Ckay has continued to enjoy mainstream success in his music career since the turn of the new decade; growing in leaps and bound among his contemporaries.
2022 has proved to be a tremendous year for the multi-talented musician who has continued to enthrall international audiences with his musical dexterity, especially on video-sharing social media platforms such as Tik Tok and Snap Chat.
The success of the hit single, “Love Nwantinti,” and the multiple international remixes that followed certainly helped solidify his place on the international scene.
Ckay whose real name is Chukwuka Ekweani gained modest notoriety when he released the well-received, ‘Way‘ featuring DJ Lambo. The single was released after Ckay signed a deal with Chocolate City in 2019.
The promising artiste continued to redefine his musical composition and lyrics, going from the atypical ‘Naija sufferhead struggles‘ narrative that already saturates the lyrics of the average Nigerian Afrobeat artiste to creating music that is themed around love, romance, and becoming-of-age.
Ckay’s single, ‘Love Nwatiti‘ which means ‘True Love‘ in the Igbo language became an immediate sensation following its release in the latter part of 2020. The single has since become the 26-year-old singer‘s biggest crossover hit across various music charts since it made its debut.
The irrepressible song has garnered almost 2 billion views on TikTok and 500 million more on YouTube and has charted in six continents, hitting No. 1 in India, Norway, and Switzerland.
Additionally, at the time of this report, Ckay stands at the peak of the list of African musicians with the most Spotify monthly listeners.
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Read the tweet;
Africa’s Most Spotify Monthly Listeners
1. Ckay 🇳🇬 – 19 million
2. Tems 🇳🇬 – 16.3 million
3. Burna Boy 🇳🇬 – 10.8 million
4. Fireboy 🇳🇬 – 9.4 million
5. Wizkid 🇳🇬 – 7.1M
6. Rema 🇳🇬 – 6.6M
7. DJ Yo 🇲🇺 – 6.2M
8. Soolking 🇩🇿 – 5.8M
9. Amaarae 🇬🇭 – 5.7M
10. Mr Eazi 🇳🇬 – 5.1M
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 9, 2022
Ckay’s recent achievement is coming after his second studio extended play titled; “CKay The First” surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify.
‘CKay The First’ now joins the likes of Burna Boy’s ‘African Giant’ album as the second and only African project to hit the milestone. It’s also the most-streamed EP from Africa.
The sensational artiste also stands atop of the ‘Africa’s Most Streamed Songs on Spotify‘.
See more of his achievements in 2022 below;
Africa’s Most Streamed Songs on Spotify
1. CKay’s Love Nwantiti – 487 million
2. CKay’s Love Nwantiti (Rmx) ft. Dj Yo & AXEL – 392 million
3. Master KG’s Jerusalema ft. Nomcebo Zikode – 292 million
4. Amaarae’s Sad Girlz Luv Money – 221m
5. Blackway’s What’s Up Danger – 185m
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 9, 2022
Love Nwatiti Shatters Barriers, As Belgian Kid Performs Smash Hit
Most recently, a video of a contestant on Belgium’s The Voice Kids performing CKay’s global hit ‘Love Nwantiti‘ hit the internet on Thursday, June, 9.
The contestant who’s called J.A.P stunned the audience with his cover of CKay’s ‘Love Nwantiti‘; the show has been described as one of the biggest music reality shows in the world.
Watch the video below;
