Brooklyn DJ iMarkkeyz capitalizes on Cardi B’s viral Instagram video about Coronavirus to score his first Billboard chart entry.
As preliminary reports indicated, the remixed tune “Coronavirus” sold 3,000 copies in the week ending March 19, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. The sales total prompts a No. 9 debut on Billboard’s Rap Digital Song Sales and a No. 13 start on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales charts dated March 28.
In addition, “Coronavirus” picked up 626,000 U.S. on-demand streams in the same period.
“Coronavirus” began as an Instagram rant from Cardi B on March 10 about the pandemic disease and its global repercussions. Within days, iMarkeeyz — known for turning other viral moments into musical remixes — chopped the clip’s audio and repackaged it with a hip-hop beat, with special attention given to the rapper’s delivery of the disease as “Corona-VIRUS!” and an off-the-cuff “sh– is getting real” for the remixed song’s refrain.
On Twitter, both the Brooklyn DJ and Bronx-bred superstar confirmed their plans to donate the “Coronavirus” proceeds to assist families affected by the pandemic.
