R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks the top R&B and hip hop songs in the United States, based on audience impressions from a panel of radio stations monitored by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. It was also used in sister publication R&R, which listed the chart as Urban National Airplay. The chart is not the R&B/hip-hop subset of the Hot 100 Airplay chart, but rather uses a separate panel of R&B stations in urban and urban adult contemporary markets. It was the primary airplay component chart of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart until the issue dated October 20, 2012, when Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs was revamped to include digital sales, streaming, and airplay from all radio formats. The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart encompasses two separate airplay charts, both of which are based on radio spins rather than audience impressions: Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop and Adult R&B Airplay, which measure airplay on urban contemporary and urban adult contemporary stations respectively.
From October 26, 1974 until August 28, 1976, Billboard's Disco Action section published weekly single retail sales charts from various local regions along with Top Audience Response Records in their magazine. Billboard debuted its first national chart devoted exclusively to 12-inch Singles Sales in their issue dated March 16, 1985. This record type is most commonly used in disco and dance music genres where DJs use them to play in discos or dance clubs because of the exclusive extended remixes that are often only made available on this format, but Billboard's 12-inch Single Sales chart ranks releases by artists from all styles of music that release maxi-singles.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
"One Dance" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his fourth studio album Views (2016). It features guest vocals from Nigerian afrobeats artist Wizkid and British singer Kyla. The artists co-wrote the dancehall and afrobeats song with its co-producers Nineteen85 and Noah "40" Shebib, with production assistance from Wizkid. Crazy Cousinz and Kyla received songwriting credits for the sampling of their 2008 UK funky song "Do You Mind".
Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. He gained initial recognition with his 2019 song "Dumebi". That same year, he signed with D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World. He achieved international recognition with his 2022 single "Calm Down", which spawned a remix with American singer Selena Gomez that peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also led Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing out of Nigeria and Ghana. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence", which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song "Fountains" by Canadian rapper Drake.
"Love Nwantiti" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, released in 2019 as the second track from his second extended play Ckay the First by Chocolate City through Warner Music Group. A remix of the song titled "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)" featuring Nigerian singer Joeboy and Ghanaian singer Kuami Eugene, released as a single in February 2020, became a commercial success in Nigeria, Middle East, North Africa and in many European club venues, as well as the subject of collaborations with few local artists for localised variations. The French version included vocals by French rapper Franglish.
Made in Lagos is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 30 October 2020 by Starboy Entertainment and RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from Burna Boy, Skepta, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Tay Iwar, Projexx, Tems, Damian Marley, Terri and was executive produced by P2J. The deluxe edition was released on 27 August 2021. It features additional guest appearances from Buju and Justin Bieber. In support of the album, Wizkid embarked on the Made in Lagos Tour (2021–2022). The album received a nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Album.
"Essence" is a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems. It was released on 30 October 2020, as the fourth single from Wizkid's fourth studio album, Made in Lagos. "Essence" was produced by P2J and Legendury Beatz. The "sensual" song sees the duo express their desire for each other. A music video was released on 9 April 2021, shot in Accra, Ghana. "Essence" is the first Nigerian song in history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. The song received a nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Performance.
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Starr achieved mainstream international recognition in 2022, with the release of her song "Rush". The song charted in several territories, including Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 24. It earned Starr a nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.
Nigerian singer-songwriter and record producer Tems has released one studio album, two extended plays (EPs), one soundtrack album, and 15 singles. In 2020, Tems released her debut EP For Broken Ears, which contained the single "Damages" and later "Free Mind" which impacted US contemporary radio as a single in 2022, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46 and breaking the female record for longest charting number one song on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. In 2021, Tems was featured on the Wizkid's single "Essence". It spawned a remix with Justin Bieber and became the first Nigerian song to chart on Billboard's Hot 100 of which it peaked at number 9 and Global 200 chart. Essence was certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In the same year, Tems released her second EP If Orange Was a Place, after signing with RCA Records.
Richard Olowaranti Mbu Isong, known professionally as P2J is a Nigerian-British producer from London, England. He has produced for high-profile pop artists including Beyoncé, Wizkid, Stormzy, FKA Twigs, Burna Boy, Tems, and Doja Cat, among others.
Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, known professionally as Oxlade, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter signed to Troniq Music, Epic Records in France, and Columbia Records in the UK. He rose to prominence with the release of the song "Away", which appeared on Rolling Stone's 50 best songs of 2020. After the success of his 2022 single "Ku Lo Sa", Oxlade was named Pandora Africa's Next Artist in July 2022.
"Finesse" is a song by Nigerian record producer Pheelz. It was uploaded on TikTok in February 2022 and commercially released on 3 March 2022, through Riidiimacool. The song was produced by Miichkel and features vocals from Nigerian Afro-fusion singer Bnxn. During its debut week, the record gained popularity across TikTok in Europe and America, with the #FolakeChallenge hashtag.
The U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart is a standard record chart, ranking the most popular Afrobeats songs in the United States and it is published weekly by Billboard. The chart ranks the 50 most popular songs every week. It was established by Billboard, in association with Afro Nation, on 22 March 2022. The chart is compiled by Billboard, and Afro Nation. The chart is measured from leading audio and video music services, plus download sales from top music retailers. The first chart was published in the issue dated 29 March.
"Free Mind" is a song by Nigerian singer and record producer Tems. It first appeared on 25 September 2020 as the third track from Tems's debut extended play, For Broken Ears. Tems wrote and produced the song alongside co-producer Omeiza. The song debuted on 2 April 2022 at number 5 on the then newly launched Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
"Palazzo" is a song by a Nigerian disc jockey Spinall, featuring Asake. It was released on 13 May 2022 through TheCAP Music. Spinall and Asake wrote the song, and Spinall produced it with Magicsticks, and sound engineer Eskeez. "Palazzo" earned Spinall his third UK Afrobeats Singles Chart entry at number 6, and earned Asake third entry on the chart. It also earned Spinall his first entry on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs at number 6, and earned Asake, his third entry on the chart. The song was ranked at number 1 on TheCable's list of 10 TCL radio pick of the week, and debuted on number 2 on the TurnTable Top 50 chart.
Sad Romance is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer CKay. It was released by Warner Music Africa on 23 September 2022. The album features guest appearances from Ayra Starr, Davido, Focalistic, Abidoza, Mayra Andrade, and Ronisia, and was executive produced by CKay. Following the release of the album CKay embarked on the Sad Romance North America Tour (2022).
"Baddest Boy" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter Skiibii, released on 4 November 2021 by More Grace Music. It became a commercial success in Nigeria, and was produced by Runcheck. A remix of the song featuring Davido was released on 21 January 2022 and became a commercial success in the U.K., and America. "Baddest Boy" spent five consecutive weeks at number 1 on TurnTable Top 50, number three on U.K. Official Afrobeats Chart, and at number eleven on Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs.
