Rapper 50 Cent set a new high during 2005 when he became the first rapper to have three songs in the Top 5 of the Hot 100 at one time. We're not going to hold everybody to that standard, as only one band in history has ever landed three songs of its own in the Top 5 at the same time. In fact, 50 Cent's accomplishment was aided in that one of those songs featured him as a guest on a Game single. Fitty's accomplishment was still impressive, but he's never managed to get even three of his own songs into the Top 10 of the Hot 100 at the same time. Only five acts have, without relying on guest spots in other performers' songs.
The Beatles (April 4-April 11, 1964)
Believe it or not, The Beatles were the first group to log three songs in the Top 10 of what was then the equivalent of the Hot 100. At its high point, during one week in April of 1964, the band was responsible for half of the songs in the Top 10 (and then one more in the Top 20). Perhaps even impressive was the band's ability to land both the no. 1 and no. 2 spots overall, as "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Twist and Shout" took the top two positions. "She Loves You" came in at no. 4, which made it the first band in history to land three tracks in the Top 5 of the Hot 100 (which was established during 1958), a mark that still hasn't been matched. "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (no. 7) and "Please Please Me" (no. 9) were the other two songs that were part of the five-song accomplishment. "Do You Want To Know A Secret" would later would also come into the Top 10 during the two-month period where The Beatles had at least three songs in the first dime.
The Bee Gees (February 25-March 4, 1978)
It might be tough for younger listeners to understand, considering the decades of disco-hating that have been going on since the late '70s. The Bee Gees were the prominent act of the scene, to be sure, and that came to a head during the last week of February, 1978. At the top of those three was the band's biggest hit, "Stayin' Alive," which came in at no. 2, while other hits "Night Fever" and "How Deep Is Your Love" came in at nos. 5 and 10, respectively. You may have noticed that the group didn't get the top spot that week however. The top spot went to "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water," another disco single from a performer by the name of Andy Gibbs. Sound familiar? Andy is the younger brother of the Bee Gees' bandleader Barry Gibbs.
Usher (June 5-July 10, 2004)
Usher joins The Beatles in that not only did manage to keep at least three songs in the Top 10, he managed to do so for more than a month. From June 2004 to early July, the R&B star's three singles "Burn," "Confessions Part II" and "Yeah!" all stayed within the Top 10, making it a month to remember. Even more impressive was the way he juggled to singles so that each would peak at no. 1 without the others falling out of the Top 10. Not all of them topped the charts during that span of course; in fact, only one managed to get to no. 1 during the six weeks. "Burn" stuck at no. 1 for the first five weeks, and "Confessions Part II" came in at no. 2 as well during the fifth week, while "Yeah!" got as high as no. 4
Adele (March 3, 2012)
Adele, like the Bee Gees before her, managed to pull off the three-song feat for just one week during 2012, although her case is especially interesting in that in both the weeks prior to and following her accomplishment, she charted only one song in the Top 10. The timing was less than coincidental: Nearly a month earlier she had dominated the Grammys, winning six trophies and generating newfound sales appreciation for both her album and singles. While "Set Fire to The Rain" was her single at the moment (holding at no. 2), both "Rolling In The Deep" and "Someone Like You" came back from the radio dead and charted at nos. 5 and 7, respectively, before once again falling out the Top 10 the next week. Although we're sure she appreciated that fleeting bit of history, she probably enjoyed 21 becoming the best-selling album of 2012 even more.
Ariana Grande (August 30, 2014)
Ariana Grande has been one of the most popular performers of the last year, so much so that no one has noticed that she hasn't managed to grab the top spot on the Billboard 100 with any of her hit singles. In fact, in becoming only the fifth person to have three singles in the Top 10 as the lead artist, Grande's best placer was at no. 4. That song was her collaboration with Zedd, "Break Free," which peaked in that spot. Her first single from the album My Everything, "Problem," came in at no. 7 (and thus gave Iggy Azalea her third spot in the Top 10 that week). The rules get tricky with the third song, "Bang Bang." The song features Grande, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, yet none of the performers were listed as being "featured." That's good enough for us to consider its no. 10 placement legitimate for this list, but feel free to argue about it.
