The Digest:
Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema has been included in Billboard's "The 25 Biggest One-Hit Wonders of the 21st Century" list, based on his 2022 global hit "Calm Down" (featuring Selena Gomez). The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, becoming one of the most-streamed Afrobeats records worldwide. However, Billboard's designation specifically refers to U.S. chart performance of subsequent releases, not accounting for Rema's extensive global catalogue including "Dumebi," "Iron Man," "Woman," and his debut album "Rave & Roses," which reached the UK Albums Chart Top 10. Rema has collaborated with Chris Brown and 6lack, and performed at Coachella and Wireless Festival. He has not publicly responded to the ranking.
Key Points:
- The "one-hit wonder" label contradicts Rema's massive global streaming numbers and international festival presence.
- It highlights the limitations of U.S.-centric metrics in measuring global Afrobeats success.
- Rema's reputation remains intact internationally, while Billboard faces criticism for narrow criteria.
- This signals the growing tension between U.S. chart performance and global streaming reality.
- The timing, post-"Calm Down" dominance, reflects the challenge of replicating a historic crossover hit.
Sources: HipTV, Billboard
