"Kwaku the Traveller" is a song by Ghanaian drill musician Black Sherif. It was released on 31 March 2022, through Blacko, and Empire. "Kwaku the Traveller" was written by Black Sherif, and produced by Joker Nharnah.[1] It debuted at number 1 in Nigeria TurnTable Top 50 chart,[2] number 5 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart[3] and number 2 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.[4] On 11 July 2022, following the launch of TurnTable Top 100, an expansion of the Top 50 chart, "Kwaku the Traveller" debut at number 22.[5] On 14 July 2022, "Kwaku the Traveller" debut at number 2 on the newly launched Nigeria Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs chart.[6]
| "Kwaku the Traveller" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Black Sherif | ||||
| from the album The Villain I Never Was | ||||
| Released | 31 March 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | Black Sherif | |||
| Producer(s) | Joker Nharnah | |||
| Black Sherif singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Composition
editReviewing for The FADER, David Renshaw wrote, "Kwaku The Traveller" finds Sherif in full grind mode but able to acknowledge the bumps in the road he encounters on his way to making the money in his sights. As he puts it in his distinctive vocals: "Of course I fucked up. Who never fuck up hands in the air, no hands? I was young what you expect from me? It is what it is".[7]
Commercial performance
edit"Kwaku the Traveller" debuted at number 1 in Nigeria TurnTable Top 50 chart,[2] number 5 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs[3] and number 2 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.[4] On 19 April, it debuted at number 12 on Billboard Top Triller Global.[8] On 3 April 2022, it became the first Ghana record to top the Nigeria Apple Music Top 100, at number one, and Nigeria Turntable charts on 11 April 2022. "Kwaku the Traveller" became the most streamed song in Spotify Nigeria Charts, on 12 April 2022.[9] "Kwaku the Traveller" is Black Sherif's second most popular record with over 2.5 million Spotify streams, and his most popular record with over 14.6 million Boomplay streams as of 20 April 2022.
Accolades
edit| Year | Organization | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | African Entertainment Awards USA[10][11] | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Soundcity MVP Awards Festival[12] | Best Hip-Hop | Pending |
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Nigeria Top 50 (TurnTable) | 1 |
| Nigeria Top 100 (TurnTable) | 22 |
| Nigeria Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs (TurnTable) | 2 |
| South Africa (TOSAC)[13] | 6 |
| UK Afrobeats Singles (OCC) | 2 |
| UK Indie (OCC)[14] | 40 |
| US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard) | 5 |
| Top Triller Global (Billboard) | 12 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard) | 18 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 31 March 2022 |
|
References
edit- ^ "Black Sherif Reflects On Drill-Infused Joint "Kwaku The Traveller"". GRM Daily. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ a b "TurnTable Top 50: Black Sherif Debuts At No. 1 With "Kwaku The Traveller"". The NATIVE. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ a b Cusson, Michael (29 March 2022). "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Official Afrobeats Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100". TurnTable charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ "TurnTable Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Black Sherif is in humble mode on new song "Kwaku The Traveller"". The FADER. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ Olsen, Ted (5 August 2020). "Top Triller Global". Billboard. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ "Rema Tops Spotify Nigeria Weekly Chart As Ghanaian Star, Black Sheriff, Makes Highest New Entry". Daily Trust. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ Matanda, Alvin (8 November 2022). "AEAUSA Awards 2022 : voici la liste des nominés". Music In Africa. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ Maganga, Charles (1 January 2023). "Winners Announced For The 2022 African Entertainment Awards USA (AEAUSA) | SEE LIST". Notjustok. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ Maganga, Charles (19 January 2023). "2023 Soundcity MVP Awards Nominations: The Complete List". Notjustok. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 15-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2022.