Kanye West has overtaken Michael Jackson in chart history after making his 40th appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40.
The 39-year-old rapper features on ScHoolboy Q’s new single “The Part,” which has climbed to number 40 on the Billboard 100, making it Kanye’s 40th appearance in the top 40 of the chart.
West was previously tied with Jackson and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” singer Frankie Valli on 39, but the latest track pushes him into the top 10 of most top 40 hits by a male artist of all time.
However, he has a long way to go before he’ll be able to claim the top spot, which is currently held by the late Elvis Presley with an incredible 80 appearances on the chart, which was established on Aug. 4, 1958.
West previously credited Jackson as one of his biggest influences, “I would not be Kanye West if it wasn’t for Michael Jackson,” he once said. But in true Kanye fashion, he then insisted he is now a much better artist than the King of Pop. “I was able to ascend to massive heights. And I’ve got to a point that Michael Jackson did not break down. I have reached the glass ceiling, as a creative person, as a celebrity and I’ve been at it for 10 years.”
Before releasing his latest album, Life of Pablo, earlier this year, he proclaimed the record to be one of the greatest of all time, comparing it to work by the likes of Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Puff Daddy and Jay Z.
“Out of respect for Q-Tip, Puff, Hov, Lauren, Pharcyde, Mary, Stevie, Michael, Hendrix, James, Pete Rock, Pac, Marvin …. this new album is ONE of the greatest albums not the greatest just one of … So many musicians touch my life and made me who I am… I want to make something great to honor my idols …” West tweeted.
Billboard Hot 100 men with the most top 40 visits:
1. Elvis Presley, 80
2. Lil Wayne, 69
3. Elton John, 57
4. Drake, 53
5. Stevie Wonder, 46
6. Jay Z, 45
7. James Brown, 44
8. Chris Brown, 42
9. Marvin Gaye, 41
10. Kanye West, 40
