Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Makes History as Most-Streamed Afrobeats Song in the US

Rema’s hit song “Calm Down” is making waves in the music industry, becoming the most-streamed Afrobeats song in the US. The 24-year-old Nigerian star’s track has achieved a historic milestone as the first Afrobeats song to earn over one billion on-demand streams in the US, according to the music monitoring platform Chart Data on X.

Last year, Chart Data had already hailed the track as the “most successful African song of all time.” Billboard magazine’s music analysts attribute its success to its “melancholy slow jam with a subtle hypnotic draw,” describing it as a song that stays deeply embedded in listeners’ minds, encouraging repeated listens.

Released in February 2022 as a single from his debut album “Rave and Roses,” Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, later collaborated with US singer Selena Gomez for a remix. This remix reached the billion-plays milestone on Spotify, further solidifying its global impact.

“Calm Down” also became the first African song to spend a year on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three, making it the highest-charting song by an Afrobeats lead artist. The remix’s music video, with nearly 894 million views on YouTube, is currently the most-watched by a Nigerian artist.

This monumental success has propelled Rema into the ranks of prominent Nigerian Afrobeats artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido. Rema has carved out his unique niche within the genre, dubbing his style “Afrorave.”

“Calm Down” not only highlights Rema’s talent but also underscores the global rise and influence of Afrobeats music.

REMA's "Calm Down" becomes the first Afrobeats song in history to earn over 1 billion on-demand streams in the US. pic.twitter.com/K29GwYULZI

— chart data (@chartdata) June 16, 2024

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