HIP -HOP Feels The Love Maria's Good 'Karma Rapper's 'Love Me' takes hold at radio Could Kristina Maria be this year's ? organically, setting up oft -delayed album After the latter transformed her Billboard Canadian Hot ` II' 100 No. 1 'Call Me Maybe" into a nine -week reign on By Steven J. Horowitz the U.S. counterpart last year, Ottawa -born Maria is similarly seeking to cross the border with the pure -pop single "Karma" (LupoOne). CFLZ Buffalo, N.Y. (which Lil Wayne didn't intend for his new single, "Love Me," to grow so quickly after often champions Canadian its release in late December. The -produced track, which acts) played the song 61 features and , rises 53-16 on the this week with times during the Jan. 21-27 Nielsen BDS tracking 171,000 digital downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan, bringing its sales week. The cut jumps 23-17 total to 249,000. The success comes mere weeks after YMCMB's DJ Stevie J on Canada CHR/Top 40, and DJ E-Feezy debuted the song at a Miami club. marking her fourth top 20 entry on the chart dating to Wayne's manager and co -CEO of Blueprint Group Cortez Bryant explains her first in 2011. that, following the single's debut, he passed it off to key influencers in radio 'Down' With Odell and clubs. Without much more prompting, PDs began adding "Love Me," a Having won the 2013 BRITs single off the rapper's oft -delayed I Am Not a Human Being II, now scheduled Critics' Choice Award in December, singer/ for release this spring. Lil Wayne's Tom Odell is having a "Love Me" "It happened really fast and organically; it didn't take months to build," Bry- breakthrough moment. has sold Signed to ITNO/Columbia ant says. "That speaks for itself, that the record is that powerful." Universal 249,000 Records in his native United and YMCMB are now seeking adds at rhythmic and R&B/hip-hop, where it has downloads. Kingdom, the 22 -year -old 1,300 spins, according to Nielsen BDS. just wrapped his first U.S. "It will be a No.1 record for [R&B/hip-hop] radio," says Phillip David March, tour and will return to play PD at mainstream R&B/hip-hop WGZB Louisville, Ky. Pop potential may be that on the radio." South by Southwest in March. Debut album Long more elusive, though. "Crossover? I just don't know because even [edited], it's "Love Me" is the third single from I Am Not a Human Being II. "My Homies Way Down is due in the still got provocative lyrics," he says. "It's hard to say." Still," released last June, peaked at No. 38 on the Hot too, while "No Worries," United Kingdom on April 15, Mike WiLL Made It, who also helmed G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy" and Juicy released in September, reached No. 29. With a for "Love Me" on with plans under way for a stateside release. J's "," disagrees. He originally created the song with the way, success at R&B/hip-hop radio will dictate future plans on other formats. just Drake and Future but knew Wayne could take it to the top. "It's almost "The pop side hasn't moved yet. They take longer to get on these things," Blackberry Smoke Rises -based Southern like Megatron: All the pieces just came together," he says. "I'm not trying to Bryant says. "My expectations aren't for that, though. I just put it out as another rock quintet Blackberry sound like a cocky -ass producer, but it's right on time. Nothing sounds like [R&B/hip-hop] single. So if it crosses over to pop, that'd be wonderful." 0 Smoke, signed to Zac Brown Band's Southern Ground imprint, is nearing its first ink on Country Airplay with "Pretty Little Lie." The track is the lead single from The Whippoorwill, which peaked Battle Plan: Bad Religion at No. 8 on the Country Albums chart on Sept. 1, 2012. The song's video garnered 22 plays last week BAD RELIGI 3 MONTHS AGO 1 MONTH AGO THIS WEEK NEXT WEEK on "CMT Pure Country." 'Hello,' T.Rone On July 23, Bad Religion First single 'Fuck You" Following a holiday break, Through Jan. 29, -Fuck You" With an infectious electric posted on its Facebook page debuted on YouTube on Nov. Bad Religion shipped has logged 1,195 radio spins, guitar riff, rapper/singer t. (926,000 fans) a picture of the 5, amassing 524,000 views. "Fuck You' to alternative according to Nielsen BDS, T.Rone's Auto -Tune -heavy band in the studio with the That same day, the song went radio and debuted new accounting for 2.9 million "Hello Love" (Brooklyn message "Here We Go Again," up for sale on iTunes and True tracks through Trans listeners. Gurewitz, who has a Knights/Kream Team) which racked up almost North was made available for World, Xbox and Rd io on newborn at home, will sit out is poised to infiltrate the 20,000 likes. It also went out pre -order. On Dec.17, Bad Jan. 8. The group released much of the group's U.S. and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop to its mailing list, which has Religion released the title a full album stream to European tour, which begins chart. The Jacksonvi I le, Fla., Three decades 100,000 active subscribers. track to YouTube (327,000 YouTube on Jan. 15, roping March 8 in Costa Mesa, Calif., native's hometown station WJBT is supporting the deep in the music The group kept fans abreast hits) and announced a contest in 240,000 views. "For a and ends June 26 in Paris. The track, having played it 30 biz, veteran punk of its progress during the to attend a private album 33 -year -old punk band, it's band has also shot a video for times last week, the most band Bad Religion next few months by sharing release party on Jan.22, pretty damn impressive "Fuck You; which is due out in of all reporters. T.Rone set off 2013 by videoclips from the studio, which was also streamed as and helped get the word the next few weeks. Gurewitz has been recording since releasing its 16th and held its first marketing a Google+ Hangout. "Bad out Gurewitz says of the says the group will begin 1996, releasing the locally studio album, True meeting with Epitaph on Oct. Religion have a good history group's online strategy. The working on its 17th album in North, Jan. 22 on its 2 to hatch ideas, including at radio, but as things evolve, night after the release party about six months. "Everyone acclaimed albums Whatcha own Epitaph label. a Google. Hangout during we're getting things launched and Goog le+ Hangout on says this the last one, because Game Like?and The Bad Guy Pt. I, and has collaborated The set, a sweaty, release week "We tried to online," Epitaph VP of sales Jan.22, the band played a they expect us to die any riotous project come up with big ideas and Jon Strickland says."We small hometown gig at Los second," Gurewitz jokes. "It'll with such hip -hop stars as and . that harks back to stay flexible, because you can wanted to take advantage of Angeles' Echo, then made be a little daunting this time the group's rocker never predict what's going to the groundwork since those its first appearance on 'Late because everyone likes this roots, bows at No. happen," says Brett Gurewitz, tools started coming into Night With Jimmy Fallon" on record so much. But that's Reporting by Keith Caulfield, 19 on the Billboard Bad Religion guitarist and play, so it was a big part of the Jan. 30. icing on the cake, really." Wade _lessen, Rauly Ramirez 200 and No.7 on president/CEO of Epitaph. campaign." -Steven J. Horowitz and Gary Trust. Rock Albums.

FEBRUARY 9, 2013 I WWW.BILLBOARD.BIZ