Hot 100 First-Timers: Ben Shapiro Debuts Tom MacDonald Team-Up 'Facts'

Ben Shapiro, its conservative political commentator and editor The Daily Wiredebuts on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated February 10), thanks to 'Facts', his new collaboration with Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald.

The song, released on Jan. 26, is at No. 16 with 5.6 million streams in the US and 96,000 downloads sold in its first week (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), according to Luminate. Its sales figure is the second-highest in a week this year, behind Megan Thee Stallion's “Hiss,” which reaches 104,000 sales at the same time. “Hiss” and “Facts” debut at No. 1 and 2, respectively, on the Digital Song Sales chart.

Notably, Shapiro invited his audience to engage with the song in his verse, rapping, “All my people download this, let's get a Advertising sign No. 1.” He also pokes fun at Nicki Minaj, saying, “Nicki take some notes, I just did it for fun” — apparently alluding to the recent beef between Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion.

Shapiro had not appeared in any Advertising sign chart earlier this week, with “Facts” marking his first and only music release to date.

The song earns MacDonald his fourth and highest entry on the Hot 100, following “Snowflakes” (No. 71 peak), “Brainwashed” (No. 89) and “Fake Woke” (No. 96), all in 2021.

Elsewhere, “Facts” debuts at No. 6 on Hot Rap Songs and No. 8 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, both using the same multimetric methodology as the Hot 100. As MacDonald reaches each genre list for the first time, MacDonald achieves his first top 10 in the tally. He previously reached No. 22 on Hot Rap Songs with “Brainwashed” and No. 31 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs with “Snowflakes” and “Brainwashed.”