August 07, (THEWILL) — Nigerian singer, Rema, has made music history as his debut album Rave & Roses (Ultra) becomes the first African project to surpass 3 billion streams on Spotify.
The milestone was confirmed on Thursday by global music tracking platforms.
The 2022 album, released under Mavin Records and Jonzing World, owes much of its success to the global hit “Calm Down (Remix)” featuring American pop sensation Selena Gomez, which alone contributed over 2 billion plays across its original and remix versions.
The remaining 20 tracks on the album collectively garnered nearly 1 billion streams.
“Calm Down” previously broke records in 2023 as the first African single to hit 1 billion Spotify streams. The album’s fusion of Afrobeats, pop, and trap – along with strategic international collaborations – propelled its worldwide appeal.
Rave & Roses (Ultra) now leads as Spotify’s most-streamed African album, followed by South Africa’s Tyla with 2 billion streams.
The achievement places Rema alongside Nigerian heavyweights Burna Boy, Wizkid, and CKay in Spotify’s exclusive billion-stream club, further solidifying Afrobeats’ position on the world stage.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
