Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. 

This week: Oasis’ well-received reunion tour hits new streaming highs as it ramps up in America, while Metro Boomin and Reneé Rapp both experience breakout hits from their recently released albums and a solo nu-gazer has a big viral moment.

Oasis’ Streams Surge Again With American Labor Day Weekend Takeover 

Two months ago, we covered the massive gains in sales and streams that Britpop giants Oasis experienced in the U.S. upon the much-anticipated, much-covered kickoff of their Live ‘25 Tour in Cardiff, Wales. As the Gallagher brothers bounced around stadiums in the Atlantic Archipelago for the rest of July and August — five nights in Manchester, England here, two in Dublin, Ireland there — those U.S. streaming and sales numbers invariably began to recede a little, though they still stayed well above where they’d been before the tour launch. 

And now that Oasis has arrived on U.S. shores, it’s back up to that early-tour peak. The band began the North American leg of its tour with a pair of Toronto shows in late August, then swung by Chicago last Friday (Aug. 28) for a date at Soldier Field. Then, it was to New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium for a pair of shows (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) over Labor Day weekend — with celebrities ranging from John McEnroe to Matt Damon in attendance — before the Gallaghers visit southern California this weekend (Sept. 5-6). 

Over the course of the first five days of this tracking week, from the Friday of the Chicago show to the Tuesday following the two New Jersey shows, the band’s catalog racked up nearly 11 million official on-demand streams, according to early data provided to Luminate. That’s up over 30% from the same period the prior week, and it even outpaces the numbers that they posted at the beginning of the tour — proving plenty of stateside folks still needed a little time to wake up, wake up to the Gallaghermania once again sweeping the globe, three decades after the band’s commercial peak. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER

YKNiece’s Viral Touchdown Celebration Dance Lifts Metro Boomin Track 

After assisting fellow ATL rappers Pluto and BunnaB on summer hits “Whim Whamiee” and “Innit,” respectively, YKNiece has blessed Metro Boomin with a fast-rising new hit. “Take Me Thru Dere,” a cheeky cut from Metro’s A Futuristic Summa mixtape that also features Quavo and Breskii, has jumped nearly 180% in streaming activity over the past two weeks, according to Luminate. 

On Aug. 3, just two days after the mixtape dropped, TikTok user @slawspitter shared a video dancing to YKNiece’s “Take Me Thru Dere” verse, featuring a casual lasso-like move during the lines, “Girl, throw yo’ wham in a circle/ Even if it lil’, make it jump like a hurdle.” That specific move quickly gained traction as the song grew in popularity, and, eventually, it became the latest new move for touchdown celebrations in college football. To date, user @slawspitter’s original clip boasts over 1.6 million views and nearly 300,000 likes. The official “Take Me Thru Dere” TikTok sound plays in over 35,500 posts, while two unofficial sounds account for another 46,600 and 25,700 posts, respectively. 

During the week of Aug. 8-14, “Take Me” earned just under 700,000 official on-demand U.S. streams. That figure jumped by nearly 50% to over 1.04 million official streams during the week of Aug. 15-21. By the final week of the month (Aug. 22-28), streams for “Take Me” jumped another 86% to over 1.95 million official on-demand streams. 

Already a Hot 100-charting artist thanks to “Whim Whamiee” (No. 51), maybe YKNiece can help Metro earn his first Hot 100 hit from A Futuristic Summa. – KYLE DENIS  

TikTok Trend Boosts Snarky Reneé Rapp Deep Cut 

Although Reneé Rapp’s new Bite Me album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, none of its singles landed on the Hot 100. That could change with the recent trajectory of “I Think I Like You Better,” a sarcastic midtempo number tucked away in the album’s back half. Bite Me dropped Aug. 1, and by Aug. 2, TikTok user @aliyahpaigebryant made a post highlighting Rapp’s cheeky delivery of the lines, “I think I like you better when you’re/ Across the f—king country!”

That clip now boasts over 782,000 views and 105,000 likes, helping kick off a trend where people pretend to scream the lines, which Rapp actually sings in falsetto. The official “I Think I Like You Better” TikTok sound now plays in nearly 75,000 posts, and Rapp herself has several posts with the song that have surpassed over one million views each. 

During the week of Aug. 15-21, “I Think I Like You Better” pulled over 796,000 official on-demand U.S. streams. By the following week (Aug. 22-28), once the TikTok trend really picked up steam, that number leapt a whopping 152% to over two million official streams. – KD

‘Tower’ of Streams: Ivri Scores a Viral Hit

While singer-songwriter Ivri has been posting snippets online since she was 15 and officially releasing singles for nearly five years, she just unveiled her independently released debut album, The Theory of You, last month. One song from the album has separated itself from the rest: “Tower of Memories,” which was released in July, gathers shoegaze-y guitars, dreamy vocals and glitchy electronic elements into an unlikely anthem. If you’ve been jamming on Deftones’ great new album private music recently, this one might have popped up in your algorithm, too.

As TikTok users have discovered “Tower of Memories” and honed in on the lyrical phrase, “I’m right where you left me/ The tower of memories,” Ivri has earned herself a viral hit. During the chart week ending Aug. 14, the song earned 688,000 official on-demand U.S. streams, according to Luminate; that weekly streaming total had more than doubled two weeks later, to 1.83 million streams during the week ending Aug. 28. “I’ve never had a song perform this swell,” Ivri marveled on Instagram earlier this week. “So excited for the future.” – JASON LIPSHUTZ
 

The acid test for comedians? Never apologize when they stir up controversy and outrage — and Druski just passed the test.

The comedian, who has collaborated on music videos with Drake, Jack Harlow and Lil Yachty, riled up the internet when he posted an Instagram video of himself in whiteface — actually, elaborate and clearly professional upper-body makeup, beard and mullet — mingling with the crowd at a NASCAR event and bellowing the lyrics to Bruce Springsteen‘s “Born in the U.S.A.” from a truck.

Shirtless with a farmers tan and wearing half-secured overalls, a stars-and-stripes cowboy hat and toting a can of beer, can be seen shouting pro-American slogans and behaving like a stereotypical redneck, but the video veers into controversial — and disturbing territory — when he spits, two separate times, at Black men in the crowd. As the second passes Druski in his truck, he questions the man’s appearances and tells him, “Find something safe to do, boy.”

The response to Druski’s NASCAR post drew largely positive response from commenters who referred to white entertainers wearing blackface such as Robert Downey Jr.’s performance in the film Tropic Thunder.

Not everyone on social media was as supportive. “Conflicted because it’s funny but I also kinda hate to see it,” wrote Holden Edward on X. “It’s hard enough as it is trying to tell people that you watch NASCAR without them either 1) giving you shit or 2) judging the hell out of you. We don’t need to promote the stereotype, yet NASCAR gave him VIP…”

In the wake of response to the video, Druski posted a second clip in response. Set to James Brown‘s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” the comedian confidently kicks open a door, lights a cigarette and throws the pack behind him. “AM I CANCELLED?” he wrote.

The post drew comments from Nick Cannon and Jamie Foxx. The latter posted four fire emojis, and Cannon wrote, “I could have warned you!!!! LOL 🤣🤣🤣 Great sh_t!”

Druski’s follow-up post prompted a debate among commenters about whether a Black person posing as white could be equated with the opposite. “You can’t have it one way and not see it the other way. If blackface is offensive then so is whiteface,” wrote one commenter.

Perhaps the most apt response came from papito_blessed hands: “You’re not cancelled, but go find yourself something safe to do.🤣”

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With classic hits like “Hey Jude,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Get Back” and others, The Beatles are the iconic rock band of the 20th century. The band lives on through their music, while The Beatles Anthology book is celebrating its 25th anniversary of its original release in October 2000.

On sale for $46.50 (regularly $50) from the retail giant, The Beatles Anthology (25th Anniversary Reissue) chronicles the band from their early days in Liverpool, their club days in Hamburg, Germany and to super stardom around the world during the ’60s. The book drops on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can order now and The Beatles Anthology will be delivered to your home in less than two days once it’s released, thanks to Prime Delivery.

Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and much more. Learn more about Amazon Prime and its benefits here.

The biography is also available at BookShop.org for $46.50 (reg. $50), while The Beatles Anthology is buyable at Barnes & Noble priced at $50.

PREORDER

‘The Beatles Anthology’ (25th Anniversary Reissue)

Release date: Oct. 14

$46.50 $50.00 7% off

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Meanwhile, the new biography titled John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs is an Amazon No. 1 best seller and is now on sale for $20.88, or 35% off its list price, from the retail giant. It follows Lennon and McCartney’s relationship as songwriters, lyricists and bandmates. The book is a great companion to The Beatles Anthology

The Beatles Anthology (25th Anniversary Reissue) is on sale for $46.50 (regularly $50) on Amazon. It’s available for preorder right now with release on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

Lady Gaga and Tim Burton chose an island built using pre-Hispanic farming methods in Xochimilco, a tourist area in the south of Mexico City, as the setting to seal a new collaboration between the pop superstar and the famed film director. The project combines dark, gothic and fantastical elements, characteristic of the theatricality that defines both artists’ work.

The result is the music video for the song “The Dead Dance,” released on Wednesday (Sep. 3), which is part of the second season of Netflix’s series Wednesday. In it, Gaga also stars as Rosaline Rotwood, a deceased instructor from Nevermore Academy who helps Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega) in her mission to save her family and friends. (Gaga also recently released a deluxe edition of her Mayhem album this week, with “Dead Dance” as one of three new bonus tracks.)

“The Dead Dance” takes place on the Island of the Dolls, surrounded by vegetation, a crumbling house, and hundreds of old dolls of all sizes. Over time, exposure to the elements has left the dolls dirty and worn, with peeling paint on their faces, tattered clothing, missing eyes, and no hair, creating a chilling and eerie atmosphere.

Filmed in black and white, the clip features choreography reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” where Gaga emerges from the mist, rises, and begins to move and sway to the rhythm of the music.

Prior to its release, videos and memes circulated on social media in recent months hinting at the collaboration between Gaga and Burton. Fans speculated after the Batman Returns and Beetlejuice director visited Mexico City, where he launched an immersive exhibition showcasing his most iconic works and characters. During that time, the filmmaker also toured Xochimilco and the nearby magical town of Tepoztlán, located just outside Mexico City.

Meanwhile, Gaga returned to Mexico City in April after a 13-year hiatus to perform two sold-out concerts at the GNP Seguros Stadium. The show, titled “¡Viva La MAYHEM!”, featured the opera that had captivated audiences earlier this year at Coachella.

But before both artists showcased this “haunted” location to the world, the Island of the Dolls had already been featured as a setting in the documentary by British musician and producer Steven Wilson, which accompanies his 2008 solo album Insurgentes, captured through the lens of Danish photographer Lasse Hoile.

In 2010, in an interview with the Mexican newspaper El Universal, Wilson shared that the most beautiful part of filming in Mexico took place precisely at that location. “Mexico is like one big film set; it’s very cinematic and surreal, and incredibly inspiring for creating sounds and images,” the musician said. “Originally, we hadn’t planned to film so much in the country, but after being there, we were hooked.”

At the end of last April, fellow pop star Christina Aguilera shared images on her Instagram account from her visit to Xochimilco, where she was seen enjoying time with friends and toasting with beer. In one of the snapshots, the diva is shown wearing a colorful flower crown reminiscent of the iconic painter Frida Kahlo’s signature style.

Several decades earlier, during the height of the so-called Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, Xochimilco and its “chinampas” served as the setting for classic films like María Candelaria, directed by Emilio “El Indio” Fernández and starring Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz. The film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946.

In 1987, Xochimilco and its network of canals and artificial islands were declared a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, as they represent “an exceptional example of the Aztecs’ efforts to create a habitat in an environment hostile to humans.” The urban and rural structures created from the 16th century during the colonial period have been admirably preserved.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Has BLACKPINK’s Lisa moved on from Labubus? At the very least, it seems like her latest fixation is on Monchhichis.

The K-pop star shared a post on her Instagram today, Sept. 4, accompanied by the caption, “Some sleepless nights.” The post featured a short and sweet carousel of photos of the “Money” singer in Japan, grabbing sushi and showing off her outfit. What drew us to the post, beyond Lisa’s obvious sense of style, was her bag charm.

While Lisa is clearly a lover of Labubus (she basically started the craze), the Thai star was seen swapping out the monster doll for a fluffier Monchhichi keychain. The vibrant yellow doll was fixed to what looked like a Louis Vuitton P9 series bag in red with tan straps and monogrammed detailing throughout. The Monchhichi charm is the Sweet Lollipop Girl model in yellow with little pigtails and a colorful bib. You’ll likely be able to snag your own via Monchhichi’s website or through eBay.

Monchhichi Fruit Beanie Plushie

$24

Buy Now at urban outfitters

A neon green apple-inspired Monchhichi.

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Monchhichi Animal Costume Plushie

$40

Buy Now at urban outfitters

A bear Monchhichi plushie.

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You may be reading this, thinking to yourself, “What’s a Monchhichi?” We’re glad you asked. The plushie is from Japan and was originally created by the Sekiguchi Corporation back in 1974 so they’ve been around way longer than Labubus. The design is meant to look like a monkey, equipped with a tail, ears and a pacifier. The body is often made of soft faux-fur, while the face, hands and feet are made of plastic. The peculiar name Monchhichi is an amalgamation of the French word ‘mon,’ or ‘mine,’ and the Japanese onomatopoeia ‘chichi,’ which mimics the sound of a baby sucking a pacifier—hence the attached pacifier.

To help you dip your toes into the wonderful world of Monchhichi, we’ve compiled a couple of options for you to browse from Urban Outfitters. The retailer stocks plushies and keychains of the monkey dolls, similar to Lisa’s own, ranging in price from $24 to $55. UO also features a slew of Monchhichi-themed merchandise from quilted laptop cases and clocks to books and pins. They’ve even got a collaborative Monchhichi x Hello Kitty plushie and keychain, depicting Hello Kitty in Monchhichi-esque garb. So stinkin’ cute.

Sanrio Hello Kitty X Monchhichi Plushie Keychain

$35

Buy Now at urban outfitters

A Monchhichi x Hello Kitty plushie keychain you can attach to your bag.

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Sanrio Hello Kitty X Monchhichi Plushie

$55

Buy Now at urban outfitters

A Monchhichi x Hello Kitty plushie.

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If you really want to get into the Monchhichi lore, you’ll also have to know about Bebichhichis. Similar to their larger counterparts, these dolls are monkeys too. They’re baby Monchhichis, which are a pretty major part of the iconic Monchhichi toy family. The cutesy iteration was introduced during the Monchhichi series’ 30th anniversary.

More Monchhichi That We Love

Sekiguchi Monchhichi Girl with US Olympic Jersey Plush Doll

$37.99

Buy Now On Amazon

A festive Monchhichi doll with hair up.

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Monchhichi Frozen Fruits Plush

$68.70

Buy Now On Amazon

A Monchhichi doll with pigtails.

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Sekiguchi Bebichhichi Girl, Plush Toy

$49.38

Buy Now On Amazon

A Bebichhichi doll.

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