For nearly a decade now – which may be hard to believe for some longtime pop fans – Dua Lipa has stood out as one of the most reliable hitmakers in the genre. Her first two projects launched numerous smashes, which are still hugely popular to this day. While her third full-length didn’t match up to its predecessors, it still turned a tune or two into charting wins.
Lipa is not just dominating on her own, though. She’s found great success with collaborations, which have earned her just as many smashes on the Billboard rankings as her solo output.
Of the singer’s 24 tracks that have reached the Hot 100, Billboard’s weekly ranking of the most-consumed tracks in the U.S., an even dozen are duets or group efforts. She evens that sum this week, as “handlebars,” her new duet with Blackpink star Jennie, launches at No. 80.
Exactly half of all her Hot 100 placements being collabs is a fairly striking ratio, and it says a lot not only about her ability to work well with others, but also about how the charts – and the music industry – function today.
“Levitating” Became a Chart Giant — But Not Without Controversy
Among all of Lipa’s collaborations, none have managed as impressive an impact as “Levitating” did during its heyday The track, the biggest smash from her 2020 album Future Nostalgia, became a runaway success, particularly in its remixed version featuring DaBaby. That take of the song exploded in popularity, eventually soaring to its No. 2 peak on the Hot 100.
For months, “Levitating” refused to leave the top 10, becoming one of the longest-running hits in chart history. Controversy struck when DaBaby made offensive remarks about the LGBTQ community during a concert. Lipa quickly distanced herself from him, and while the remix had already been a success, she pivoted back to promoting the solo version. Due to the way Billboard tracks its chart history, it’s this version of “Levitating” that officially holds the record, leaving the hip-hop star out of the history books.
Dua Lipa’s Two Top 10 Collabs
While “Levitating” is Lipa’s highest-charting collaboration, it’s not her only one to crack the top 10. In 2021, she joined forces with Elton John on “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix),” a clever mash-up of several of his classic hits. The track became an immediate smash, climbing to No. 7 on the Hot 100 and giving the legendary singer yet another major hit decades into his career.
Lipa has also worked with a range of other high-profile artists, though most of those collaborations haven’t climbed quite as high. In 2022, she teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion for “Sweetest Pie,” which almost entered the loftiest tier on the Hot 100 when it shot to No. 15.
Collaborating Across Genres
The list of artists Lipa has worked with spans multiple genres, which shows her versatility as a pop star, as well as pop’s new openness to trying new things and switching up sounds.
She’s joined forces with electronic acts like Calvin Harris (“One Kiss” and “Potion”), Silk City (“Electricity”), and Martin Garrix (“Scared to Be Lonely”), proving she can handle dance beats just as well as pure pop.
She’s also entered the hip-hop world, appearing alongside the late Pop Smoke (“Demeanor”) and reggaeton stars like J Balvin and Bad Bunny with “Un Día (One Day),” which was performed largely in Spanish – a first for her.
Dua Lipa’s Latest Hit and a K-Pop Connection
This week, Lipa earns her twelfth Hot 100 duet as “Handlebars,” her tune with Jennie, opens in the lower register of the chart. This isn’t her first time working with the K-pop world – nor Jennie. She previously linked up with Blackpink on “Kiss and Make Up”, which peaked at No. 93 in 2018, helping the South Korean superstars score a much-desired win in the U.S.
The Power of Collaboration on the Hot 100
Lipa’s success with her many collaborations highlights a broader trend in the global music business. Team-ups between major stars are often more successful than solo tracks. Combing forces and fanbases usually helps ensure at least a lofty debut, if not a long lasting smash.
The Grammy-winning musician and her team have followed this plan throughout much of her career. The first few chapters of her time as a superstar saw her work with many acts, and while third album Radical Optimism didn’t produce more successful collaborations, she may want to return to that strategy to get back on top in the highly-competitive pop space.