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    CKay Tops RIAA List of Best-Selling Nigerian Artists in the US

    Emma TeeBy No Comments3 Mins Read

    • CKay leads RIAA list of top selling Nigerian artists

    CKay Tops RIAA List of Best-Selling Nigerian Artists in the US
    CKay Tops RIAA List of Best-Selling Nigerian Artists in the US

    Nigerian pop music continues to thrive globally, especially in the United States, where Afrobeats stars have achieved remarkable milestones, including multiple platinum certifications. Leading the pack is CKay, who holds the record as the highest-selling Nigerian artist in the U.S., thanks to his viral hit single, ‘Love Nwantiti.’

    Since its explosion on TikTok in 2021, ‘Love Nwantiti‘ has sold over 8 million units, making it the most certified Nigerian song in the U.S. The track is also on track to become Afrobeats’ first diamond-certified record.

    In second place is Grammy-winning artist Wizkid. His global smash ‘Essence,’ featuring Tems and Justin Bieber, has sold over 4 million units. Wizkid holds the title of the most certified Nigerian artist in the U.S., with a total of 8 RIAA certifications.

    Rema ranks third on the list, boasting over 5 million units sold, largely driven by his record-breaking hit ‘Calm Down.’ The song, certified six times platinum by the RIAA, has set numerous records, including becoming the first African track to surpass 1 billion streams in the U.S.

    Additionally, ‘Calm Down‘ is the highest-charting Nigerian song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3. It’s the first African song to spend over 52 weeks on the chart and the first to top Billboard’s Radio Songs chart.

    Other notable Nigerian artists with multiple RIAA certifications include:
    Tems: The first Nigerian artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100.
    Burna Boy: Holds the record for the most Hot 100 entries by a Nigerian artist.
    Davido: His single *Fall* was the first Nigerian song to earn RIAA Gold certification.

    These accomplishments highlight the global influence of Nigerian artists and the growing dominance of Afrobeats on the international music stage.