Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘WAP’ reaches number one amid criticism

Some critics have called out track for being too explicit

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have topped the singles chart with their hit track “WAP” - marking the first time either of them have had a UK number one.

Following a fortnight at number two, the US rappers knocked Joel Corry and MNEK's “Head & Heart” from the top spot with 65,000 charts sales, including 8.5 million streams.

Cardi B had come close before in 2018, with her Bruno Mars collaboration “Finesse” reaching number five.

Megan Thee Stallion climbed to number three in May with her viral hit “Savage”.

Cardi B was recently forced to defend “WAP” from critics who claim the track is too explicit.

The song has divided listeners since it was first released on 7 August, with conservative critics, such as Ben Shapiro, condemning the track for its sexual lyrics. Others praised it for its expression of female sexuality.

In third place on the current singles chart is “Lighter” by Nathan Dawe featuring KSI, “Mood” by 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior is in fourth, “Ain't It Different” by Headie One featuring AJ Tracey and Stormzy is in fifth.

Cardi B performing (Rex Features)

On the albums chart, London rapper Nines claimed his first number one with Crabs In A Bucket.

Nines, real name Courtney Freckleton, beat Metallica by some 2,000 chart sales, overtaking the metal titans in the past 24 hours.

Metallica's live album with the San Francisco Symphony, titled S&M2, took second, while All Rise by Gregory Porter took third.

Dance music duo Disclosure were at four with Energy, while Katy Perry's latest effort, Smile, reached five.

The week also saw Lewis Capaldi's debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent mark one million UK chart sales.

Additional reporting by PA