Tank Surpasses Charlie Wilson to Set Adult R&B Airplay Record With 12th No. 1 Single 'Yes'

Tank has officially claimed the all-time record for the most No. 1 songs by a male solo artist on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart, according to reporting by AllHipHop. His single “Yes” climbed to the top spot on the chart dated October 17, delivering the veteran vocalist his 12th career leader on the long-running radio tally.

The milestone breaks a brief tie with legendary singer Charlie Wilson, who previously held the record among male performers. Wilson notched his 11th No. 1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart in October 2025 with his release “Keep Me In Love.” Tank drew level with Wilson earlier this year when his track “Control” reached the summit, setting the stage for “Yes” to establish a new benchmark, as confirmed by Billboard and reported by AllHipHop. Superstar Alicia Keys continues to hold the overall record on the chart across all artists with 14 career No. 1s.

The record-setting run for “Yes” extends beyond Billboard’s airplay listings. AllHipHop noted that the track also reached No. 1 on Mediabase’s U.S. R&B chart for the week of October 10 after climbing from the No. 3 position, capping a 13-week ascension to the peak. The record is featured on Tank’s album “EXPERIENCE,” released through R&B Money/BMG. The single interpolates Floetry’s classic neo-soul release “Say Yes,” incorporating the familiar melody into his contemporary project.

This historic achievement represents a notable triumph following a severe medical crisis that nearly halted Tank’s music career entirely. In 2021, the singer publicly revealed that he was suffering from acute hearing issues, disclosing that he had lost hearing in his right ear and was experiencing severe auditory degradation in his left ear. Alongside the hearing loss, Tank described dealing with vertigo, dizziness, and difficulty walking in a straight line while undergoing medical treatment.

The health scare altered his professional plans, leading him to promote his 2022 release, “R&B Money,” as his final studio album. However, through ongoing treatment and physical rehabilitation, he worked his way back to creative output and live performance.

In a recent interview with Men’s Health cited by AllHipHop, Tank discussed the profound mental and physical challenges brought on by the illness. Prescribed medications disrupted his sleep patterns and eating habits, severely impacting his athletic routine. “I didn’t recognize myself. I couldn’t hear myself,” Tank told Men’s Health. “First time I was ever out of shape in life.”

Tank systematically rebuilt his physical conditioning and vocal confidence to mount a return to the stage and the recording studio. The persistence aligns with his long-held philosophy on industry longevity. In 2018, while speaking backstage to the Recording Academy at the Essence Festival following a full year of chart success with his hit “When We,” Tank emphasized the discipline required to endure in R&B.

“As long as you’re putting in the work, at some point…there will be a harvest,” Tank told the Recording Academy at the time, a sentiment reaffirmed by his latest chart-topping milestone.