Chart Brief: Chris Brown Scores Top 5 R&B Album, Elijah Connor Leads Adult R&B Airplay
Elijah Connor secures his first No. 1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, while Chris Brown makes a strong debut on the Top R&B Albums tally.
Welcome to Chart Brief, our weekly column tracking the latest movements across R&B charts. Each week, we break down and analyze the artists making waves on the Billboard, radio, and streaming charts. This edition covers the charts dated May 23, 2026.
Billboard Charts
Adult R&B Airplay
Elijah Connor earns his first No. 1 hit with “More Than A Friend.” The ’90s-inspired jam debuted on the Adult R&B Airplay chart dated Feb. 14, before reaching the top 10 on the chart dated April 4.
Top 5 on Adult R&B Airplay:
- 1. “More Than A Friend” – Elijah Connor
- 2. “Folded” – Kehlani
- 3. “Risk It All” – Bruno Mars
- 4. “Fly” – Tone Stith
- 5. “Vacancy” – Ari Lennox
Kem’s “One Love” moves up two spots this week, making its way into the top 10 at No. 9. Meanwhile, Ari Lennox‘s “Vacancy,” the title track to her third album, enters the top 5 at No. 5.
R&B Streaming Songs
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” spends its second consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart. Jackson also occupies eight spots in the top 10, with only Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber appearing in the top tier. The surge in streaming activity follows the release of his biopic, Michael, which premiered on April 24.
Hot R&B Songs
“I Just Might” by Bruno Mars holds the No. 1 spot for another week. The chart also saw a massive influx of new entries from Chris Brown, who debuted ten tracks following the release of his latest project.
Top R&B Albums
Michael Jackson’s Thriller remains at No. 1, but the big story this week is Chris Brown. His 12th studio album, Brown, debuts at No. 3 on the Top R&B Albums chart, marking his ninth title to reach a top 10 entry.
Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA Records
Billboard 200
Chris Brown’s Brown also makes a significant impact on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 7. This achievement extends his record of having all his albums land in the top 10, bringing his total to 13 top 10 appearances.
Mediabase Radio Charts
On the R&B Radio front, Elijah Connor continues his reign at No. 1. The top 10 also features strong showings from Kehlani, Bruno Mars, and Ari Lennox.