Rema’s hit song “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first Afrobeats and African song to surpass a billion on-demand streams in the United States, according to Chart Data on June 17, 2024.
Originally released as part of Rema’s debut album “Raves & Roses” in March 2022, “Calm Down” gained significant popularity with a remix featuring Selena Gomez. The remix has become a global phenomenon, particularly in the United States, where it has set multiple records for an Afrobeats song and an African artist.
The “Calm Down” remix reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest position for a contemporary African song since Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing In The Grass” in 1968. It also spent over 52 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Pop Airplay Chart, both significant achievements for an African artist. Additionally, the song received a 4X platinum certification from the RIAA.
On Spotify, “Calm Down” is the first Afrobeats song to surpass a billion streams. The music video has also set records on YouTube, with the original version amassing over 596 million views and the remix attracting 893 million views, making it the most-viewed music video by a Nigerian artist.
This historic achievement highlights the growing global popularity of Afrobeats and African music, as well as Rema’s significant contribution to the genre.
