Masked Wolf earns Billboard Magazine's 'Chartbreaker' status

Masked Wolf bites down on another international honour, this time snagging Billboard Magazine's monthly Chartbreaker profile.

The Sydney-rapper (born Harry Michael) is, of course, flying high on charts around the globe with his standout single ‘Astronaut In The Ocean.’

Cut with electronic producer Tyron Hapi, ‘Astronaut’ this week lifts to No. 3 on the Global 200, cracks the Top 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart for the first time (it’s up 7-5), and it’s hovering just outside the U.S. Top 10 (rising 17-12 on the latest Billboard Hot 100).

It’s also nudged the Top 5 in Germany, Switzerland, Finland and Hungary and led the Billboard Emerging Artists chart, ahead of Kali Uchis and Ritt Momney, respectively.

According to Billboard, the song has blasted past 368 million on-demand streams, based on MRC Data.

It’s a remarkable journey for a song that was released nearly two years ago.

Watch Masked Wolf's 'Astronaut In The Ocean':

In December, the rising hip-hop star signed a global recording contract with Elektra/Warner Music Group, excluding Australia and New Zealand, where he retains his deal under Teamwrk Records in partnership with ADA/Warner Music Australia.

Elektra re-released the single in early 2021.

Now, attention turns to a remix, and Wolf is said to be working on his major-label debut album.

“I never felt like ‘Astronaut’ was going to be a hit like it is now,” Wolf recounts in an interview with Billboard. “I 100% knew it was a banger and would slap pretty hard, but I didn’t know if people would grasp and want to know the meaning behind it.”

It wasn’t long ago when industry observers wondered if and when an Australian rapper might turn a song into an international success story, and do the seemingly impossible: impact the United States.

Those questions are answered.

Read more here.