Summer Walker bags her first top 10 visit to Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart in over a year as “Ex for a Reason,” with JT (of City Girls), starts at No. 6 on the list dated Oct. 30.
With the new release, Walker collects her 14th top 10 on Hot R&B Songs and passes Jhene Aiko for the third-most by a woman since the list began in 2012. She now trails only Beyoncé (with 18) and Rihanna (15). Furthermore, Walker rejoins the Hot R&B Songs’ top 10 for the first time since her featured role on Trey Songz’ “Back Home,” which exited the region in September 2020 after peaking at No. 8.
“Ex,” released through LVRN/Interscope Records, traces its debut to streaming. The song registered 8.2 million U.S. streams in the week ending Oct. 21, according to MRC Data, enough for a No. 2 entrance on the R&B Streaming Songs chart. There, “Ex” becomes the singer-songwriter’s third top two appearance, following a pair of No. 1s: “Girls Need Love,” featuring Drake, and “Playing Games,” which each ruled for one week in 2019.
In addition to its streaming bow, “Ex” cracks its first radio ranking with a No. 43 debut on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. In its first full week of tracking (ending Oct. 24), the collaboration recorded 2.5 million audience impressions.
Elsewhere, “Ex” debuts at No. 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at No. 56 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
“Ex” previews Walker’s second full-length studio album, Still Over It, set for release on November 5. The album follows both its titular and chronological predecessor, Over It, which arrived in October 2019 and logged 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. Among its tracks were the hit singles “Playing Games” and “Come Thru,” featuring Usher, which peaked at No. 2 and No. 5 on Hot R&B Songs, respectively.