Rema’s global smash hit Calm Down is now within touching distance of one of music’s most coveted milestones, as it edges closer to becoming the first Afrobeats song in history to be certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The Selena Gomez-assisted remix has officially sold 8 million units in the United States, marking a historic moment for the young Nigerian star and for African music on a global scale.
Released in 2022 as part of Rema’s debut album Rave & Roses, Calm Down has shattered expectations and repeatedly raised the bar for commercial success by an African artist in the US. The song made history as the first African record to surpass a billion streams in the country, while dominating charts and playlists worldwide.
In the US alone, Calm Down spent over a year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 3, the highest ever for a Nigerian song and second only to Hugh Masekela’s 1968 classic Grazing in the Grass for an African artist. Beyond the charts, the song has become a streaming juggernaut, holding the record for the most-streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify with over one billion plays, and crossing two billion streams globally when combined with the original and remix versions. On YouTube, it remains the most-watched Nigerian music video ever, with more than 928 million views.
With 8 million units sold in the United States, Rema’s Calm Down is now tied with Ckay’s Love Nwantiti as the highest certified African song in US music history. This sets up a thrilling race to see which of the two massive hits will become the first to reach RIAA Diamond status, awarded at 10 million units sold.
For Rema, this latest achievement is another confirmation of his incredible global impact. From local breakout to international trailblazer, his rise has been nothing short of extraordinary, and Calm Down might just take him all the way into the history books.
