Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter CKay has etched his name into global music history as his debut extended play, CKay The First, crossed the one billion streams mark on Spotify.
The project, released in August 2019, introduced audiences to CKay’s now-famed Emo-Afrobeats sound—a fusion of Afrobeats, pop, and R&B. At its core lies the runaway hit Love Nwantiti. This track became a viral sensation on TikTok and catapulted CKay into worldwide prominence.
The billion-stream milestone makes CKay The First the first Nigerian EP to reach such heights, and the seventh Nigerian project overall to achieve this milestone. CKay now joins an elite roster of Nigerian artists—including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay, and Rema—who have crossed the billion-stream threshold on the world’s largest audio platform.
Beyond numbers, the accomplishment reflects the globalization of Afrobeats and the enduring impact of songs born in Nigeria but embraced everywhere from Lagos to Los Angeles. Music analysts note that CKay’s sound helped define a new era of Nigerian pop, blending vulnerability with groove in a way that resonated deeply with Gen Z and millennial audiences.
With CKay The First now cemented in the billion-club, industry watchers predict CKay’s future releases will continue to push Afro-fusion to new heights, solidifying his status as one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports.
