Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Breaks Records, Making Afrobeats History in the US

Rema’s chart-topping single ‘Calm Down,’ which features Selena Gomez, has made history as the first Afrobeats and African track to exceed one billion on-demand streams in the United States. This significant milestone was officially confirmed by Chart Data on June 17, 2024.

Initially included in Rema’s debut album ‘Raves & Roses’ released in March 2022, ‘Calm Down’ gained immense popularity following a remix featuring Selena Gomez. The remix quickly became a global sensation, especially in the United States, where it broke numerous records for an Afrobeats song and an African artist.

The ‘Calm Down’ remix climbed to the No. 3 spot on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the highest position achieved by a contemporary African song since Hugh Masekela’s ‘Grazing in the Grass’ in 1968. Furthermore, it maintained a presence on the Billboard Hot 100 for over 52 weeks and secured the top spot on the Billboard Pop Airplay Chart, highlighting remarkable accomplishments for an African artist. Additionally, the track received a 4X platinum certification from the RIAA.

On Spotify, ‘Calm Down’ stands out as the first Afrobeats song to surpass one billion streams. The accompanying music video also made waves on YouTube, with the original version accumulating more than 596 million views and the remix attracting 893 million views, solidifying its position as the most-viewed music video by a Nigerian artist.