Tyla Accepts the Global Impact Award | Billboard’s R&B No.1s 2024

Tyla accepts the Global Impact award at Billboard’s R&B No.1s 2024 party.

Transcript

00:00My name is Heran Mamo. I am the senior R&B, hip-hop, and Afrobeats writer here at Billboard.

00:06Those who know me know that uplifting other African women gives me one of the greatest joys in this job.

00:11So I'm really honored to be presenting our next award this evening.

00:15For years, she dreamed of becoming Africa's first pop star.

00:19Now, she's taken over the world with her signature pop piano sound,

00:23performing her pop-infused take on her native South Africa's Amapiano

00:28in the U.S., France, Portugal, Japan, South Korea, and more.

00:33Last summer, she made a major splash with Water,

00:37earning her first Hot 100 Top 10 hit,

00:40spending eight weeks at number one on Mainstream R&B, Hip-Hop, Airplay,

00:44spending 46 weeks and counting at number one on our U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart,

00:49and winning the inaugural Best African Music Performance Grammy Award earlier this year.

00:54She successfully transformed Africa to the world from a motto to her mission.

00:59Please join me in a round of applause for Billboard's Global Force honoree, Tyla.

01:14Hello.

01:18Thank you so much, Billboard.

01:20Thank you to my team, my label, my family, God, my tigers, obviously.

01:26Ooh, this is very heavy. Can you please hold for me? I'm sorry.

01:32Yeah, this is crazy that I'm being honored tonight. What the heck?

01:38But, yeah, just thank you so much.

01:40I remember when everyone used to feel like this was so unattainable,

01:48especially from where I'm from, you know.

01:51And the fact that I'm able to be here today and just live out a dream that never felt real,

01:59it's just such a beautiful thing to be able to experience.

02:03So I thank everybody.

02:05And, yeah, just thank you to everyone who cares to learn about other cultures,

02:12other styles of music, and truly appreciates it and loves it for what it is.

02:17Because it's not just a trend. It's not just a dance move.

02:21It's not just a, hey, it's not just a sound, you know.

02:24Like, it's culture, you know.

02:26So I just thank everyone that is appreciative of it.

02:30And, yeah, thank you for the award, Billboard.

02:33And, yeah, I feel like I'm the loudest here. I'm sorry.

02:37But bye-bye.