SoundCloud has officially revealed its most popular artists and tracks of 2021. NBA YoungBoy, whose music videos were recently removed from YouTube, secured “the most fan engagement” of any creator.

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Polo G’s “Rapstar” managed to obtain the most on-platform plays of any one track in 2021. The 22-year-old rapper likewise nabbed the top honor in the “Longest Run” and “Hardest Hit” categories.

Regarding the former, 2021 Playback relayed that “Rapstar” had topped the “SoundCloud charts for the most consecutive weeks,” besides garnering “the most fan engagement in its first 24 hours of all releases in 2021” for the latter award.

2021 Playback named 15-year-old BabySantana’s “Antisocial 2” the “Hardest Independent Hit” of the year, with the “most fan engagement” of any indie track (during the 24 hours after it was uploaded) on the service, which made headlines over the summer for rolling out a fan-powered royalty model. Meanwhile, SoundCloud deemed SoFaygo the “Top Independent Artist” of 2021 because the 20-year-old placed first in fan engagement among unsigned acts.

NBA Youngboy was recently granted freedom from jail while he awaits his trial.
The last time his team requested bond for the rapper, it was denied. 

However, things are different this time around. His attorneys requested that Youngboy be relocated to his Utah residence to serve his time on house arrest. He now has access to his in-home studio and is being monitored by a private security team.