Since 2020, The ‘Afrobeats to the world’ mantra has been a mainstay with the genre steadily reaching new heights yearly either through the curators or the sound in general. This year is no different as the shooting genre shined bright in all its glory.
The curators—artists and producers—made their mark on the global scale in 2023 as Billboard duly noted the rising effect of Afrobeats. Burna Boy, Tems, and Rema are the frontiers of the movement in 2023 per Billboard. Producers Kiddominant, London, and Andre Vibez also enjoyed credible spotlighting.
The Billboard year-end chart is a culmination of all artists, songs, labels, and music contributor effects on any of the Billboard charts. The time frame of the compilation is 19 Nov. 2022 to 21 Oct. 2023. For Afrobeats, the Hot 100, Afrobeats charts, and the Hot 200 played pivotal roles in its inclusion.
Artists’ Billboard Year-End Charts
Burna Boy is the No. 1 Afrobeats Songs artist in the U.S. according to Billboard. Thanks to the residual effect of last year’s Last Last, Love, Damini, and 2023’s City Boys, Sittin’ On Top Of The World and I Told Them album, Burna’s dominance is unquestionable.
To complete the Top 3 list is Rema (No.2) and Tems at third spot. The only non-Nigerian singer on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs Artists is Libianca (Cameroon) at fourth place.
Rema and Tems carried their starlight onto the main chart—Hot 100—year-end chart. Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez finished a spot shy of the Top 5 Billboard U.S. Hot 100 Songs for 2023.
Tems, on her part, is still enjoying the fruitage of WAIT FOR U (2022) with a Top 100 finish (83rd).
Producers’ Billboard Year-End Chart
Three Nigerian beatmakers gracefully entered the Billboard Hot 100 Producers year-end chart. These instrumental maestros are Kiddominant, Andre Vibez, and London.
Kiddominant’s inclusion is majorly thanks to the aftereffect of Under the Influence. The Chris Brown sung jam is produced by “Kiddo” and also co-written by him.
The enormous success of Calm Down sees Andre Vibez and London gallantly slide to the 24th spot on the chart.
Note:
Mavin Records is the only African label to have at least an artist (Rema) and a producer (Vibez and London) show up on the Billboard Year-End charts.
This is the first time in the history of African music in which an African-owned label will simultaneously produce an artist and a producer on the Billboard Year-End music chart since its inception in 1981.