Caribbean National Weekly

YG Marley puts reggae back on Billboard Hot 100 chart

By Sheri-kae McLeod··2 min read
YG Marley puts reggae back on Billboard Hot 100 chart
Key Points(5)
  • The Marley Family's enduring legacy finds fresh expression in the rising star YG Marley, whose debut single has earned a coveted spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • At just 22 years old, YG Marley, son of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley, and grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, unveiled his inaugural track "Praise Jah in the Moonlight" last December.
  • Co-crafted alongside his eight-time Grammy-winning mother, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No.
  • 74 earlier this month.
  • In its second week on the chart, the song is currently at No.

The Marley Family's enduring legacy finds fresh expression in the rising star YG Marley, whose debut single has earned a coveted spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

At just 22 years old, YG Marley, son of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley, and grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, unveiled his inaugural track "Praise Jah in the Moonlight" last December.

Co-crafted alongside his eight-time Grammy-winning mother, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 74 earlier this month.

In its second week on the chart, the song is currently at No. 60. This marks YG Marley's first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.

This achievement marks a significant milestone in reggae music, with YG Marley becoming the first artist to grace the Hot 100 chart since Jay-Z and Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley's "Bam" reached No. 47 in 2017.

Notably, YG's cousin, Skip Marley, also made waves on the chart with his collaboration with Katy Perry, "Chained to the Rhythm," which soared to No. 4 in 2017.

Drawing inspiration from Bob Marley & the Wailers' 1978 classic "Crisis," "Praise Jah in the Moonlight" gained further momentum after being featured in Lauryn Hill's concerts during her 2023 tour, commemorating the 25th anniversary of her iconic debut solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."

Following overwhelming demand from concert-goers, "Praise Jah" made its digital debut on Dec. 27, quickly ascending to the top spot on Spotify's Global and U.S. Viral 50 charts, as reported by Billboard.

It currently has over 75 million Spotify streams.

The song's meteoric rise coincides with the release of the Bob Marley biopic, "One Love," which hit screens on Feb. 14. The film premiered across 3,500 theaters in the US, raking in a solid $14 million in ticket sales. This impressive debut instantly secured its place as the top-grossing midweek Valentine’s Day release to date. The record previously belonged to 2012’s The Vow ($11.5 million).

Born Joshua Marley, YG Marley stands as Hill's second eldest son and third child among six siblings, including Zion, Selah, John, Sara, and Micah.

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