The iconic Bob Marley and the Wailers album Legend continues its reign as Billboard’s top reggae album, securing the #1 spot on the publication’s year-end chart for 2024.
This marks the fourth consecutive year the album has achieved this feat, following similar triumphs in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The year-end charts, released by Billboard on December 15, reflect performance metrics compiled from October 28, 2023, to October 19, 2024. Rankings are determined by aggregated data, including album sales, streaming, and airplay, based on Luminate’s tracking. The time frame and methodology differ from calendar-year recaps also compiled by Luminate, which exclude activity outside a title’s chart run.
Originally released in 1984 by Island Records, Legend was recently certified 18x platinum in the U.S., cementing its status as the best-selling reggae album of all time. On Billboard’s weekly Reggae Albums chart, it has held the #1 position for a record-breaking 256 non-consecutive weeks.
Beyond reggae, Legend made notable appearances on other Billboard year-end charts, ranking #4 on Top R&B Albums, #16 on Top Catalog Albums, #18 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and #33 on Top Album Sales.
Other Billboard chart highlights
Shaggy’s Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection secured the #2 spot on the reggae chart. Released in 2008 by Geffen Records, the album features some of the Jamaican artist’s most recognizable hits.
Sean Paul’s Dutty Classics Collection, certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry, landed at #3. The compilation, released in 2017, showcases Paul’s enduring popularity in the genre.
American reggae band Stick Figure dominated the list with three albums: World on Fire (#4), Set in Stone (#5), and Wisdom (#6). All three have previously topped the weekly Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
British reggae act UB40 claimed the #7 spot with their Greatest Hits collection, while Sean Paul’s Grammy-winning Dutty Rock came in at #8. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s gold-certified Welcome to Jamrock followed at #9.
Byron Messia’s No Love, released in January 2023, rounded out the top 10. The album peaked at #8 on the weekly Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
