8 months ago
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Independent dancehall artistes, Bay-C from popular dancehall group TOK and Billboard chart-topping artiste Xyclone, lived up to the title of their project when they dislodged reggae icon, Bob Marley, from atop the USA iTunes Reggae Albums Chart on the weekend, with the release of their collaborative EP, Flawless Victory.
The iTunes chart wasn’t the only one which welcomed the duo with open arms, and as a matter of fact, even before the March 1 release date, the writing of greatness was on the wall, as Flawless Victory topped the pre-order charts leading up to its release.
“I was feeling good about the album doing well until I got blindsided by the fact that they were dropping the Bob Marley movie in February. I linked Bay-C and told him that it was going to be hard to get number one. And after the movie was release I checked the chart and Bob was number one, two, three, four five, straight to 10,” Xyclone told The Gleaner.
The stats on Flawless Victory are impressive. As compiled in a press release, upon dropping in the early hours of March 1, the EP debuted at number 38 on the USA Top 200 Albums Chart, then climbed its way up to number 28 a few hours later; over on the iTunes Reggae Albums Chart, Flawless Victory debuted at number two at 12:30 a.m. and muscled its way to the number one shortly after, consigning Marley’s hard-to-dislodge Legend album to the number two spot.
“You are always excited to be number one ... but it’s not easy trying to be at the top,” Xyclone said.
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Bay-C agreed and noted that “It is a blessing,” adding that all six songs on Flawless Victory secured spots on the the iTunes Reggae Singles Chart, with five charting in the top 10. Get Inna The Groove was at number 10; Tight secured the number nine position; Bobbysox876, Flawless Victory and Drip came in at numbers five, four and three. At number 12 was Wull Heap.
With the iTunes chart updated daily, Flawless Victory has remained in the top five leading into the new week.
Xyclone is no stranger to charts and is known for “quietly making a lot of noise”. He has even earned the nickname ‘Billboard Kid’ and his social media accounts proudly proclaim that he is the “the only five-time Billboard independent artiste in dancehall history”. In 2016 his sophomore album, From the Basement to the Big Leagues, debuted at number 14 on the Billboard reggae charts, eventually peaking at number; in 2018, 2774 Waterford Parkway peaked at number four on the Billboard reggae charts and also earned numbers one and five on the US and UK Reggae iTunes Charts. Additionally, it reached number 84 on iTunes Top 200 in America across all genres. His collab with Konshens, Meck It Clap Remix, debuted at number one on reggae iTunes chart in the US and number four in the UK.
For Xyclone, working on a project with Bay-C was a not-to-be-missed opportunity and they have been doing their thing quietly and assiduously for months.
“My thing was always to emulate and deejay like Bay-C,” he said. “I linked him to do a tour in Europe because I know that he is heavy in that market. Bay-C also said ‘Let’s do a song.’ Then he called back and suggested that we do a full project.”
And with that, Flawless Victory was born.
“It’s just a mutual respect,” shared Bay-C, who has topped the charts before as a part of TOK. However, this is his first time reaching number one outside of the group.
“Working on this project there was a real refreshing energy ... it was fun, no heavy thinking,” Bay-C added.
However, they have been actively marketing the project to ensure sales and streams which are vital to the success of not just Flawless Victory, but to dancehall as a genre.
“The only way to count is by being on the charts and even though we are in the Internet age, nothing beats the streets,” Xyclone, who has the formula worked out, shared.
They are currently on enjoying a Flawless Victory tour which will take them all across the US and will see also them heading to Europe for the continuation.
Flawless Victory was produced by Xyclone’s Ejor Media Group and Bay-C’s Bomb Rush Records. It was executive produced by KillaImij Records and distributed by TuneCore.
English (US) ·