"Ye"
Single by Burna Boy
from the album Outside
ReleasedAugust 6, 2018
Length3:51
Label
Songwriter(s)Damini Ogulu
Producer(s)Phantom
Burna Boy singles chronology
"Issa Vibe (Remix)"
(2018) 		"Ye"
(2018) 		""Baba Nla""
(2018)

"Ye" is a song by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. It was released on August 6, 2018, as the sixth single from his third studio album, Outside (2018). The song was produced by Nigerian record producer Phantom. It peaked at number 26 and 31 on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop and R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts, respectively. "Ye" won Song of the Year and Listener's Choice at the 2019 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.[1] It also won Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Pop Single and Best Recording of the Year at The Headies 2019.[2]

In August 2019, Rolling Stone reported that "Ye" earned around 11 million streams over seven months across major U.S. streaming platforms.[3]

Background and reception

Phantom created the beat for "Ye" in less than two hours, combining together a kick, piano synths and a few snares.[4] His vocals were layered on the beat.[4] "Ye" saw a 200 percent spike in its streaming numbers after searches for Kanye West's album of the same name unintentionally caused listeners to stumbled upon it.[5] Burna Boy thanked West for the confusion on Twitter.[6] In an email to The Fader magazine, Burna Boy said the video "essentially shows the unrelenting nature of Nigerians".[7] A writer for The Native magazine said "Ye" is being viewed as a new anthem because it "embraces the anathema of every self-interest seeking seemingly good-natured Nigerian."[4]

Covers

Jamaican singer Koffee performed her rendition of "Ye" during her first ever London show. A few days later, she also performed her rendition on BBC Radio 1Xtra Live Lounge.[8]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2019 The Headies Song of the Year "Ye" Won
Best Pop Single Nominated
Best Recording of the Year Nominated
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival Song of the Year Won
Listener's Choice Won

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018-2022) Peak
position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[9] 31
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[10] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (2022) Position
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[11] 14

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[12] Platinum 80,000‡
France (SNEP)[13] Gold 100,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[14] Platinum 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Full list of winners at the 2019 Soundcity MVP awards". Premium Times. January 6, 2019. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  2. ^ Gbenga Bada (October 20, 2019). "Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13th edition of music award". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  3. ^ Elias Leight (August 22, 2019). "Audiomack Announces Official partnership With Warner Music Group". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Why Burna Boy's "Ye" is the Modern Day National Anthem We Truly Deserve". The Native Magazine. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. ^ Durosomo, Damola (December 13, 2018). "Burna Boy Won 2018". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  6. ^ Wandera Hussein (4 June 2018). "Kanye's album title is accidentally leading fans to Burna Boy's "Ye". The Fader. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  7. ^ Myles Tanzer (6 August 2018). "Burna Boy's "Ye" video is an aspirational dream". The Fader. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  8. ^ Damola Durosomo (April 4, 2019). "You Need to See Koffee's Full Live Cover of Burna Boy's 'Ye'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  10. ^ Cusson, Michael (29 March 2022). "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Burna Boy – Ye". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  13. ^ "French single certifications – Burna Boy – Ye" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  14. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Ye')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – Burna Boy – Ye". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – Burna Boy – Ye". Recording Industry Association of America.
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