Afrobeats sensation Rema has once again made history as his global hit “Calm Down” remix featuring Selena Gomez has reached the monumental milestone of 1 billion views on YouTube. This achievement cements “Calm Down” as the most-watched Nigerian song on the platform, setting an unprecedented record for Afrobeats.
This major feat was officially recorded on November 9, 2024, just over two years since the music video’s YouTube debut on September 7, 2022. The remix now leads in views among Nigerian music videos, including the original version, which has also enjoyed immense success, amassing over 619 million views.
Rema’s “Calm Down” remix has broken multiple records in Afrobeats history, including being the first Nigerian track to exceed 1 billion streams on Spotify. The song’s massive popularity in the United States pushed it to become the highest-charting Afrobeats song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 and maintaining a presence on the chart for over a year. Additionally, it achieved 7x platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), marking it as one of the highest-certified Afrobeats songs.
The remix has also earned Rema international acclaim, including winning the Best Afrobeats award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. With headline performances in India and the Middle East, where the song dominated charts, Rema’s “Calm Down” has also earned him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, affirming his global superstar status.