Nigerian-based Victor Thompson and his brother and duo partner, Ehis “D” Greatest, top Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated Oct. 28) as “This Year (Blessings)” rises to No. 1 in its second week on the list.
The song, originally released in January, received a boost when rapper Gunna joined for a remix released Oct. 13. With a majority of the song’s consumption in the tracking week from the new version, Gunna is now also billed on the chart.
Sporting a 163% surge, “This Year (Blessings),” drew 3.1 million official U.S. streams Oct. 13-19, according to Luminate.
Concurrently, the track hits the top 10 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs survey, jumping 11-3. It’s the first entry on each ranking for both the faith-based twosome and Gunna.
“God is so amazing,” Thompson tells Billboard. “It’s so exciting to know that people get the message of this song. I’ve always wanted to live an impactful life and I’m truly happy about this.”
Singer-songwriter and worship leader Thompson was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he is currently based. Israel Ehinomen Okosun is popularly known as Ehis “D” Greatest and is also based in Nigeria.
Thompson says that the pair is currently working on a studio album due this year. The act is planning on touring the U.S. starting in early 2024.
‘Room’ for Maverick City Music
“In the Room,” by Atlanta-based collective Maverick City Music with Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine and featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard, blasts onto Hot Gospel Songs at No.2. It simultaneously enters Hot Christian Songs at No. 13.
Released Oct. 13, the song drew 1.3 million official first-week streams and sold 3,000 downloads.
Maverick City Music adds its 25th Hot Gospel Songs top 10. For Moore and Raine, who are members of the group, it’s their 11th and 17th top 10 under their own names, respectively. Cobbs Leonard sends her 15th song to the tier.