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Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ breaks history with US streams
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Rema has made history by achieving one billion streams in the US for his hit single “Calm Down.” Released in 2022, the track has continued to gain popularity, including through its remix featuring Selena Gomez.
“Calm Down” reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a rare accomplishment for Afrobeats songs. It also became the first Afrobeats track to top the American radio chart.
This milestone not only marks “Calm Down” as the first Afrobeats song to achieve one billion US streams but also makes Rema the first African artist to accomplish this feat.
This achievement is significant for the Afrobeats genre and highlights Rema’s impact on the global music scene and Africa as a whole.
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
In other news, Rema has voiced his aspirations to redefine the perception and trajectory of Afrobeat music.
In a recently surfaced sit-down interview with American record producer and rapper Swiss Beatz, Rema shared his determination to revolutionize the genre, highlighting the significant strides he’s already taken towards this objective.
The viral video captured Rema discussing his influence on Afrobeat and its global reception, asserting that his unique perspective has inspired many within the music industry.
Acknowledged as the Prince of Afrobeat, Rema recognized that while numerous artists have adopted aspects of his style, they haven’t always attributed him properly.
Despite this, he expressed appreciation for being a trendsetter and emphasized how his innovative ideas are reshaping the landscape.
“Some artistes won’t give me the glory but I know how many people have copied my moves”
– Rema
— BASITO (@itzbasito) May 24, 2024