In a triumph that echoes across continents, Nigerian sensation Rema—born Divine Ikubor—has again redefined the global landscape of Afrobeats. His debut album’s extended edition, Rave & Roses (Ultra), has officially become the first African album to surpass 3 billion streams on Spotify.

This record-shattering feat is deeply intertwined with the supernova success of “Calm Down (Remix)” featuring Selena Gomez. The duet alone racked up over 2 billion streams, anchoring the bulk of the album’s total and reaffirming Rema’s place as a dominant global force.

But Rema’s triumph extends beyond a single track. Across the album, the remaining 20 songs collectively contributed the remaining billion-plus streams, reinforcing the project’s expansive appeal. This milestone places Rema’s Rave & Roses (Ultra) at the summit of African album streaming success, surpassing other heavyweight projects from the continent. Notably, Tyla’s self-titled debut album trails behind with approximately 2 billion streams.

Resonance, Reach, Record-Breaking of Rema

Spotify is more than just a platform—it’s a global pulse-check. And what pulses strongest, for Rema, is the cross-cultural resonance of his music. The milestone isn’t a mere number—it’s a signal that Afrobeats has transcended regional borders, moving from Lagos to London, Tokyo to Toronto, playlist to playlist.

The earlier wave of his ascent came with “Calm Down,” which became the first African song to hit 1 billion streams on Spotify, a landmark moment in 2023. . In November of that same year, he received public recognition plaques and applause for hitting the 1 billion-stream mark at his London concert.

A New Era for African Music

Rema’s feat isn’t in isolation it’s part of a sweeping evolution. Artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and CKay have been in the billion-stream orbit too, but none have yet matched the scale of Rema’s debut album achievement. Their bodies of work albums like African Giant, Love, Damini, and Made in Lagos (Deluxe Edition) each crossed 1 billion streams, making Rema’s 3 billion milestone a towering summit in comparison.

It’s a victory for Afrobeats writ large. The genre, often imported and constrained in Western music markets, has asserted its complexity, its layered narratives, and its melodic mastery through Rema’s global reception.

Performance Footprint

Looking at the broader numbers, data-tracking platforms reveal that Rema boasts over 5 billion total career streams on Spotify, making him the third most-streamed African artist in history on the platform.

His stream ranking isn’t just cumulative—it’s consistent. With tracks like “Calm Down,” “Bubalu,” “Soweto (Sped Up),” and “Soundgasm” each enjoying hundreds of millions of plays, Rema’s musical output continues to drive sustained audience engagement.

Final Verse: What It Means for Rema and Afrobeats

Now, with 3 billion streams under his belt, Rema isn’t just a rising star—he’s a beaming North Star in African music’s constellation. This isn’t about chart positions or short-lived trends. It’s about cultural gravity—pulling millions into shared rhythm.

The message is clear: an African voice, steeped in heritage yet unafraid to blend genres trap, pop, Afrobeats can dominate global playlists and hearts alike. And by rising with Rave & Roses (Ultra), Rema has set a new bar not just for himself, but for every African artist daring to dream in billions.

As fans press ‘play’ around the world, Rema’s music affirms a simple truth: if music is about emotional connection, then he’s building bridges—not just hits.