For years, African artists have worked to turn local success into global recognition. While many have enjoyed international hits, only a few have managed to build a lasting presence on the Billboard Hot 100, widely regarded as the most important singles chart in the United States.
Among those few is Burna Boy.
Since making his Billboard Hot 100 debut in 2021, the Nigerian superstar has grown from an African music powerhouse into one of the continent’s most successful chart performers. Along the way, he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, explored different genres and helped take African music to new audiences around the world.
That journey reached a new milestone in 2026 when Burna Boy became the African artist with the most Billboard Hot 100 entries. But the achievement did not happen overnight. It was built one song at a time over six remarkable years.
The Collaborative Kickoff (2021)
“Loved By You” Opened the Door
Burna Boy’s Billboard Hot 100 journey began in July 2021 with “Loved By You,” a collaboration with Justin Bieber from the Canadian singer’s Justice album. The song peaked at No. 87, giving Burna Boy his first-ever appearance on the chart.
At the time, Burna Boy was already one of Africa’s biggest music stars thanks to albums like African Giant and Twice As Tall. However, a Billboard Hot 100 entry represented a different level of recognition, placing him before a wider American audience.
Although “Loved By You” was officially a Justin Bieber song, Burna Boy’s contribution stood out. His unique vocals and Afro-fusion sound introduced him to millions of listeners who may not have known his music before then.
Looking back, the song’s importance goes beyond its chart position. It marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually make history.
The Global Breakout (2022)
“Last Last” Proved Burna Boy Could Stand Alone
If “Loved By You” introduced Burna Boy to the Billboard Hot 100, “Last Last” proved he belonged there.
Released in May 2022 as the lead single from his album Love, Damini, the heartbreak anthem quickly became one of the biggest songs of his career. Built around a sample of Toni Braxton’s “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” the track connected with listeners around the world through its catchy sound and relatable lyrics.
The song peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Burna Boy’s highest-charting solo entry at the time.
Beyond the numbers, “Last Last” became a cultural phenomenon. It dominated social media, streaming platforms, concerts and festivals, helping Burna Boy reach an even larger global audience.
What made the achievement more impressive was that he did it without a major Western artist on the track. Unlike his Billboard debut a year earlier, this success was driven largely by his own star power.
For many fans, “Last Last” was the moment Burna Boy stopped being viewed as an artist trying to break into the global market and became a global star in his own right.
Fusing Genres and Summer Anthems (2023)
Two Entries, One Expanding Sound
After the success of “Last Last,” Burna Boy entered 2023 with growing confidence and momentum.
His first Billboard Hot 100 entry of the year came with “Sittin’ On Top of the World.” Released in June 2023, the song sampled Brandy’s 1998 hit “Top of the World” and blended classic R&B influences with Burna Boy’s Afro-fusion style. The track peaked at No. 80, giving him another chart appearance.
A few months later, he returned to the chart with “Talibans II,” a collaboration with Jamaican artist Byron Messia. The remix combined Afro-fusion and Dancehall sounds and peaked at No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Neither song reached the heights of “Last Last,” but both showed Burna Boy’s versatility. Whether drawing inspiration from classic R&B or teaming up with a Dancehall artist, he continued to find new ways to connect with audiences.
By the end of 2023, it was clear that his Billboard success was no longer tied to a single hit. He was building a growing catalogue of chart entries across different genres and markets.
Dominating the Rap Space (2024)
Becoming a Familiar Name in American Hip-Hop
By 2024, Burna Boy was no longer an occasional visitor on the Billboard Hot 100. He had become a regular presence.
His first entry of the year came through “Just Like Me,” a collaboration with 21 Savage and Metro Boomin. Released as part of the soundtrack for American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, the song peaked at No. 67.
The collaboration highlighted how much Burna Boy’s profile had grown. Three years after his Billboard debut, he was now working comfortably alongside some of the biggest names in American hip-hop.
Later in the year, he added another entry with “We Pray,” a collaboration with Coldplay, Elyanna, Little Simz and TINI. The song peaked at No. 87 and further showed his ability to move between genres and audiences.
The success of “We Pray” carried extra significance. With the entry, Burna Boy became the most-charted Nigerian artist on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, moving ahead in a closely watched race among African stars.
By the end of 2024, he had accumulated six Billboard Hot 100 entries and established himself as one of Africa’s most consistent global music exports.
Continuing the Streak (2025)
Another Year, Another Billboard Entry
Maintaining success is often harder than achieving it.
After four consecutive years on the Billboard Hot 100, Burna Boy entered 2025 looking to extend his impressive run. He did exactly that with “wgft,” a collaboration with American rapper Gunna.
The song arrived during the rollout of his No Sign of Weakness era and delivered yet another Billboard Hot 100 appearance, extending his streak to five consecutive years.
By this point, Burna Boy was no longer chasing a breakthrough. He had already established himself as a dependable global hitmaker whose music could connect with audiences across different regions and genres.
With five straight years of Billboard Hot 100 appearances behind him, Burna Boy had already secured his place among Africa’s most successful chart performers. But an even bigger milestone was still ahead.
The Record-Breaking Year (2026)
From Matching History to Making History
Entering 2026, Burna Boy had already built one of the strongest Billboard records by an African artist. Yet he still had more history to make.
The first milestone came with “Only You,” his collaboration with J. Cole. The song peaked at No. 78 and became his eighth Billboard Hot 100 entry.
More importantly, it extended his streak to six consecutive years on the chart, from 2021 to 2026, a feat unmatched by any other African artist.
Later in the year came “Dai Dai,” a collaboration with global superstar Shakira released as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup celebrations. The song peaked at No. 75 and became Burna Boy’s ninth Billboard Hot 100 entry.
The significance of that number went beyond another chart appearance. With “Dai Dai,” Burna Boy moved ahead of every other African act, including Tems, to become the artist from the continent with the most Billboard Hot 100 entries in history.
What began with a guest appearance on a Justin Bieber album five years earlier had now become a record-breaking legacy.
More Than Numbers
Burna Boy’s Billboard Hot 100 journey is about more than chart positions and records. It is the story of an artist who steadily grew from a Nigerian star with international ambitions into one of Africa’s biggest global music exports.
Across six consecutive years, his entries have reflected different stages of that growth. There was the breakthrough collaboration with Justin Bieber, the solo success of “Last Last,” the genre-crossing experiments, the hip-hop partnerships and the record-breaking milestones that followed.
What makes the achievement even more impressive is its consistency. In an industry where trends change quickly, Burna Boy has remained relevant year after year, finding new ways to connect with audiences around the world.
His success has also mirrored the growing influence of African music globally. As Afrobeats continues to reach new audiences, Burna Boy has been one of the artists leading the movement and helping to open doors for others.
Six years. Nine Billboard Hot 100 entries. One historic record.
For Burna Boy, those numbers tell an impressive story. But perhaps the bigger achievement is the legacy behind them—a legacy that has helped change how African artists are viewed on the global stage and proved that their place on the world’s biggest charts is no longer an exception.
