GRM Daily remains the epicentre of black British music. Over a decade after its inception, the YouTube channel remains the top UK music channel and the place where some of the world’s biggest artists premiere their videos.
With number one singles, crossover hits, international collaborations and record-breaking chart entries, the GRM channel remains an integral part of UK culture and to celebrate our channel reaching the pivotal 5 million subscribers landmark – here is a roundup of the top ten most viewed videos on our channel as of March 2022.
10) NSG featuring Geko – Yo Darlin’ – Released in June 2017
“Yo Darlin’” has remained a popular video on the GRM channel since its release. Both acts have continued to release popular tracks on the platform since but “Yo Darlin” continues to resonate with UK music fans, perhaps because the track transports us back to simpler times – the fun, heatwave set summer nights where the afroswing wave kicked into a higher gear and catapulted tracks like this one and others like “Addison Lee” by Not3s to dizzy heights.
Produced by Jae5, “Yo Darlin” was just one of many early NSG summer smashes before “Options” featuring Tion Wayne.
9) AJ x Deno featuring EO – “London” – Released in May 2018
An ode to our vibrant capital city, “London” was released back in 2018 and offered the young artists an early taste of mainstream success.
Peaking at 45 on the Official Singles Chart and staying on the chart for 13 weeks, there was no escaping the Da Beatfreakz produced hit that dominated radio playlists and has accumulated over 51.8 million views to date.
8) EO – German – Released in March 2018
EO was just 16 years old when he dropped the Top 20 hit that is “German”.
A man of many talents and a YouTuber before he broke out in music, EO had a hit on his hands with “German” which marks his second entry on this list with over 57.5 million views on the official video.
Speaking in an interview with GRM after the track’s release, EO said: “Life wise for me, I haven’t really changed as a person, I think I’m still the same bubbly person. The “German” record has just opened up more doors for me and just let me do more things. It’s great”
7) B Young – Jumanji – Released October 2017
“Jumanji” is arguably a UK R&B classic. Mixing together elements of afroswing and R&B, “Jumanji” was B Young’s breakout hit following the release of tracks like “Been Wavey” just before.
With 60.7 million views and a crisp video starring Rachel Bada, the AntiWave produced tracks sits comfortably on GRM’s top ten.
Released back in October 2017, B Young is now one of the UK’s most prolific vocalists.
6) Russ Millions x Tion Wayne – Body – Released in March 2021
Russ Millions’ and Tion Wayne’s Body is just their first entry on GRM’s top ten list.
Produced by Gotcha, the record-breaking track spent three weeks at number one on the UK’s official chart and 28 weeks on the chart overall.
The #BodyChallenge received thousands of videos from eager fans wanting to join the moment and now the track will forever remain in history as the first-ever drill track to go to number one.
5) Russ Millions x Tion Wayne – Keisha & Becky (Remix) ft. Aitch, JAY1, Sav’O & Swarmz – Released in April 2019
Next on the list with 74.7 million views is the viral “Keisha & Becky” remix.
An Avengers-style offering, the remix called on the scene’s heavyweights of the moment to offer the already popular track an insane remix.
This track proved that Russ and Tion aren’t ones to mess with when they collab, a fact they proved again with “Body”.
4) Ramz – Barking – Released in September 2017
“Barking” catapulted Ramz to the UK Official Chart’s Top 5 and offered the Mitcham Dreamer a massive breakout hit.
“Barking” took Ramz to some of the UK’s biggest stages and at 79.8 million views, “Barking” remained at the top of the GRM channel for years with an undisputed reign before gracefully moving to number four.
An iconic release and an admirable come up, it is fair to say that “Barking” changed Ramz’ life and set the precedent for chart successful GRM premieres.
3) Central Cee – Loading – Released in October 2020
Central Cee was no stranger to the GRM channel or the music game prior to “Loading” with his presence on the GRM channel dating back to as early as 2016.
“Loading” followed on from the massive “Day In The Life” and the two tracks that would later feature on his Wild West project had chart success too.
“Loading” peaked at number 19 and as for its views? “Loading” has been viewed over 82.3 million times.
Now debuting at number one, shutting down Amsterdam and performing at festival stages across the country, it is fair to say that Central Cee is no longer loading.
2) Young T & Bugsey – Don’t Rush (ft. Headie One) – Released in November 2019
“Don’t Rush” marked the first transatlantic crossover hit for Young T & Bugsey.
Thanks to the viral #DontRushChallenge, the track smashed Shazam records, went viral and offered social media users the opportunity to get creative during the global Covid-19 lockdown.
The Rolling Stone ran a feature on the track in April 2020 and the American publication said, “Thanks to another Internet Challenge, Young T & Bugsey’s ‘Don’t Rush’ is a surprise hit”.
The article talks to Radio DJ’s about the challenge and they explain that seeing the track take over TikTok convinced them to add it to their playlists.
Michael Powell, the programme director at Washington D.C’s WKYS radio told the Rolling Stone, “I kept watching short videos, Shazamed the joint and went on a mad search looking for it”.
Now the video has over 86.3 million views – just a few million short of the top spot.
1) Tion Wayne x Russ Millions featuring Arrdee, 3x3E1 & ZT, Bugzy Malone, Fivio Foreign, Darkoo, Buni – Body 2 – Released in April 2021
With over 91 million views, the infamous Body remix currently holds the crown as the most viewed video ever released on the GRM YouTube channel.
With viral verses, memorable visuals directed by Kaylum and a show of unity from all of the artists involved, the Body remix calls on artists from across the globe as well as from several corners of the UK.
With the original track charting at number one in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand as well as the track receiving multiple platinum and gold certifications, “Body” was record-breaking for Tion Wayne, Russ Millions, and the featured artists as well as the GRM channel.