“Harlem Shake” Bumps Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Thift Shop” to #2

Billboard - Baauer "Harlem Shake" Cover, March 2, 2013

DJ/Producer Baauer Soars to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Harlem Shake,” Covers Latest Issue

Love it or hate it, the recent addition of Youtube data to Billboard ‘s methodology blasts Baauer ‘s “ Harlem Shake “ to #1 on this week’s Hot 100 , dethroning Macklemore & Ryan Lewis four-week reign with “ Thrift Shop .”

Dubbed the “ Gentrification Shake “ by those of us who remember the real Harlem Shake – a dance most notably popular in the late 90s, the viral sensation debuts atop both the Hot 100 and Streaming Songs charts, and jumps from #12 to #1 on Dance/Electronic Songs with 103 million views.

“Thrift Shop,” featuring Wanz , still leads Hot Digital Songs for a sixth week, scoring its highest weekly sum (412,000, up 6%).

The Youtube/Billboard shake up also benefits several others. Rihanna ‘s “ Stay ,” featuring Mikky Ekko , jumps from #57 to #3 after garnering 3.8 million music video views . The song becomes Rihanna’s 24th Hot 100 top 10, pushing her past Whitney Houston and the Rolling Stones.

Drake ‘s “ Started From the Bottom “ also soars, leaping from #63 to #10 after earning 5.1 million views. And another Youtube sensation, PSY ‘s “ Gangnam Style “ pops back up from #48 to #26.

Getting back to the top 10, will.i.am and Britney Spears “ Scream & Shout “ slips from #3 to #4, Taylor Swift ‘s “ I Knew You Were Trouble “ stays at #5, and The Lumineers “ Ho Hey “ drops from #4 to #6 but tops Hot Rock Songs for a 14th week.

Bruno Mars “ Locked Out of Heaven “ falls from #2 to #7, but his piano ballad, “ When I Was Your Man ,” rises from #9 to #8.

Justin Timberlake ‘s “ Suit & Tie ,” featuring Jay-Z drops from #8 to #9, while his song “ Mirrors ,” considered Cry Me A River Part 2 ,” debuts at #24. Both tracks will appear on Justin’s 20/20 Experience , set to drop on March 19th.

Drake’s “Started From the Bottom,” #10 on the Hot 100, serves as the rapper’s 11th top 10 hit and also makes gains on Digital Songs , jumping from #32 to #8 following the official video release on Grammy night.

And now ladies and gentlemen, the real Harlem Shake…

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Editor-in-Chief at Sinuous Magazine, designer, and founder of NYC-based boutique design firm theComplex Media & Design. I've been designing for 13 years, writing on the internet for about the same, and I appear on radio and podcasts under the name "Lanae Mc'Levans." Photographer and overall geek who is passionate about art, music, politics, technology, fashion, and women's issues. A serial day-dreamer. Foul-mouthed. Opinionated.