NEW RELEASES
Kenshi Yonezu
Courtesy of Billboard JapanAtop a double-digit list of debuts by international acts on the June 12-dated Billboard global charts, four Japanese and South Korean acts add to their countries' increasingly long list of chart exports.
The week's highest debut on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart is Kenshi Yonezu's "Pale Blue" at No. 48, while it starts on the Billboard Global 200 at No. 134. The song is the theme to the TBS mini-series Rikokatsu (translation: How to Get a Divorce For the Whole Family). It follows Yonezu's "Kanden," which hit No. 46 on the Sept. 19, 2020-dated survey.
It's not uncommon for acts from Japan to make chart hits out of songs associated with TV or film, with LiSA's "Homura" having hit No. 2 on the Global Excl. chart and No. 8 on the Global 200 last October, after it was released alongside Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train.
Another Japanese act debuting its second song onto the Global Excl. U.S. chart is One OK Rock, with "Broken Heart of Gold" at No. 66 (and No. 173 on Global 200). The foursome released two versions of the song, one in English and one in Japanese. The same bilingual approach propelled "Renegades" to No. 18 last month.
Two South Korean boy bands make splashes, nearly back to back. Stray Kids arrive at No. 109 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart with "Wolfgang," just above Tomorrow X Together's No. 113 debut for "0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You)," featuring Seori.
Elsewhere, three European acts hit the Global Excl. U.S. chart. Mozznik (Kosovo/Albania) and Loredana (Switzerland) start at No. 146 with the German-language "Rosenkrieg"; Måneskin (Italy) debuts at No. 157 with "Coraline"; and Aya Nakamura (France/Mali) makes her fourth visit with "Bobo" at No. 186.
"Coraline" is one of three songs by Måneskin on this week's ranking, the most that an Italian act has simultaneously charted. Its 2021 Eurovision Song Contest-winning "Zitti E Buoni" is the first Italian-language song to grace the top 10, as it lifts 11-10, up 6% to 31.5 million streams outside the U.S., according to MRC Data. Plus, "I Wanna Be Your Slave" soars 73-21, up 114% to 23.4 million streams.
Fimiguerrero has been helping lead the way when it comes to the more obscure hip-hop out of the UK. Hailing from Newham, East London, he and his brethren, Len and Lancey Foux, have brought about some truly nasty production and grimy lyricism. Soon though, Fimiguerrero is going to be bringing his vision on a grander scale with a new album.
Per the rapper, he's going to be dropping a new album sometime this year called lost city. It's a title that's remained in limbo for a couple of years. But after getting through some other releases such as New World Order and IMMIGRANT, he seems prepared to unleash it. "LOST CITY 2025," Fimi tweeted back in January.
He seems to be backing up his words too with this new cut "Tartan" featuring Reekz MB, but also with a handful of other tracks. "Designer," "my bad bro," and "It's Cool," are other potential additions. "Tartan," for those who are wondering, is a reference to the Scottish fabric that's used in kilts and is made by weaving it together to create unique patterns.
It represents family heritage, clan loyalty, and of course, being Scottish through and through. That's why Fimiguerrero's grill has the "Tartan" pattern on it. There are some lines in the track such as, "Come 300 up like a spartan (Gang)," that tie into that familial aspect.
But this song is also a flexing banger about celebrating your wins and bringing the squad up with you along the way. Spin Fimi and Reekz MB's slick cut below.
Quotable Lyrics:
I'm way more than a artist
I'll bust the pack and then half it (Bow)
I'm a baller, I just kick with her (Kick)
Then I flip her off and then pass it (Golazo)
I'm a sick f*ck, can't mask it
More champagne, yeah, thank you for askin'
