Rapper Damso for fifth time most streamed local artist in Belgium

The Brussels rapper Damso has for the fifth time won the Ultratop Streaming Award, the award for the most streamed Belgian artist in Belgium. Since the start of his career, Damso has already collected more than 507 million streams in Belgium, of which 42 million in 2023.

The Ultratop Streaming Award is presented for the ninth time today, on Monday, by the Belgian Recorded Music Association (BRMA) and by the Ultratop organisation that generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium.

The award, for the local artist whose work is streamed the most in Belgium, goes for the fifth time to the Brussels rapper Damso. Last year, his music was streamed 42 million times in Belgium. Damso is a big star in French-speaking Belgium and in France.

Damso won for the first time back in 2017. Since then, he was only beaten by Angèle in 2019 and by Stromae in 2022. With his new victory, Damso overpasses Stromae, who won the award four times – in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2022.

Brussels rapper Hamza, Metejoor, K3 and Lost Frequencies complete the top five in 2023. Flemish pop stars Camille and Pommelien Thijs finished sixth and seventh respectively. The #likeMe Cast, Stromae and Angèle are also in the top ten.

Damso commented that he was “pleased, honoured and proud of the open-mindedness of his fans”. "During my career, I have made songs and albums in so many different styles. I have therefore been lynched by the media and yet my Belgian fans have always followed and supported me," he stated. "The fact that I am Belgium's most-listened-to local artist for the fifth time, while I haven't released a new album for several years, gives me extra motivation for the album I am working on now."

_{Brussels rapper Damso © BELGA PHOTO JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP}