For more than a decade, Afrobeats has surged from the streets of Lagos to the world stage, its ascent measured not just by streaming numbers and sold-out stadiums, but also by milestones once unimaginable for African artists.
On Wednesday, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy etched his name into the genre’s global story yet again, becoming the first African artist to land at least one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive years, from 2021 to 2026.
He reached this landmark when his collaboration with J. Cole, “Only You,” debuted at No. 78 on the Hot 100 chart dated February 21, 2026.
Blending introspective rap with Afro-fusion and reggae influences, “Only You” appears on Cole’s highly anticipated album, The Fall-Off, and further cements Burna Boy’s place at the forefront of global music.
The Billboard Hot 100 is the definitive weekly ranking of songs in the United States, based on streaming, radio airplay, and sales. Since its inception in 1958, it has served as the ultimate barometer of a song’s popularity and a coveted marker of mainstream success. A Hot 100 entry not only confers prestige but shapes revenue and marketing strategies, making it a powerful tool in the music industry.
Burna Boy’s journey on the Hot 100 began in 2021 with a feature on Justin Bieber’s Loved By You, a quiet but significant debut. He returned in 2022 with Last Last, the breakout hit that became his longest-charting single and a turning point in his global career.
His momentum accelerated in 2023 with two entries: Sittin’ On Top Of The World with 21 Savage, and Talibans II with Byron Messia. In 2024, he added Just Like Me with Seyi Vibez and 21 Savage, and We Pray with Coldplay, underscoring his crossover appeal to both pop and alternative audiences. The streak continued in 2025 with a feature on Gunna’s WGFT, culminating in 2026’s Only You.
With this latest entry, Burna Boy not only extended his Hot 100 streak to six consecutive years, but also brought his career total to eight entries—making him one of the most charted African artists in history.
