Nigerian artist Rema has achieved a remarkable milestone with his hit single ‘Calm Down’ featuring Selena Gomez, reaching one billion streams on Spotify. This makes him the first African lead artist to have a song reach 1 billion Spotify streams, joining the prestigious Billions Club of the platform.

Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, is a 22-year-old Nigerian singer, rapper, and songwriter. He gained prominence in 2019 with his self-titled debut EP, which featured the hit single ‘Dumebi.’ Since then, he has released several other successful songs, including ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Lady,’ and ‘Bounce.’

‘Calm Down’ was released in 2022 and quickly became a fan favorite, with its catchy beat and infectious lyrics. The song’s success on Spotify is a testament to Rema’s talent and the growing popularity of Afrobeats music around the world.

Don Jazzy, the founder of Mavin Records, the label that signed Rema, congratulated the artist on his achievement. He said, “This is a huge milestone for Rema and for African music as a whole. It shows that our music is resonating with audiences around the world, and I’m proud to be a part of this movement.”

Rema’s success on Spotify is just the latest in a string of achievements for Afrobeats music in 2023. Earlier this year, Nigerian artists Burna Boy and Wizkid won Grammy Awards, and several other Afrobeats artists have been making waves on the international music scene.

As Afrobeats continues to gain popularity, it’s clear that Rema and other African artists are poised for even greater success in the years to come.