Rema’s “Calm Down” becomes the most streamed Afrobeats song in the US

Rema’s hit “Calm Down” has achieved another historic achievement, becoming the most streamed Afrobeats song in the United States. The 24-year-old Nigerian star’s track has garnered over one billion on-demand streams in the US, a milestone confirmed by music monitoring platform Chart Data on X.

Last year, Chart Data named “Calm Down” the “most successful African song of all time.” Billboard magazine analysts attribute the song’s success to its unique blend of “melancholic slow jam with subtle hypnotic appeal,” making it a tune that sticks in the listener’s mind and keeps them playing it over and over again.

Rema’s debut album “Calm Down” was released in February 2022 as a single by Rave and Roses and received a significant boost a few months later with a remix featuring US singer Selena Gomez. This remix was also remarkably successful and reached the one billion plays mark on Spotify.

The song made history as the first African song to spend a year on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three, making “Calm Down” the highest-charting song to feature an Afrobeats musician. The remix has also been viewed nearly 894 million times on YouTube, making it the most-viewed music video by a Nigerian artist.

Rema has risen to prominence alongside other popular Nigerian Afrobeats artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido. He describes his distinctive Afrobeats style as “Afrorave”, which reflects his unique musical identity.

“Calm Down” continues to break records and captivate audiences around the world. Rema’s influence on the global music scene is undeniable, cementing his place as a leading figure in the Afrobeats genre.

Melissa Enoch

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