Talibans makes 100 Best Songs of 2023 list
The year 2023 has been good for breakout sensation Byron Messia.
The Jamaican-born dancehall artiste (he moved to St Kitts and Nevis while still a toddler) made moves on several international charts with his hit single Talibans as well as his début album No Love.
On Thursday, Billboard magazine ranked Talibans #75 on its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2023. The only Jamaican charted.
In a previous interview with the Jamaica Observer, Byron Messia said he was surprised at the success of the song which has been certified gold in Canada and silver in the United Kingdom.
“I am very surprised by all of this. I was never expecting this to have such a global impact. But I am very grateful for that. Talibans was inspired by what I saw happening around me. The things I am aware of and the experiences of other persons,” the artiste disclosed.
Talibans, produced by Ztekk/Simple Stupid Records, took off on social media and stirred the interest in major label Geffen, a subsidiary of Interscope, which signed the deejay to an album deal. His début album No Love rose to #3 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy got in on the action and is featured on the remix of Talibans (titled Talibans II) which peaked at #3 on the US Afrobeats Songs chart and #99 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Talibans was also successful on other Billboard charts, peaking at #8 on Rap Airplay, #53 on Canadian Hot 100, #13 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, #19 on Rhythmic Top 40, and #16 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
Outside of North America, Talibans fared well on charts in Nigeria (#18 on Nigeria Hot 100), #75 Irish Singles chart, #12 on the UK Singles chart, #21 on Germany’s Urban/Hip-Hop chart, #20 on UK Hip-Hop/R&B chart, and #39 in New Zealand.
Other songs making the Billboard 100 Best Songs of 2023 list include I’m Not Here to Make Friends by Sam Smith (#62), Karma by Taylor Swift and Ice Spice (#54), Fast Car, Luke Combs’ faithful cover of Tracey Chapman’s 1988 hit (#47), Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo (#30), Oh My Mama by Victoria Monet (#24), Snooze by SZA (#22), Water by Tyla (#18), Paint the Town Red by Doja Cat (#5), and Flowers by Miley Cyrus (#4).
Kill Bill by SZA tops the list.
