Xavi Celebrates First Top 10 on a Billboard Chart With ‘La Víctima’: ‘Honestly, I Just Can’t Believe It’

Mexican American artist Xavi celebrates his first success on a Billboard chart as his latest single “La Víctima” leaps 24-10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart (dated Dec. 19).

Strong activity on TikTok fuels the song’s rise in streaming: “La Víctima” has generated over 45,000 posts on the app to date, and rallies to the top 10 on Hot Latin Songs with 5.6 million official U.S. streams during the Dec. 1-7 tracking week, according to Luminate. The sum is enough to yield a No. 9 debut on Latin Streaming Songs, Xavi’s first entry and top 10 there.

“Honestly, I just can’t believe it,” 19-year-old Xavi tells Billboard. “Looking at the artists and songs that are in the top 10 makes me feel very honored and humbled. I’m also very grateful to the team and all the fans who have supported the song. I feel truly blessed.”

Hot Latin Songs combines streaming, sales data, and radio airplay into its rankings.

With “La Víctima,” released via Interscope Aug. 17, the Arizona-born teen scored his first entry on any Billboard chart, when it debuted at No. 46 on Hot Latin Songs during Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 25-dated list). A first collab with Dareyes De La Sierra followed, as “Poco a Poco” debuted at No. 46 on the multi-metric tally on the Dec. 9 ranking, peaking at No. 31 on the current ranking.

“La Víctima” also lands on global territory, with a No. 145 debut on the Billboard Global 200 chart, with 16 million global clicks, and a No. 175 start on Global Excl. U.S. with 10.4 million streams outside the U.S., Xavi’s first entry on both charts.

“It was inspired by a true story that happened to a good friend of mine,” Xavi tells of “La Víctima.” As he was telling it to me, I picked up my guitar and wrote it on the spot.”

The Mexican American, who represents the new wave of artists linking regional Mexican music with U.S. sounds, also adds two other songs on Hot Latin Songs this week: “La Diabla” at No. 30 and “Modo DND” at No. 38.

Pamela Bustios

Billboard