Rema Becomes First Afrobeats Act To Reach Number 1 On US Pop Radio With “Calm Down”

Divine Ikubor, known as Rema, is a renowned Nigerian singer, songwriter, and performer who has continued to be in the news Week-in, Week-Out, as He recently accomplished another legendary Afrobeats achievement. With his creative collaboration with Selena Gomez, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter is capturing the attention of the entire planet. The Mavin/Jonzing World star is indeed having a great year and accomplishing significant professional milestones.

The song “Calm Down” by Rema and Selena Gomez reached No. 1 on the most recent  Billboard Pop Airplay chart dated the week until May 13. Rema earns his first leader on the list with the song release via Jonzing World/Mavin/SMG Music/Virgin/Interscope Records. Gomez now has four Pop Airplay No. 1 songs, adding to her previous three, which were all achieved consecutively in 2015–16: “Hands to Myself” (for one week in April 2016), “Same Old Love” (for two weeks, January 2016), and “Good for You,” with A$AP Rocky (two, September–October 2015).

The song “Calm Down,” featuring American singer Selena Gomez, also accomplished another historic milestone after the superstar grabbed the top spot on the Billboard Global Excl, U.S. chart earlier in the year. After becoming each artist’s first No. 1, “Calm Down” captured the top spot on the Rhythmic Airplay chart for a second week. It also goes up in Adult Pop Airplay to 24-16 and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay to 35-34.

The longest reign since the chart’s inception a little over a year ago, “Calm Down” has also topped the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart in collaboration with a music festival and international brand Afro Nation for 35 weeks (through the May 6-dated poll). As a result, it makes history as the first song to top both charts.

 

The original version of “Calm Down” was released by Rema in February 2022 as a single off his debut solo LP, Rave & Roses. The song’s Gomez remix debuted in August last year, and the official video debuted in September.