by Gary Trust

The following is a part of Ask Billboard where experts answer your questions. So, if you have a music question pertaining to R&B/Soul superstar Maxwell, this is the place you want to ask it.

Here’s more information:
Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. Submit your burning music questions to Gary at askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.

‘WINGS’ AND OTHER FLIGHTS

Hi Gary,

First, I want to say what a great job you and everyone at Billboard are doing. With Chart Beat items now appearing on Wednesdays, in addition to the column’s traditional Thursday postings, I really like having some chart news a day early.

My question is in light of Maxwell‘s return. What are his biggest Adult R&B hits? Also, when he recently debuted on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at No. 22 with “Pretty Wings,” it marked the chart’s best start since Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (No. 20). What are the highest debuts on the chart this decade?

Thanks for all the analysis, and keep up the good work!

Lawrence Jones
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hi Lawrence,

Thanks very much. With Chart Beat now posting on multiple days, you’ll only find more beats on Billboard’s dance charts! (Don’t look for my material on our Top Comedy Albums chart any time soon …)

Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings” this week rebounds for a second week atop the Adult R&B airplay chart (reporting week of 2009-07-18). Here is a rundown of the Brooklyn, New York-born singer’s eight top 10 titles among his 14 chart entries dating to 1996:

No. 1 (18 weeks, most in the chart’s history), “Fortunate,” 1999
No. 1 (15 weeks), “Lifetime,” 2001
No. 1 (2 weeks), “Pretty Wings,” 2009
No. 2, “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” 1996
No. 2, “This Woman’s Work,” 2002
No. 2, “Get to Know Ya,” 2001
No. 2, “Luxury: Cocochure,” 1998
No. 10, “Sumthin’ Sumthin’,” 1997

Maxwell’s new album, “BLACKsummers’night,” was released Tuesday (July 7) and is set to make a high entrance on next week’s Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. His last album, “Now” in 2001, became his first No. 1 on each survey.

Regarding the second part of your question, here are the top debuts on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs this decade:

No. 14, “Love in This Club Part II,” Usher featuring Beyonce & Lil Wayne, 2008
No. 16, “Lovers & Friends,” Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Usher & Ludacris, 2004
No. 17, “Same Girl,” R. Kelly Duet With Usher, 2007
No. 20, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Beyonce, 2008
No. 20, “Show Me What You Got,” Jay-Z, 2006
No. 20, “She Bi Ice,” Mizzle, 2006
No. 21, “Sister,” Scoundrel Squad featuring Bun-B, 2006
No. 22, “Pretty Wings,” Maxwell, 2009

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