from the man affectionately known as K-Dot, sends a slew of Kendrick tracks onto the Hot 100, including “Squabble Up,” which enters the flagship songs chart in the top spot, ejecting “A Bar Song.” For those who are just becoming acquainted …
Before I talk about the new No. Because Lil Nas X had tagged the song on digital services as country, “Old Town Road” was allowed onto Hot Country Songs for a single week—it made a notably high debut at No. Billboard’s official statement, repeated across the media, was that the song “incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery does not …
