Woodbridge Natives Tommy Richman, Shaboozey Up For Billboard 'Songs Of Summer'

WOODBRIDGE, VA — As Billboard brought back its Songs of the Summer chart to track the best songs of the season, two Woodbridge natives are in the running for the top songs.

The 2024 Songs of the Summer launched Tuesday with Woodbridge's Tommy Richman at number 3 for his hit "Million Dollar Baby." Fellow Woodbridge native Shaboozey followed at number four for "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."

According to Billboard, the Songs of the Summer chart looks at the most popular songs on streaming, radio and sales between June 8 and Sept. 7. When the season ends, Billboard will announce the top songs of the summer.

Richman had worked on his music in his mother's Woodbridge home years before his breakout hit "Million Dollar Baby" debuted and peaked at number two on Billboard's chart, WTOP reported. The song appeared as a teaser on TikTok before being released in late April.

Richman's rise to the near-top of the charts was quick. Billboard noted "Million Dollar Baby"'s debut at number 2 was the sixth time ever for an artist with no Hot 100 chart history. His music is described as a mix of rap, R&B and funk. Richman has been working on music for years but stepped up his work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the Miami Times reported in 2023, Richman left the DC region in 2022 to work in Los Angeles. He told Lyrical Lemonade that Virginia has "a lot of talented people" but that fellow artists need to be supporting each other more rather than "gatekeeping."

Shaboozey, the stage name of Collins Obinna Chibueze, gained popularity for his song blending hip-hop and country as well as appearing on two songs of Beyoncé's new album "Cowboy Carter." His song "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" even passed Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" as the number one song on Billboard's country charts.

The Woodbridge native is the son of Nigerian immigrants and had been trying out mixing genres and cultures for years, the Washington Post reported. He told the publication he wants to promote "togetherness" and boost diversity in the country genre.

Shaboozey, a graduate of Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge, relocated to Los Angeles and got a record deal before unveiling his first album in 2018. He put out a second album before stepping in the public spotlight with the appearance on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" and releasing his own "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." His newest album "Wehere I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going" came out at the end of May.

Will either of these Woodbridge artists remain in Billboard's Top Songs of the Summer at the end of the season? Time will tell.