Burna Boy sets new Billboard record with fifth album entry despite low sales

Key Points:

  • Burna Boy now leads Nigerian acts with five albums on the US Billboard 200.
  • His latest album, No Sign Of Weakness, debuted at number 200.
  • The album’s low sales were partly due to Billboard’s new U.S.-only streaming rule.

Burna Boy Beats Wizkid in Billboard Album Charting History

Burna Boy has made history once again. The Grammy-winning singer just became the Nigerian artiste with the highest number of charting albums on the prestigious Billboard 200 in the United States.

Burna Boy is seen smiling at an event in one frame, while in the other, he sits relaxed in a red cinema seat wearing dark sunglasses and a denim outfit.
Photo credit: @burnaboygram / Instagram

Before now, he and fellow superstar Wizkid were tied with four albums each on the chart. But Burna’s newest project, No Sign Of Weakness, helped him take the lead.

Although the album entered at number 200 — the very last spot — it still counts as a major milestone. This makes it his fifth entry on the chart, officially putting him ahead of Wizkid and other Nigerian acts.

‘No Sign Of Weakness’ Had Weak U.S. Sales

No Sign Of Weakness did not start strong in terms of numbers. Reports say it sold just 8,800 units in the U.S. during its debut week.

That makes it the lowest-charting Nigerian album ever to appear on the Billboard 200. Yet, for Burna Boy, even this small win adds another feather to his decorated cap.

Fans have mixed feelings about the album’s performance. Some blame poor promotion. Others point fingers at Billboard’s new charting system.

Billboard’s Rule Change Hit Afrobeats Stars Hard

Billboard recently changed how it calculates album rankings. Before now, streams and sales from outside the U.S. were counted.

This helped African artists — especially from Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK — perform better, thanks to their global fanbase.

Now, only U.S.-based data matters. This new rule likely played a big role in the weak debut of No Sign Of Weakness. Without support from his large international followers, Burna’s numbers dropped.

Still, he’s the first Nigerian with five entries on the Billboard 200. That alone is a big deal.

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