For the week ending March 11, 2006, "Black Sweat" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 60 (Prince's highest debut in years), and at number 83 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart. It also debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, which tabulates both physical and digital sales.

The song's initial surge of 11,500 digital singles sales was prompted by a month-long promotion with iTunes, in which four consumers would win a private concert performance by Prince. "Black Sweat" was bundled with a second track from 3121, "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed". The song's lofty Hot 100 debut was attributed to this promotional tactic. As is typical with songs whose chart position is predominantly attributed to initial sales (with little or no radio airplay), "Black Sweat" dropped off the Hot 100 the following week.

"Black Sweat" debuted at number two on the Canadian Singles Chart for sales. The track was released March 27, 2006 in the UK, and charted relatively low at #43 on the UK Singles Chart, meaning Prince has not had a top 40 hit since the re-release of "1999" in (aptly) the year 1999. In Italy the single peaked at #24.

Overall, "Black Sweat" appeared on the pop charts in a number of countries in 2006, including the U.S., and went Top 40 on the charts in Greece, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, and Spain. In addition, the song was a hit on Japanese radio, staying at high rotation for several weeks on stations throughout the country.

audience1° said: imo the success of the BS video is why 3121 at least went Gold. Number 1 on VH1.com chart. Tons of play on VH1 and BET too. Call My Name was his biggest radio song since his hayday, but BS was def his biggest video.