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    'Road' To Record-Breaking: How Lil Nas X Is Making History

    Pop critic Chris Molanphy breaks down the social science behind "Old Town Road" breaking the record for longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard's Hot 100.
    by Kat Lonsdorf Jul 29, 2019 2 minutes
    "All throughout this 17 weeks, it's been a breadcrumb trail of new information," pop critic Chris Molanphy says.

    Lil Nas X has officially broken the record for the longest-running No. 1 single on Billboard's Hot 100 list thanks to his breakout hit "Old Town Road." Billboard announced on July 29 that the genre-jumping song has topped the chart for 17 straight weeks. But what's the significance of such a feat?

    "What's most remarkable about the run that by some real pop heavyweights," pop critic and chart analyst Chris Molanphy says. Since being officially released via Columbia Records and skyrocketing to No. 1 in April, the "Old Town Road" remix featuring has edged out music by pop music darlings Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran and more from the top spot.

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