EsDeeKid Rules Emerging Artists Chart as His Catalogue Surges in Streams

EsDeeKid has been on a tear in recent weeks, and he continues his momentum on Billboard’s latest listings (dated Jan. 10), as the U.K. rapper rises to No. 1 on the Emerging Artists chart, marking the first time he has topped a Billboard ranking.

He rises a spot largely on the strength of continued streaming gains across his catalogue. The Emerging Artists chart blends an act’s weekly streams, radio airplay, album sales and paid song downloads, using a methodology similar to the Billboard Artist 100 but excluding artists who have reached the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 or Billboard 200.

In the latest tracking week (Dec. 26-Jan. 1), EsDeeKid’s songs generated 16 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate. While that figured is slightly down from sum the week before (18.8 million, his personal weekly best), it remains well above his typical levels from 2025.

The main drivers to this week’s standing are his two Hot 100 chart hits: “4 Raws” and “Phantom,” the latter with Rico Ace. “4 Raws” logged 7 million streams and bounds 64-38 to become EsDeeKid’s first top 40 hit on the chart. “Phantom” drew 5.4 million and climbs 81-67 in its second week.

EsDeeKid is also making an impact on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where he’s currently charting five titles:

• No. 10, “4 Raws” (a week after reaching No. 8 to become his first top 10)
• No. 15, “Phantom,” with Rico Ace
• No. 32, “Century”
• No. 35, “LV Sandals,” with fakemink & Rico Ace
• No. 49, “Rottweiler”

The Liverpool native charted six songs on the list a week earlier, with “Cali Man” with Rico Ace joining the five titles above.

All of EsDeeKid’s charted songs are on his debut project, Rebel, which reaches a new high (60-29) on the Billboard 200 with 17,000 equivalent album units earned.

The rapper’s rapid ascent started in late November after internet rumors claimed that EsDeeKid — who conceals his face behind a balaclava — was actually the rap alter ego of actor Timothée Chalamet. The theory took off following a Nov. 11 TikTok posted by user @gothauntie0. Weeks of silence from both parties only fueled the speculation, with Chalamet deflecting questions while promoting his A24 film Marty Supreme. “All will be revealed in due time,” he told Heart Radio in the U.K.

The mystery ended on Dec. 19, when Chalamet joined EsDeeKid on a remix of “4 Raws.” The two also appeared in a video for the track, with Chalamet contributing his own verses. “It’s Timothée Chalamet chillin’, tryna stack a hundred million/ Girl got a billion/ What the f—k, what a wonderful feeling,” he raps, referencing his mogul girlfriend, Kylie Jenner.

The viral moment has had a profound impact on EsDeeKid’s streaming performance. Below is a week-by-week look at his catalogue’s U.S. streaming totals since early November, according to Luminate:

• Nov. 7-13: 5.8 million
• Nov. 14-20: 9 million
• Nov. 21-27: 12.8 million
• Nov. 28-4: 13.3 million
• Dec. 5-11: 11.9 million
• Dec. 12-18: 14 million
• Dec. 19-25: 18.8 million
• Dec. 26-Jan. 1: 16 million

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.