The reggae singer’s 2015 collaboration with Major Lazer and Ellie Goulding peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Eleven years ago, Jamaican reggae star Tarrus Riley made Billboard history as the first unsigned Jamaican reggae artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100 this century, thanks to his appearance on Major Lazer’s 2015 single “Powerful,” featuring British singer Ellie Goulding.
Riley remains the only independent roots reggae artist to launch on the chart from Jamaica and is one of just four roots reggae acts of Jamaican heritage to reach the US Billboard Hot 100 since 2000. The others include Damian, Skip and YG Marley.
“Powerful” debuted at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated October 10, 2015, before climbing to its peak of No. 83 on October 31. The song spent 11 weeks on the chart, marking Riley’s first and, to date, only credited appearance on the ranking.
The song from Major Lazer’s album Peace Is the Mission, also reached No. 64 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, where it spent 11 weeks. It peaked on November 7, 2015.
On Billboard’s US Dance Airplay chart, the collaboration reached No. 36, spending one week on the ranking dated October 31, 2015.
Riley’s Billboard success extends beyond singles. He has placed four albums on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, including three top-10 entries and one No. 1.
His 2014 album Love Situation debuted at No. 1 on February 22, 2014, and spent six weeks on the chart. It remains his only chart-topping album on that ranking.
His longest-running entry was Contagious, which peaked at No. 5 on August 29, 2009, and spent 30 weeks on the chart.
Meanwhile, Parables reached No. 10 on March 15, 2008, during a 13-week chart run, while Challenges peaked at No. 12 on July 26, 2008, spending one week on the ranking.
Together, Riley’s four albums have accumulated 50 weeks on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
The singer, known for songs including “She’s Royal,” “Human Nature” and “Gimme Likkle One Drop,” has built his career around roots reggae, lovers rock and rocksteady influences.
Tarrus Riley’s latest song Red Flags produced my Mr. G is out now on YouTube.
