Hot 100 First-Timers: Tyla Makes Splash With Viral R&B Hit ‘Water’
The song debuts at No. 67.
Tyla
Tyla scores her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated Oct. 14), as “Water,” the breakthrough single for the South African singer-songwriter, debuts at No. 67.
The song, released July 28 on FAX Records/Epic Records, arrives on the chart with 6.4 million official streams (up 22%), 3.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 128%) and 1,000 downloads sold (up 9%) in the United States in the Sept. 29-Oct. 5 tracking week, according to Luminate.
Among Billboard’s other multi-metric charts, the single rises 7-6 on Hot R&B Songs and 36-22 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Further on radio, “Water” debuts at No. 39 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and No. 47 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
The song is also building internationally, as it jumps 71-38 on the Billboard Global 200 and 74-41 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, and hits the top 10 (up 12-10) on South Africa Songs. It also holds at its No. 2 high on Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs.
TikTok has been a major contributor in the song’s growing profile. A portion of the track has soundtracked over 600,000 clips on the platform, largely to a viral dance challenge.
Tyla is a relative newcomer to Billboard’s charts. She charted one song prior to “Water”: “Been Thinking” reached No. 27 on Rhythmic Airplay and No. 36 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay earlier this year.
Outside of “Water” and “Been Thinking,” Tyla has released four additional songs on streaming services: “Getting Late” with Kooldrink; “Overdue” featuring DJ Lag and Kooldrink (from the second season of the South African Netflix TV series Blood & Water); “To Last” (along with a remix featuring DJ Maphorisa and Young Stunna); and “Girl Next Door” with Ayra Starr. She has also collaborated with the likes of Major Lazer, Daliwonga, Marioo and Kelvin Momo.
This article first appeared on Billboard U.S.
