Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter. This week, we spotlight the songs, artists, and viral trends gaining traction across the music industry. Some tracks are slow burns; others explode overnight. Whether it’s pirate-themed rap or viral dance moves, each trend is capturing attention fast — often thanks to TikTok.
Big Ro6’s “Pirate Rap” Storms Out of Indianapolis
While Joey Bada$$ continues a West Coast rap feud, a very different wave is rising in the Midwest. In Indianapolis, rapper Big Ro6 is going viral with his track “Decisions”, which he first released on October 13, 2024. The song gained steady momentum during the holiday season and early 2025, helped by live performances. One of those performances, uploaded to The Debut’s YouTube channel on November 6, has since reached over 230,000 views.
The track took a major leap after the April 18 release of Sinners, a film by Ryan Coogler. The movie explores Black and Irish musical influences, and it brought new attention to Big Ro6’s Gaelic-style, pirate-inspired rap tone.
On May 2, Big Ro6 dropped the official music video for “Decisions,” giving fans a visual to pair with the sound. Less than two weeks later, TikTok user @kye.phlow launched a dance challenge using the track. That video has now earned more than 85,500 views.
Nicknamed a “hood shanty” and “pirate rap,” the song quickly spread across social media. According to Luminate, “Decisions” earned 121,000 official on-demand U.S. streams between May 2–8. One week later, that number surged 713% to 986,000 streams.
Even more impressive: from May 9–12, the track brought in 119,000 streams. But the following weekend (May 16–19), that figure skyrocketed over 1,176% to 1.5 million streams. With artists like Morray now joining the trend, “Decisions” could continue to climb even higher.
— Kyle Denis
The Weeknd’s New Film Sparks Streaming Boosts
Four months after releasing his album Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Weeknd has followed up with a companion film of the same name. The full-length movie, which debuted in theaters on May 16, features The Weeknd playing a fictionalized version of himself. Co-starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, the film is a psychological thriller that he co-wrote and co-produced.
The film’s release has sparked renewed interest in several tracks from the album. According to Luminate, the title track earned 294,000 U.S. streams between May 16–19, a 42% increase compared to the same period the week before. Another track, “Gasoline,” jumped 48%, growing from 152,000 streams (May 9–12) to 226,000 streams (May 16–19).
Meanwhile, The Weeknd’s hit single “Timeless” — featuring Playboi Carti — is back in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, aided by a new remix with Doechii. The streaming bumps from the film may give The Weeknd new options for singles as he continues promoting the Hurry Up Tomorrow era.
— Jason Lipshutz
Bankroll Ni Keeps ATL Rap’s Viral Streak Alive
Atlanta rap continues its strong presence on TikTok. Following hits like Yung LA’s “Ain’t I” and BunnaB’s “Bunna Summa,” rapper Bankroll Ni has joined the trend with his track “I’m So ATL.”
The song features a simple dance routine that blends popular moves from other 2025 trends. In the video, users mimic swimming and eating gestures. The dance quickly gained popularity, with big names like Latto and Da Brat joining in.
“I’m So ATL” was released on April 18. In its first week (April 18–24), it earned 94,000 U.S. streams, according to Luminate. The following week (April 25–May 1), that number grew more than 200% to 285,000 streams. The week after that (May 2–8), streams jumped another 90% to 543,000.
In the most recent week (May 9–15), the track gained another 51%, reaching over 822,000 streams. That’s a 771% increase over four weeks.
Although the official TikTok sound has been taken down, fans are continuing to use unofficial sounds to keep the trend alive.
— Kyle Denis
Conclusion
Whether it’s a pirate rapper from Indiana, a superstar with a cinematic vision, or ATL’s unstoppable TikTok takeover, these moments reflect the power of viral storytelling. From general buzz to booming streams, each trend shows how music, visuals, and digital platforms continue to shape today’s charts.
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