This Day in Top 40 History: August 30

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1994: Boyz II Men put out their third studio album, II. It flew to No.1 on the Billboard 200 and held that position for five weeks. Selling over 300,000 copies in the first week and millions more in the months that followed, the album became the best-selling LP of 1995. Even more impressive, II produced “I'll Make Love to You” and “On Bended Knee,” which topped Billboard's Hot 100 for 14 and six weeks, respectively. 
• 1997: The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money Mo Problems" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The posthumous single, including vocals from Puff Daddy and Mase, became a defining song of the time.
• 2005: Kanye West's sophomore studio album, Late Registration, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. This LP would sell more than 800,000 copies in its opening week. Featuring collaborations with multiple Top 40 acts, such as Adam Levine, The Game, Jamie Foxx, and Brandy, it spawned one No. 1 single, “Gold Digger."
• 2008: The Jonas Brothers' third studio album, A Little Bit Longer, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
• 2013: Nine Inch Nails released their eighth studio effort, Hesitation Marks. This record landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and spent more than 10 weeks on the chart. It delivered singles such as “Copy of a,” “Come Back Haunted,” and “Everything.” Additionally, the album was nominated for a GRAMMY in 2014 for Best Alternative Music Album. 

Cultural Milestones

• 1935: John Phillips was born in Parris Island, South Carolina. He was best known for fronting The Mamas and the Papas, who scored six Top 10 hits on the Hot 100, including “Words of Love” and the chart-topper “Monday, Monday.” The GRAMMY-winning group also sold over 30 million records worldwide. Phillips' solo music career saw him score one Top 40 single, “Mississippi.” 
• 1989: Bleta Rexha, better known as Bebe Rexha, was born in New York. Unknown to many of her fans, Rexha co-wrote Rihanna and Eminem's chart-topping single, “The Monster.” Besides, she has scored several Top 40 singles in the U.S. by collaborating with other artists. For example, “Meant To Be,” which features guest vocals from Florida Georgia Line, peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100. Rexha also appeared on G-Eazy's No. 7 hit, “Me, Myself & I.”
• 2015: During the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West shocked fans by announcing his intention to run for U.S. president in 2020.
• 2016: The Guinness World Records declared Ringo Starr's copy of The Beatles' White Album the most expensive LP ever sold at auction. The first-edition copy (catalog No. 0000001), stored in pristine condition for more than 35 years, sold for $790,000, shattering Elvis Presley's previous $305,000 record.
• 2020: With Keke Palmer as the host, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were held. “Shallow” singer Lady Gaga won big, taking home five accolades, including Song of the Year and the MTV Tricon Award. The list of winners featured other renowned Top 40 acts, including The Weeknd, BTS, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Coldplay. 

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1992:  Nirvana's performance at the Reading Festival became one of their most iconic live shows. Krist Novoselic threw his bass into the air and narrowly avoided injury when it hit him on the head.
• 2015:  The 2015 VMAs delivered headline-making performances and reconciliations, particularly between Kanye West and Taylor Swift, cementing the awards as a stage for pop culture moments beyond the music.
• 2018: Snow Patrol took their Wildness Tour to the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. At this venue, they played tracks such as “Chasing Cars,” “What If This Is All the Love You Ever Get,” and “Crack the Shutters.” With performances across Europe, the U.K., Ireland, and North America, the Wildness Tour supported the band's seventh studio LP of the same name. The record reached No. 5 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums Chart. 
• 2018: 5 Seconds of Summer performed a 19-song setlist that included “Amnesia” and “If Walls Could Talk” at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts. They were on the Meet You There Tour, a trek that promoted their No. 1 record, Youngblood. The tour included over 50 concerts across North America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 2007: Lil Wayne faced a $1 million lawsuit from 17-year-old Tyrique Layne, who claimed she was knocked unconscious and trampled during an October 2006 Maryland concert after a large amount of cash was tossed into the crowd. She alleged the incident left her with memory loss and severe headaches.
• 2016: Chris Brown was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after a lady said he pointed a gun at her face during an argument. After a heated standoff with the police, Brown finally gave up, adding another chapter to his turbulent career.