For more than a decade, the global rise of Afrobeats has been charted not only in streams and sold-out arenas but also in milestones that once seemed out of reach for African musicians.
On Wednesday, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy added another defining moment to that story, becoming the first African artist to place at least one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive years, a streak spanning 2021 to 2026.
The landmark was sealed when “Only You,” his collaboration with J. Cole, debuted on the chart the week of February 21, 2026, at peak 78.
The cross-genre record, which combines introspective rap with Afro-fusion and reggae influences, appears on Cole’s long-anticipated album The Fall-Off.
Beyond another chart entry, the moment symbolised the Grammy award-winning singer’s sustained presence at the heart of the global music conversation.
