Jamaican born Dancehall artist Byron Messia has achieved Gold certification in Canada for his hit track, “Talibans.” The official announcement of the certification, representing sales and streams of 40,000 units in the country, was made by Music Canada on Wednesday September 2023.
The song “Talibans” was released on January 20 under Ztekk Records and later on /Geffen/Interscope. It is the lead single on Messia’s album titled “No Love,” which peaked at No. 3 spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Additionally, a remix of “Talibans” known as “Talibans II” was released on July 21 through On A Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records, with Burna Boy. This remix managed to secure the No. 53 position on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart. Notably, the remix also made an appearance as a bonus track on Burna Boy’s album “I Told Them…,” which was released on August 24. Byron was the only Jamaican featured on the Afro-fusion Hip Hop inspired album
The Canadian certification of “Talibans” comes almost a month after it was certified Silver in the U.K. for selling 200,000 units by the British Phonographic Industry on Friday August 25, 2023.
Talibans is the first Trap Dancehall song to be certified Gold in Canada and Silver in the U.K.
It is the highest charting Trap Dancehall song to make the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 99 following “Crocodile Teeth Remix” by Skillibeng and Nicki Minaj which spent one week at 100 in May 2021. At the time Skillibeng was the first Jamaican to hit the chart in four years.
