Popular Nigerian music sensation Divine Ikubor better known as Rema has just smashed another record, and this one’s massive.
His studio album, Rave & Roses (Ultra), has officially become the first African project to surpass 3 billion streams on Spotify. This cements his place in global music history and raises the bar for Afrobeat artists across the continent.
The album’s explosive success was largely driven by the global hit “Calm Down”, especially the Selena Gomez-assisted remix, which turned into a cultural phenomenon. That single alone in all its versions contributed over 2 billion streams to the album’s total numbers.
The remaining 20 tracks on the album brought in just under a billion streams, proving that the entire body of work resonated with fans beyond the viral smash.
The feat not only showcases Rema’s global reach but also underscores the growing influence of Afrobeats on the world stage.
Following Rema’s groundbreaking achievement, South African breakout star Tyla comes in second place with her self-titled debut album, Tyla, racking up over 2 billion streams on Spotify.
Other African heavyweights on the most streamed list include:
• Burna Boy’s African Giant and Love, Damini
• Wizkid’s Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition
• CKay’s CKay the First
All the aforementioned songs have all crossed the 1 billion streams mark.
Fans and music analysts are already hailing Rema’s 3-billion milestone as a defining moment for African music, and a wake-up call to the global industry that the sound from the continent is not just trending, it’s dominating.
As Spotify continues to spotlight African artists, Rema’s accomplishment could open the floodgates for even more groundbreaking achievements in the near future.
“Rave & Roses (Ultra)” is an expanded version of Rema’s debut album, “Rave & Roses,” which dropped in March 2022.
The Ultra version, released in April 2023, added extra songs like “Charm,” “Reason You,” “Holiday,” and others.
