Gangnam First To Reach Billion YouTube Hits

South Korean rapper Psy is celebrating his ascent to "Billion Style" after his viral hit became the first video to break a billion views on YouTube.

The view counter for Gangnam Style , which was only posted on the video-sharing site on July 15, clicked over into 10 figures on Friday afternoon.

"Finally becoming #BillionStyle!!!" Psy, 34, wrote on Twitter.

His video makes fun of the extravagant lifestyle of the residents of Gangnam, the neighbourhood where he grew up in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Psy thanked new manager Scooter Braun for helping promote the video. "I made 100 million and you made the other 900!!! Brother with Another Mother!!!" he wrote.

Braun's agency also manages Canadian heartthrob Justin Bieber, whose hit Baby Psy overtook less than a month ago to take the all-time most-viewed title.

Bieber is still in second place with more than 813 million views.

Kevin Allocca, YouTube trends manager, attributed Psy's success "to the universal appeal of catchy music - and er, great equine dance moves".

Psy has swept all before him in the past five months, hoovering up awards and scoring guest appearances with everyone from Madonna to the head of the United Nations.

The video and its singer have been given walk-on roles at major world events like the US presidential election.

It attracted celebrity fans including London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson told the Tory party conference how he and Prime Minister David Cameron "danced Gangnam-Style the other day, you will be shocked to discover".

Among the first to congratulate Psy was American rapper MC Hammer, of 1990s U Can't Touch This fame, who posted: "Congratulations !!! You made history !!! 1 Billion Views !!!!"

Billboard.com said Gangnam is estimated to have generated \$2m (£1.2m) from YouTube alone at a reported rate of two dollars for every 1,000 views, with digital downloads and on-demand services bringing earnings from the song to \$6.01m (£3.8) in five months.

There are also claims that it has generated more than \$8.1m (£5m) in advertising deals.