It looks like Essence by Afrobeat superstar, Wizkid has made a home for itself on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The hit song which features rising songstress, Tems, has moved up ten spots on this week’s update of the Billboard charts, now sitting at number 72 for the week ending July 24th, 2021.
The widely regarded song of the summer debuted at No. 82 on the music chart last week. This meant a first time for Wizkid on the chart for his own record and also a first appearance since 2019.
Back in 2016, the Grammy award winner made his debut on the charts on Canadian superstar, Drake’s hit song ‘One Dance’ which also featured Kyla. The song stayed atop the charts for 10 weeks. His second time on the Billboard charts came in 2019 after he collaborated with Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter and Saint JHN on “Brown Skin Girl,” which peaked at No. 76.
This achievement makes Wizkid just the third African artiste to simultaneously chart on both the Hot 100 list and the Billboard 200, after earlier exploits by Cameroonian saxophonist, Manu Dibango, in 1973, and South African legend, Miriam Makeba, in 1997.
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In an emailed statement to Billboard after Essence debuted on the chart, Wizkid said, “I feel blessed to make music that touches people. Big shoutout to all the fans and good music lovers everywhere.”
Essence is also 26-year-old Tems’ first time on the Billboard charts. In her statement, she thanked Wizkid and also the fans for supporting. “I’m blessed to have Wiz, and I’m extremely grateful to God and all the supporters worldwide,” she said. “This is a moment I don’t take for granted.”
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard record chart for songs published weekly by Billboard magazine. The chart rankings are based on sales, radio play, and online streaming in the U.S.