Burna Boy tops YouTube streams as most-streamed African artist so far in 2023

Burna Boy, the African Giant, holds the title of the most streamed African artist on YouTube during the first half of 2023. With an impressive 327,676,798 views across his catalogue up to July 30, 2023, he secures the 196th position overall.

However, at the top of the YouTube artist list is Colombian singer KAROL G, who has amassed a staggering 2,797,441,343 views as of July 30, 2023.

The most streamed song on YouTube this year so far is KAROL G and Shakira’s “TQG” (Official Music Video), with over 700 million views. Unfortunately, no other African artist has made it to YouTube’s top 200 artists of 2023 as of July.

In Google’s Year in Search 2022, Burna Boy’s “Last Last” ranked as the 10th most searched song globally. This track was released in May 2022 and served as the lead single for his sixth solo album, titled “Love Damini,” which was released under the Atlantic Records/Spaceship label. Following his successful two-night sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden, Burna Boy has gained popularity and opened himself up to new audiences in America and worldwide, leading to a higher demand for his tour. The Love Damini Tour consisted of 65 events, including 42 festivals, 16 arenas, and 7 stadiums across the US, UK, and the Caribbean.

Recently, Burna Boy announced the conclusion of his Love, Damini Stadium Tour and revealed that his latest album, titled “I Told Them,” will be released on August 25, 2023, under the Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records labels. The album’s lead single is “Sitting On Top Of The World,” which includes a remix featuring 21 Savage. Additionally, Burna Boy’s song “Big 7” achieved the biggest streaming debut for a solo song by an African artist in Spotify’s history.

The music video for “Big 7,” directed by Benny Boom, is set in New York and features cameo appearances from renowned artists like Busta Rhymes, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Junior Mafia, and others. Burna Boy explained that “Big 7” is a melodic tribute to embracing new heights in his musical journey, with the number seven symbolizing an attainable and harmonious growth.

Recently, Burna Boy provided a cosign for Byron Messia’s breakout hit “Talibans” by adding his vocals to the track, further showcasing his support for up-and-coming talents.