Tyla Celebrates Her First Top 10 Hit on Billboard Hot 100 With ‘Water’

South African singer Tyla has achieved a major milestone in her career as she becomes the first female artist from her country to enter the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her viral hit, ‘Water,’ which has sparked a popular dance challenge on TikTok, climbed from #12 to #10 on the latest edition of the ranking.

The song, which was released on September 29, 2023, is a catchy Afro-pop tune that showcases Tyla’s smooth vocals and infectious hooks. The track was produced by Sammy Soso, a fellow South African who has worked with artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido. ‘Water’ has amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify and over 200 million views on YouTube.

To boost the song’s momentum, Tyla released two remixes on November 17, 2023, featuring American superstars Marshmello and Travis Scott. The remixes added more flavor and diversity to the original version, as well as increased the song’s exposure and reach. According to Billboard, the remixes accounted for 40% of the song’s total activity in the tracking week ending November 23, 2023.

The remixes also helped the song gain more airplay and sales in the U.S. market. ‘Water’ received 38.4 million impressions from radio stations across the country, up 12% from the previous week. The song also sold 2,000 digital downloads, up 8% from the previous week. The song’s streaming numbers also remained strong, as it garnered 14.4 million U.S.-based streams, up 5% from the previous week.

With these impressive figures, ‘Water’ earned 67.2 million audience impressions, 9.4 million stream-equivalent units, and 13,000 track-equivalent units in the U.S. in the week ending November 23, 2023. These metrics are used to calculate the Hot 100 chart, which blends airplay, streaming, and sales data.

By reaching the top 10 of the Hot 100, Tyla has made history as the youngest South African performer (and first female) to achieve this feat. She follows the footsteps of Hugh Masekela, the legendary South African jazz musician who reached #3 on the chart in 1968 with his instrumental hit, ‘Grazing in the Grass.’ Tyla has also become one of the few African artists to break into the U.S. mainstream music scene, joining the likes of Akon, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido.