The streaming milestone is largely powered by the global success of the album’s standout single, “Calm Down”, particularly its remix featuring American pop icon Selena Gomez. The track made history in 2023 as the first African song to cross 1 billion streams on Spotify. Together, the original and remix versions of Calm Down have now amassed over 2 billion streams, accounting for the bulk of the album’s total.
The remaining 20 tracks on Rave & Roses (Ultra) have contributed just under a billion streams collectively, showcasing Rema’s ability to drive massive numbers even beyond his biggest hit.
Breaking Barriers for Afrobeats and African Artists
Rema’s record-setting moment underscores the growing global appetite for Afrobeats and the increasing dominance of African artists in the streaming era. Released in 2022 and later updated as an Ultra version in 2023, Rave & Roses has served as a cultural milestone, blending Afrobeats with global pop, R&B, and trap influences — all anchored by Rema’s genre-bending sound.
Trailing Rema on the list of most-streamed African albums on Spotify is South African singer Tyla, whose self-titled debut project recently crossed 2 billion streams, propelled by her Grammy-winning global hit Water.
Other notable entries in the billion-stream club include:
- Burna Boy – African Giant and Love, Damini
- Wizkid – Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition
- CKay – CKay the First
These achievements signal a powerful shift in the global music landscape, where African voices are not only charting globally but also breaking and setting records on the world’s biggest streaming platforms.
With Rave & Roses (Ultra) now in the 3-billion-stream league, Rema’s star continues to rise, confirming his place as one of the leading figures in the international Afrobeats movement.