Rema makes Afrobeats history with ‘Calm Down’ YouTube milestone

On Nov 12, 2024

Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema’s global hit “Calm Down” has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 1 billion views on YouTube. This major accomplishment makes it the first Afrobeats song to reach this landmark, further highlighting the genre’s growing global influence.

This milestone was achieved on November 9, 2024, just over two years after the video premiered on YouTube on September 7, 2022.

The song now surpasses all other Nigerian music videos on YouTube, including its original version, which has garnered 619 million views.

The global smash hit continues to set numerous records for Afrobeats, having become the first Nigerian song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.

In the United States, the song has achieved remarkable success, becoming the first Nigerian track to reach a billion streams. It holds the title of the highest-charting Afrobeats song in Billboard history, peaking at No. 3 and spending over a year on the chart. Additionally, it has earned 7x RIAA platinum certification, making it the second most certified RIAA plaque for an Afrobeats song.

The remix of ‘Calm Down’ earned Rema the 2023 VMA award for Best Afrobeats, solidifying his position as a global superstar. The song’s success was highlighted by headline concerts in India and the Middle East, where it topped the charts and secured a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Pulse/Oluchi