Nobody paid much attention. Then, on February 16, 2026, the article resurfaced on X and the Nigerian internet erupted.

Before we pick the point of the eruption itself, let us be precise about what Billboard actually said. The precision matters here, and the lack of it is part of the problem. Billboard鈥檚 methodology for this list is specific. The list includes artists who have logged exactly one Hot 100 hit in a lead role between January 2000 and December 2024. By that measure, Rema qualifies.

The reason? 鈥淐alm Down (Remix)鈥� featuring Selena Gomez, peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100, and he has not returned to that chart since. Though Billboard itself noted, almost sheepishly, that he has landed six top-10 entries in the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. The list is not a character assassination, as perceived by many Nigerians. It is a ledger. An American ledger.

While that鈥檚 one thing to understand to make sense of this entire conversation, it鈥檚 important to ask why a six-month listicle is triggering an industry or perhaps, a nation. This is beyond Billboard鈥檚 consistent ignorance. From their questionable Top 50 Afrobeats Songs of All-Time list and Rookie of the Year award, their coverage of African music has been erratic at best and embarrassing at worst. But even a broken clock is right twice a day, and our rage about the list shows this. It reveals that there鈥檚 a blind spot in the centre of 鈥淎frobeats to the World.鈥� It also shows that, for far too long, we鈥檝e bought into the worldview that success is only real if America says so.

We went international, made noise and celebrated crossover metrics (still do). We dress and perform for that gaze. But when the Western gaze looks back at us and offers its own assessment, we鈥檙e shocked to find it cold and offended that it has opinions.

This 鈥淥ne-Hit Wonder鈥� opinion is an outcome of using our lack as a superpower, at times due to a lack of choice. Other times, it鈥檚 because we fail to see what鈥檚 really important. There鈥檚 a real economic logic to the pursuit of foreign validation, and it deserves acknowledgement before it gets dismissed. The revenue is outside Africa. The streaming numbers that translate to generational wealth, recoupment and the kind of financial security that turns an artist into a legacy live in Europe and America. They鈥檙e in the markets where the dollars and the pounds are supreme.

Rema going to the United States, finding Selena Gomez and climbing to No. 3 on the Hot 100 was not vanity. It was business and strategy. In fact, it can be survival, and according to label head Motolani Alake: 鈥渋f you haven鈥檛 chased it, you won鈥檛 know what it feels like. So it鈥檚 a necessity.鈥�

But when Afrobeats pursues a market without properly carrying and protecting its identity, it begins to wear its flaws 鈥� its under-resourced music infrastructure, its crawling chart system, its streaming deficits 鈥� like armour. The flaws explain every slight. The amour powers every ambition. And sometimes that combination produces extraordinary art and extraordinary careers. But it also produces a peculiar weak spot where a recycled Billboard listicle can destabilise an entire industry鈥檚 sense of self for a news cycle.

That weakness has nothing to do with Rema. It鈥檚 a structural problem. It鈥檚 the result of a music ecosystem that has consistently prioritised Western crossover as the strongest proof of value, while treating its own charts and its own milestones as footnotes. When did you last see a Nigerian label purchase and display its own Turntable chart plaques with the same ceremony afforded to a Billboard placement? When did a No. 1 on the TurnTable chart, Nigeria鈥檚 standard chart, generate the kind of coverage, celebration and institutional recognition that a Hot 100 entry does? We build our own validating structures and refuse to validate them. Why are we surprised when foreign structures fill the vacuum with their own definitions of success?

READ NEXT: In Defence of Rema’s “HEIS”

Since Billboard鈥檚 list is partly a verdict on what happened after 鈥淐alm Down (Remix)鈥�, it鈥檚 important to reiterate that 鈥淗EIS鈥�, Rema鈥檚 sophomore work,聽 is a good album. A bold one and, in fact, the best Nigerian album of 2024. 鈥淗EIS鈥� is a deliberate artistic left turn from the pop sensibilities that made 鈥淐alm Down鈥� a crossover phenomenon. It produced moments of genuine creative experiments.

It鈥檚 a statement album aimed at a Nigerian audience, steeped in rave energy and Benin references, the specificity of where Rema comes from. That鈥檚 not a flaw. In a healthier critical ecosystem, it would be a strength. But in the foreign media economy, 鈥淗EIS鈥� is read as a local detour, and the window to consolidate international momentum, clearly by being Hot 100 regulars, remains a narrow and impatient one.

Billboard鈥檚 list is, in part, a record of that impatience. Rema鈥檚 stocks in the speculative eye of foreign media, whatever they were in 2023, had declined by the time this list was compiled. Their truth isn鈥檛 about Rema, but a mirror and the truth of our local music industry.

The Grammy conversation is similar to this. Every year, the frustration with the Recording Academy鈥檚 blind spots for African and Nigerian music resurfaces. Frustrations like wrong categories, truncated ceremonies and the belief that African music is invited to the table only to be seated at the corner. The outrage is legitimate. The treatment is often disrespectful. But the Grammys and Billboard are American institutions measuring American industry values. They are subject to the American gaze by design. That gaze will not stop being American because Nigerian X and music fans demand it. What it will respond to, imperfectly and slowly, is sustained commercial presence in American markets, which is exactly why the crossover pursuit is rational.

Two things can be true. Billboard, by its own methodology, is not wrong: Rema has one Hot 100 hit. Nigeria, by any honest assessment of his catalogue, cultural impact and commercial success, is right: Rema is not a one-hit wonder. These are not contradictory statements. The problem is that there鈥檚 a disagreement, and we keep forgetting which side of things we actually stand.

Nothing will change until Nigerian music accumulates the kind of sustained Hot 100 presence that makes the American categorisations feel inadequate. Achieving that means playing a long game. It requires institutional infrastructure, global distribution muscle, label investment and a willingness to play the market on its own terms for longer than one smash cycle.

In the meantime, it鈥檚 more urgent to build at home. We should celebrate the Turntable No. 1s with the same reverence we afford the Hot 100 entries. Purchase and display the plaques. Fund the critical infrastructure that contextualises Nigerian music on Nigerian terms. Build the ecosystem that makes an American listicle feel like what it is: a foreign publication’s assessment of our performance in a foreign market, rather than a verdict on our worth.

When we have that solid foundation, things like this Billboard article won鈥檛 hurt. Or maybe it will, but the way a stranger鈥檚 opinion stings: briefly and then fades away. 

Until then, let鈥檚 learn to take a look in the mirror and proactively deal with what we see.

READ NEXT: If You Like Rema鈥檚 鈥淜elebu,鈥� You鈥檒l Like These 15 Nigerian Songs

From the pulse-pulsating 鈥淗EHEHE鈥� to the adrenaline rush that is 鈥淥ZEBA,鈥� Rema has been in beast mode, feeding us music that doesn鈥檛 just slap but sprints. But fast-tempo music is not unique to him alone. It has always had a home in Nigerian music.

Long before Rema, artists like Terry G, DJ YK Mule, and Zlatan were making music that moved like it drank six energy drinks.

So, if you love this new Rema era and wonder what else lives in that same sonic universe, here are 15 great fast-tempo Nigerian songs that deliver the same jolt of electricity and energy.

15. 鈥淯nripe Pawpaw鈥� 鈥� Zlatan feat. Papisnoop, Oberz & Jamo Pyper

Producer: P.Priime

Year: 2020

From the opening yell in this song, you know you鈥檙e in for a premium gbe-body (lift your body) session. Oberz opens the song, then Zlatan comes in loud and unfiltered, setting the tone with his now-iconic delivery style. Then Papisnoop and Jamo Pyper follow with back-to-back verses filled with hilarious punchlines and the raw hunger of boys who鈥檝e seen life.

The beat is fast, aggressive and soaked in street DNA.

14. 鈥淏addo’s Song鈥� 鈥� Ayo Maff feat. Jazzworx & Thukuthela

Producers: Fade Venom and Spaceboy Mercury

Year: 2025

Ayo Maff puts a lover who isn’t reciprocating his romantic gesture to one side. This song pays tribute to veteran rapper Olamide, AKA Baddo, using an interpolation of his song 鈥淵emi My Lover鈥� to drive home its message.

Jazzworx and Thukuthela lace the song with vibrant energy straight out of the South African township playbook. This is a cultural handshake between Naija鈥檚 street-hop and Mzansi鈥檚 EDM, and the result is electrifying.

13. 鈥淲HY鈥� 鈥� G.O.E feat. Slimcase

Producer: G.O.E

Year: 2024

Popular Lagos hypeman G.O.E (God Over Everything) brings his craft to the studio. This turn-up song reflects Lagos Island’s living: excess spending, fake lifestyle, and larger-than-life personas. Then Slimcase enters, shaking the mic with slang, street wisdom, and that signature raspy rapper vocals. His presence adds grit and bounce, like throwing fuel on an already blazing fire.

12. 鈥淗ey Jago鈥� 鈥� Poco Lee feat. Shoday & Rahman Jago

Producer: Producer X

Year: 2025

This is street music dedicated to popular socialite and fashion entrepreneur Rahman Jago. 鈥淗ey Jago鈥� keeps shoulders bouncing and sneakers glued to the dancefloor. The beat is fast and rubbery: a fusion of amapiano鈥檚 log drums and that unmistakable Afrobeats percussion.

Poco Lee, ever the master of vibes, opens with lambas and a presence that orchestrates the energy. Shoday delivers street-boy bravado and sleek melodies that cut through the tempo like butter. 

He鈥檚 slowly world-building the new era of his music. The visualiser for the London-produced 鈥淏out U鈥� shares a similar mood board as that of 鈥�,鈥� his first single this year. 

As he puts out more music, likely leading to a new studio album, let鈥檚 take a closer look at Rema鈥檚 鈥淏out U鈥� lyrics, shall we?

Rema’s “Bout U” Lyrics

[Intro]

Another banger

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Bad gyal mi, mi wan trade unto ya

[Verse 1]

Girl, blazing, girl, ten, girl, A-list

And her waist is figure-eight, she put the work in

Change your life, six-figure, she deserve it

Got girlies around the world but she my favourite

4:30 in the morning, thinking about you

And about your archy, body-ody-ody-ody

Girl makeup always too slick, no caking

E get the way you dey, demeanour angelic

In the first verse, Rema showers compliments on his subject. He dedicates all eight bars in the verse to thirsting over her pleasing body. Putting more focus on the derriere, this verse solidifies that the artist has a preferred spec that鈥檚 often hailed across his other songs.聽

[Pre-Chorus]

Girl, hold my hand, girl, time is running out (Yeah, time is running)

Time is running out (Yeah, time is running)

Girl, let鈥檚 make it count

This love affair got me living in the clouds (Yeah, living in the鈥�)

Living in the clouds

Please, don鈥檛 let me down

[Chorus]

(Something about you)

There’s something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you (There’s something about you)

There’s something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you (Something about you)

There’s something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you (There’s something about you)

Something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you

鈥淏out U鈥� seems to carry on the narrative of 鈥淚s It A Crime,鈥� which carefreely throws advances at a love interest who isn鈥檛 as eager: 鈥淚 no dey for too much whining, dey for too much whining / As e dey be (ooh).鈥�

But instead of the little carefree attitude he displays on 鈥淚s It A Crime,鈥� he鈥檚 more invested and sees a bigger picture in 鈥淏out U 鈥�

[Verse 2]

Mi wan give you love and attention (Ha-ah)

Mi respect this our affiliation (Ha-ah)

Anytime you pass, you got man’s brows raising, eh-eh

Mandem plotting 鈥榗ause they wan take you from me

If we run am on a low, shey, you go vex?

Mi no like to show off for the internet

I take your matter personal from day one to the end

Mi want your loving and caress

Still confessing desires in the second verse, Rema states he鈥檚 the only one who genuinely wants her, even though others are constantly trying to get her attention too.

Also, Rema makes a point of keeping their relationship from the public鈥檚 radar. Unsure what his subject鈥檚 preference is, he states that he鈥檚 a private guy. And there鈥檚 no doubt about that, if we go by his irregularly operated social accounts.

He takes the rest of this song and uses the pre-chorus and chorus to further show persistence, and how badly he wants her. 鈥淏out U鈥� is simply Rema expressing and emphasising wanting true love and not jinxing it.

[Pre-Chorus]

Girl, hold my hand, girl, time is running out (Yeah, time is running)

Time is running out (Yeah, time is running)

Girl, let鈥檚 make it count

This love affair got me living in the clouds (Yeah, living in the鈥�)

Living in the clouds

Please, don鈥檛 let me down

[Chorus]

(Something about you)

There’s something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you (There’s something about you)

There’s something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you (Something about you)

There’s something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you (There’s something about you)

Something about you girl, ooh, there’s something about you

ALSO READ: In Defence of Rema鈥檚 鈥淗EIS鈥�

OZEBA is one of the songs on Rema鈥檚 鈥淗EIS鈥� album, and it means “to enter trouble.” This song’s on the same energy level with 鈥淕od of Elijah, send down fire.鈥�

Unripe Pawpaw 鈥� Zlatan

Good luck to anyone who can find out what Zlatan meant by 鈥渦nripe pawpaw鈥� in this song that has nothing to do with fruits, but throwing legwork all day.

Kolomental 鈥� Faze

Before music listeners called Rema鈥檚 鈥淗EIS鈥� album the music for mad people, Faze declared listeners should dance like crazy people to his Kolomental jam. You may need to check yourself for 鈥渒olomental鈥� if you’re feeling this song too much.

Fokasibe 鈥� DJ Zeez

We wonder what kind of headspace DJ Zeez was in when he turned the statement that literally means 鈥淵our head has scattered鈥� into a compliment for being a trendy person. We call it 鈥淪ability鈥� now tho.

Ladi 鈥� Phyno & Olamide featuring Lil Kesh

It was a dark time when Olamide, Phyno and Lil Kesh made a song against cunnilingus. Thank God they weren’t speaking for the real eaters. Hopefully they see the light now.

Run Mad 鈥� Terry G

Terry G has only one message in this lousy, hyper-fast song: 鈥淐atch me if you can.鈥� But he found a creative way to deliver it: 鈥淵ou can only run, run, run / Run, run, run pass Terry G when you run mad.鈥� Except you’re “losing it,” you have no reason to tussle this bragging rights with the Akpako Master.

Free Madness (Part 1) 鈥� Terry G

Don’t bother to find any train of thought in Terry G鈥檚 Free Madness, else you鈥檒l get lost. It’s a mixture of every random and unplanned ideas that popped up in his head. Little wonder he called it 鈥渇ree madness鈥� instead of a 鈥渇reestyle.鈥�

ZaZoo Zeh 鈥� Portable featuring Olamide & Poco Lee

Since this song pushed Portable to the mainstream, no other Nigerian artist has been as restless as him.

Banger 鈥� Skuki

This isn’t an end-of-the-year song or an anthem about throwing Christmas lights. The 鈥渂anger鈥� Skuki wants to launch is the thing between their legs. Scary and shameless.

Baby Konga 鈥� Konga

“A konga, B konga, C konga” or what was blood waffling about in this jam? I’ll leave his jungle language to the people in spirit to interpret sha.

It’s been for Rema鈥檚 Ravage Uprising concert. The consensus about that show is that the 24-year-old Benin-born singer is celebrating Benin heritage. Take his replica of the 1897 Benin sacking, like Queen Idia’s ivory mask, into account. The fact that the show happened nine miles from the British Museum displaying the stolen Queen Idia’s ivory mask and a note that Ravage Uprising was Rema鈥檚 only show in the coloniser鈥檚 UK in 2023, it’s not hard to agree with. 

Critics have written adulations. Rema has thrown himself into the narrative. He鈥檚 tweeted about reshaping the Benin culture and a song titled BENIN BOYS with Shallipopi, another Benin boy. Rema adorned bats, a popular symbolism attached to Benin, into his jewellery collection and new album art. He鈥檚 claiming his birthplace with his full chest. However, the importance of symbolism might have been exaggerated. Bats don’t fly around the whole of Edo, and neither are they depicted in Benin guilds. Perhaps he should have spared a thought for leopards depicted in Benin guilds. 

Rather than a connection to the centuries past, Rema鈥檚 inspired by Benin City’s urban life and culture (which has adopted bats into its identity). That narrative only teases listeners into the geographic-fluid afro-pop pits of his sophomore album, 鈥淗EIS鈥�. He’s not playing it safe. This isn’t 鈥淩ave & Roses鈥�. In comparison, his first album鈥檚 the rose, and this new one鈥檚 the rave. To appreciate 鈥淗EIS鈥�, the search for homecoming aspirations and deeper music is seriously not advised. 鈥淗EIS鈥� is pacy, head-back-leg breaking, and ridiculously amplified. It’s the complete form of what Ginger Me, Won Da Mo, Hov and the 鈥淩AVAGE鈥� EP have shown. 鈥淗EIS鈥� is the wildly experimental Rema.

MARCH AM is a colloquial phrase for 鈥渄oing the work and crushing it.鈥� The corporate world will translate that to meeting KPIs. In Rema’s case, he’s a young overachiever. While one simmers in celebrating that, one observes his new linguistic approach, which is all over the album. He uses English, Pidgin English, Edo and Yor霉b谩 in cruder tones. A marker of every man’s voice. American rapper Mick Jenkins said, 鈥淒eep conversations about language, which one [do] you speak?鈥� Remaspeak is street-fluent and internet lingo rich.

He rides the party into AZAMAN, originally an Edo slang term for someone who provides bank details for G-boys to pick funds. In this song, it translates to the popular Nigerian term for a 鈥渞ich spender鈥�. In a praise-singing mode, Rema hails Nigeria’s wealthiest men, including his state governor, Benin royal throne, and Don Jazzy. Rema sure knows how to pick his patrons. Interestingly, there鈥檚 no mention of his Jefe, DPrince, who discovered him.

This praise-singing doesn’t sidestep Rema鈥檚 noteworthy consumption of X (Twitter) lingos. 鈥淣o go hustle, dey talk for TL / Follow me run, you go tear ACL鈥� is a banger boy material.

Twitter might have been a bit of this album’s inspiration. From 鈥淣o go hustle, dey Twitter dey zozo鈥� on the opening track to 鈥淢onday morning, talking about me while I’m making money鈥� on HEHEHE, the playful third track, that observation lurks. He clap-backs at his trolls and critics; this psychologically marks a reflexive response likely provoked by internet pressure and stan wars. It’s not crystal clear to him yet breeds contempt.

On YAYO, he bites Asake’s style and comfortably holds the form. This is a jam; Mr. Sungba will be pleased. BENIN BOYS with Shallipopi follows in quick verse exchanges. The most notable thing about this song is the repetitive 鈥淪ee money, see am, see, see, see money o鈥� chorus, subtle Edo music influence, and Shallipopi being the first Nigerian feature on any of Rema’s songs.

Surprisingly, Bini’s heritage isn’t expressed on HEIS, the album track. The word is the Greek for 鈥渘umber one.鈥� On it, Rema sings he’s THE guy. The chorus is rhetoric in Swahili, asking who’s the baddest. Who’s uplifting and hot and globetrotting? Who’s the shit and champion? Is it you? Rema’s confidence is stunning; he generates closing lines like 鈥淲hen I talk 鈥淎nother banger,鈥� you better believe am.鈥�

It鈥檚 not hard to miss P.Priime’s tag, which runs through six songs on this eleven-track album. This is evidence of their developing chemistry since their back-to-back collaboration on the 鈥淩AVAGE鈥� EP. Rema’s go-to producer, London, takes the backseat on this album ride, credited on only three songs. According to metadata, this album鈥檚 also the first time Rema has deeply involved himself in the production of his music. Other co-producers are Altims, Daytrip, Producer X, Cubeatz, Deats, Klimperboy and Alex Lustig.

Rema’s clearly synced with what’s vibrating in the ghettos and inner cities. manifests in OZEBA, an Edo word for “entering trouble”. 鈥淢ara鈥� is an informal term for madness. In music, it’s a homegrown sound that drives listeners wild. It’s high-speed and energetic. Picture a street carnival buzzing with DJ YK Mule’s mixes, dancers in ripped jeans, joggers, oversized round necks and sweaters, cross bags, sandals, designer slides, flipping white handkerchiefs in the air while thick Indian hemp joints burn on the other hands. OZEBA is trenches music brought to the global mainstream. The only thing missing is .

From this song till the album ends, Rema retains the disruptive energy of Daddy Showkey鈥攖he new age composition of Olamide Baddo’s lamba. WAR MACHINE is an adrenaline pumper; it gives the thrills of street racing. Rema might have also been a new-age pop version of Obesere on EGUNGUN. He keeps on rocking on VILLAIN 鈥� repeating everything earlier said on the album, from accomplishments to soft-landing baddies, rocking designers and lavishing. His confidence leaps higher here; he desires babes built like the Afrobeats鈥� Queen Idia, Tiwa Savage.

Decrescendo hits on the closing track, NOW I KNOW. The rave has come to an end, and others have left. His trauma and loneliness are all that’s left. This song’s a fine moment of clarity on the album, and one wishes it had more of it. 

In 28 minutes, Rema sets a party for loud decibel suckers. It’s very experimental music, while someone like Ayra, his label mate, has a clear-sounding sophomore. Bold of him. It’s also a statement that Rema has a freer handle on his career. He notes on NOW I KNOW: 鈥淚 dey move like Messi when he dey for Barcelo[na].鈥� That’s one way of saying he’s unfuckwithable.

While it’s true Rema’s music is becoming uncontrollably uncouth, his music has never been suburban. He’s only talented and cool enough for the butte and pako. He’s called the 鈥淧rince of Afrobeats”, which makes sense. But what Rema and the other top three, the kings of Afrobeats, have in common is the love for the Black app. Rema should grow thick skin!

Closer listening reveals 鈥淗EIS鈥� more native allegiance than a musical revolution orchestrated by the Mid-Western Nigeria鈥檚 tapestry. Another evidence of this is Shallipopi鈥檚 widely critiqued sophomore. What these two album releases heralded by the Benin/Edo fixation represent and share in common are apprehensive party music and cruise talks.

Is a Benin renaissance happening? Is 鈥淗EIS鈥� a special nod to Benin? Is the album by Rema’s hedonism, inspired by his critics or his desire to shift mainstream focus from Amapiano to Afropop? Maybe, maybe not.

You have to agree, though, that Rema has given Benin as a whole more points than his Governor Obaseki.

While We Talk About this Rema Hot Moment, These Are All the Times He Has Showed the World He鈥檚 Really HIM

On September 12, 2023, the 23-year-old ravestar, Rema, emerged as the first African musician to hit with the Calm Down remix featuring Selena Gomez.聽

His success isn’t by chance, streaming farm or just big budgets. Rema put in the work to get his billion streams. We dived into his records to find out how he made history with the Selena Gomez-assisted remix, and summarised our research into these seven steps.

Rema consistently delivered

As long as you’re ready to learn and grind this music hustle with a positive attitude, you too could get documented in the as it blazes through history like its new prince, Rema.

Since his Dumebi debut in 2019, Rema鈥檚 honed his skills through consistent delivery of music, videos and tours. After winning the Headies’ Next Rated award in the same year he debuted, he鈥檚 shown versatility with two EPs, an album and a series of singles.

Worked with producers who understood the mission

and London to give us Calm Down. The three collaborators rearranged the song and polished its layers until it became a hit.
While Calm Down pushed Rema’s album to become the first African album to enter 1 billion streams, the same song put its producers on Billboard 100 Hot Producers’ list.

Promoted the hell out of the song

One part of the job is done when an artist finds the hack to score a perfect afrobeats hit. The rest? You come up with schemes to elevate the song. Enter song promotion.

Rema was and media runs, which continued conversations around the single and generally his music, giving him more exposure.聽

Struck while the iron was hot

Barely a month after Calm Down dropped, Rema released his debut album Rave & Roses (March 2022) 鈥� one of the biggest debut afrobeats albums. Calm Down is the hottest and biggest song on the album, so it’s logical he chose to remix it.

Rema was The remix was out in five months.

He made his collaborator his friend

From producer to features, tt鈥檚 necessary to work with people who see your vision. With Rema and Selena, it wasn’t just business as usual when they planned to remix Calm Down. (Business as usual is when the relationship ends after a featured artist drops their verse. They don鈥檛 promote or push the work.)

Selena and Rema were fans of each other’s music before their teams met and began working out the collaboration process. She Runaway, the closing track on Rave & Roses.

Kept pushing

Rema didn鈥檛 just stop at releasing a remix. He remained visible online and offline. Calm Down鈥檚 remix came out in August 2022 to criticism and acclaim, then it steadfastly climbed the Billboard chart, peaking at number one. The song entered the 鈥� setting a record that’s also the first of its kind.

Still pushing the song together

As the song got bigger, we saw them together in the media. Recently, on September 13, 2023, at the MTV Video Music Award, they both received , the first of its category at the event.

You might not have Selena Gomez鈥檚 phone number or a solid label backing you, but hard work, consistency and collaboration will always be key ingredients to grow and reach a wider audience. If Rema hadn’t put in the work that got him noticed or fostered the relationship that birthed his most prominent song, Calm Down, he wouldn鈥檛 have a billion streams on Spotify.

Winning the Headies Next rated award at 19

In 2019, Rema won the Next Rated award category at the 13th edition of Headies. While receiving his award on stage, he called himself the future of Nigerian music. Fast-forward to this moment, it鈥檚 fair to say his prophecy is manifesting.

Raves & Roses success

In April 2023, Rema became with the deluxe edition of his debut album, Raves & Roses. The album hit one billion streams, making it the highest streamed African album of all time; this was the first of its kind on the digital platform.

Nigeria鈥檚 most exported on Spotify

In June, Raves and Roses broke its record and set a new one after hitting 1.5 billion streams. By July, Raves & Roses (Deluxe) became a two billi baby.

In August, , which puts him on the same global demand scale with Nigerian jollof and Nigerian men. 

Calm Down (both original and the remix) are top two on most exported Afrobeats songs list.

Performing at Lollapalooza 2023

In August, Remy Boy joined a large number of musicians from all over the world to perform at the 2023  Lollapalooza edition in Chicago. His performance and crowd engagement skills are highly captivating 鈥� a superstar doings.

Sitting pretty on Billboard

Rema first climbed the Billboard chart in 2020 with his jam, Woman, peaking at number 15 on the World Digital Sales. His consistency and strategic collaboration pushed him further to the with Calm Down featuring Selena Gomez on April 22, 2023. The same song also catapulted LONDON and Andre Vibez . He’s also the second rated artist on Billboard’s U.S Afrobeats Songs chart.

Headies’ speech and wins

During the Headies’ 16th music award ceremony on September 4th, 2023, Rema delivered a solid speech, charging the Nigerian music industry to unite and show more regards to their fans and the music institutions. On the same night, he went home with three awards (Best Male Artist, African Artist and Digital Artist of the Year). The guest artist on his Calm Down remix, Selena Gomez bagged the International Artist of the Year while the director of the music video of the song (Director K) won the best music video award. 

A winning circle.

1 billion Spotify streams

When Rema released the smashing remix to his hit Calm Down in 2022, reviews and opinions ridiculed his choice of guest artist. Some even said (and still does) that he was desperate for foreign acceptance. But now, the song has hit one billion streams, .

Rema and Afrobeats are the rave of the moments. So are these stars too. All Afrobeats moments are curated for you .

We鈥檝e had so many hits between January and April, but these seven are some of the best. But will they still bang by the time IJGBs come back for Detty December? We have the answers. 

Yoga 鈥� Asake 

础蝉补办别鈥檚 Mr Money with the Vibes was probably the biggest album of 2022. From Terminator to Joha, 础蝉补办别鈥檚 voice was everywhere in December. After dropping songs every two weeks, Asake took some time off before dropping Yoga in 2023. The song showed us a zen Asake, who鈥檚 taking time away from the party scene to wear white and meditate by the beach (God, when?). It was the perfect song to start the year with and a testament to the artiste鈥檚 versatility. 

Chances of surviving till December: I highly doubt it. Yoga is too calm for the gragra of Detty December. The holidays are about hyper energy, so imagine people screaming, 鈥淧alazzo, jiggy, burger..鈥� instead of chanting, 鈥淵oga yoga鈥�.   

GWAGWALADA 鈥� BNXN, Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez

BNXN鈥檚 decision to make a song about Gwagwalada in Abuja is almost as random as the two artistes he chose to feature, yet somehow it all works perfectly. The Sarz-produced beat is BNXN鈥檚 to devour, and he eats it up like the shawarma he mentions in the song. Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez also make memorable appearances here. 

Chances of surviving till December: Even though Finesse came out a year ago in 2022, there鈥檚 a higher chance of that song soundtracking Detty December parties as opposed to Gwagwalada.  

Stamina 鈥� Tiwa Savage, Young Jonn and Ayra Starr 

Tiwa Savage, Young Jonn and Ayra Starr鈥檚 Stamina is the consent anthem we didn鈥檛 know we needed until it was released. Produced by frequent Asake collaborator, MagicSticks, the song finds Ayra offering to do sexy kung fu with her lover, while Tiwa and Young Jonn engage in an intense back and forth that Chioma explains better in her SYDHT recap of the video. 

Chances of surviving till December: While Stamina is a major jam, there鈥檚 a high chance it鈥檒l sound like a throwback song when it comes up in the club when Detty December rolls around. 

Who鈥檚 Your Guy? 鈥� Spyro and Tiwa Savage 

With all the shoutouts on Who鈥檚 Your Guy?, the Spyro and Tiwa Savage hit could easily be an owambe song. Giving us a much needed break from songs about bumbum, hustling and popping champagne, Who鈥檚 Your Guy? is a beautiful song that talks about the importance of friendship and checking in on your tribe. Knowing all the craziness happening around the world, we all need to be more invested in each other, now, more than ever. 

Chances of surviving till December: Be prepared to hear this song every time someone orders Azul for their table in December, and also on every IJGB鈥檚 TikTok or Reel when they connect with the friends they left behind in Nigeria. 

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Sability 鈥� Ayra Starr

No other artist captures the defiant 鈥淚鈥檓 a bad bitch鈥� Gen Z energy like Ayra Starr. Sability, her Awilo Longomba-inspired first single of 2023 tows the same lane as Bloody Samaritan and Rush, with Ayra reminding everyone that she鈥檚 that girl; the original sabi girl. 

Chances of surviving till December: This is a jam for baddies, and being a baddie isn鈥檛 a seasonal job; it鈥檚 a year-round lifestyle. There鈥檚 a high chance you鈥檒l hear Sability on the insta stories of those IJGB girls who live and breathe NollyBabe鈥檚 fashion. 

UNAVAILABLE 鈥� Davido and Musa Keys 

Davido is a master hitmaker and that鈥檚 on Mary and her little lamb. Despite the tragic events of last year, Davido somehow manages to find and share joy through his album, Timeless, especially on the Musa Keys-assisted amapiano hit, UNAVAILABLE. Our ever-so-generous king also made sure the TikTok dance challenge for the song was easy, smooth and inclusive because not all of us have Gen Z legwork energy. I stan. 

Chances of surviving till December: This is the anthem most offices will hear as soon as they close for the year. Everyone on holiday for Detty December will probably post their UNAVAILABLE video on social media for their co-workers and haters. How else will your boss know not to send you emails in December? 

Holiday 鈥� Rema

Nothing unites Nigerians more than a grass-to-grace story, and boy, did my inner spirit feel it when Rema sang, 鈥淚 will never forget the time wey bad belle dem cast us away. Fast forward to today, every day na holiday.鈥� 

Even though 2022鈥檚 Calm Down has refused to allow Holiday get the love it deserves, this song is further evidence that proves yet again that Rema hasn鈥檛 missed since 2019. 

Chances of surviving till December: The song is literally called Holiday, and you think it won鈥檛 bang during the biggest holiday of the year? Chelsea, come on now. This is the ultimate Detty December banger. 

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Can you handle the hotness of 91大神’s Hertitude? Click to buy your ticket and find out.

Let’s get into it. 

The chorus of Kizz Daniel’s 叠耻驳补听

If there’s one thing we learnt in 2022, it’s that Nigerian mummies and aunties love Kizz Daniel’s Buga. It’s like Baby Shark, but for 40+ women who love WhatsApp. It’ll be hard for your mum to say “no” to a tattoo of her favourite song. Try “So far, so good. Ko ni baje” first and see. 

“Jesu Kristi loba wa” 鈥� Sability by Ayra Starr

A tattoo that shows your mum she raised a good child who stans Jesus and Ayra Starr? Come on, there’s no way a Nigerian mother will fight this tattoo. 

“Today Germany, tomorrow na London” 鈥� Loaded by Tiwa Savage and Asake

You’re basically prophesying into your life, and your mother has to be the weapon fashioned against you if she decides to hate on this tattoo. 

“I see darkness all around, but I know I’m the light” 鈥� Electricity by Pheelz and Davido 

This is the equivalent of getting the lyrics to Sinach’s I Know Who I Am tattooed on your left thigh or back. Your mother would be proud of you for recognising your purpose in life and writing it in ink. 

“Pay me my salary. I want to marry” 鈥� Anita by The Cavemen. 

A focused child who wants to make money and give their mother a wedding (and potentially, grandchildren)? Nigerian mothers are sending BCS right now to boast about you to their frenemies. 

鈥淓 kira fun mummy mi o鈥� 鈥� Ojuelegba by Wizkid

You’re literally hailing her and asking everyone to celebrate her too. How can any mother be mad at that? Make it make sense. 

“Before dem use me, I go use my sense” 鈥� Peace Be Unto You by Asake

I doubt the woman who told you to “put it on her head” when you asked stupid questions about where to put stuff growing up will be mad at you for telling the world you’re ten steps ahead of them. Nigerian mothers like to talk about “common sense” a lot, so it’s just common sense to know they’d love this tattoo. 

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“I’ve never stopped in my life, so tell me, why would I stop now?” 鈥� Never Stopped by BNXN

A resilient icon. Even your mother will stan. 

“Wake up in the morning, Hallelujah. Chasing the money, chasing the bag” 鈥� Won Da Mo by The Mavins

A tattoo that says you’re a prayerful child of God and a hard worker who refuses to settle is the best way to get your mother to not only approve your tattoo, but pay for it too. Shoutout to Rema for the cheat code. 

“Dem never see me coming” 鈥� Bandana by Fireboy DML and Asake 

Inshallah, your enemies will never see you coming. 

“I stand strong (insert your name) no go minus” 鈥� Stand Strong by Davido and Sunday Service Choir 

A choir is involved. That’s all you need to defend a tattoo of this line from Davido’s hit. Your mother will switch to your side the moment she gets this info. 

“Moving with currency, I’m on a foreign p” 鈥� WO WO by Miz, BNXN and Blaqbonez

The only time this tattoo will backfire is if you’re poor, and its message doesn’t match your lifestyle. Who doesn’t love dollars and pounds here and there. 

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Here are all the times Rema reminded us his mother wasn鈥檛 playing when she named him 鈥淒ivine鈥�. 

When he caused a Dumebi-mania and dropped three EPs back to back in 2019

2019 was the year Rema went from small-town Benin boy to national vibes master with Dumebi. Everyone and their grandmas knew this song, but instead of just milking that one single, he dropped three EPs that year: Rema, Rema Freestyle and Bad Commando 鈥� they all slapped. 

When Iron Man appeared on Barack Obama鈥檚 Summer Playlist in 2019

Getting into former president barely seven months into your career has to be a major flex for Rema. The crazy part was even though Dumebi was the hottest Rema song that year, Obama showed us he鈥檚 not like the basic girlies when he selected the lesser-known Iron Man for his playlist. We stan a leader with real taste. 

Rema, the meme king

Whether or responding to fan tweets with the most unhinged memes, Rema has proven time and time again that he鈥檚 the social media gift that keeps giving. 

When he won Next Rated at the Headies in 2020 

We can debate the Headies Awards and their winners from now till next year. But if there鈥檚 one thing the Headies has gotten right, it鈥檚 giving Rema the Next Rated award in 2020. It鈥檚 clear they could see his future would be filled with bangers. 

When he dropped Peace of Mind right after the #EndSARS protests of 2020

After the chaos of the lockdown and #EndSARS protests, it鈥檚 safe to say 2020 was a stressful year for most Nigerians. But Rema came through with Peace of Mind in December of that year, and let me say this underrated bop is the song I didn鈥檛 know I needed until it came out. 

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The time he dropped fire verses on not one but two songs on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Soundtrack in 2022

On an album with Burna Boy, Rihanna, Tems and Stormzy, Rema stood out on joints with Bloody Civilian and Aleman. He鈥檚 one of only two artistes to make more than three appearances on the Marvel soundtrack. 

All the times he鈥檚 carried features and remixes on his back 

Can you imagine Jae5鈥檚 Dimension without Rema鈥檚 verse and chorus? Neither can I. 

The time he brought Don Jazzy out of semi-retirement to talk about booty in 2021

Everyone knows it鈥檚 a big deal when Don Jazzy drops his influencer camera to produce a song for an artiste. Inviting the Mavin boss to talk about a fascinating topic, the gravitational ups and downs of bumbum, Rema created one of the most infectious songs of 2021. 

The king of fashion 

Rema has been serving looks from day one. There was this look:聽

And let鈥檚 not forget this one:聽

When he dropped Rave & Roses, one of the best albums of 2022

Three years after popping up on the scene with Dumebi, Rema finally dropped his anticipated debut album, Rave & Roses, and boy, was it worth the wait. Housing hit songs like Calm Down, Addicted, Jo and Are You There? Rave & Roses cemented Rema鈥檚 position as one of the most exciting acts in music right now. 

The time he turned Madonna and Selena Gomez into fangirls in 2022

It鈥檚 not easy to have the Queen of Pop and a real-life Disney princess pulling up to your shows to tell you they鈥檙e huge fans of your music. Thee Madonna? Thee Selena Gomez? Who鈥檚 seeing Rema right now? No one. 

This 鈥淎frica to the world鈥� moment when he performed at the NBA All-Stars halftime show in 2023

Rema joining Tems and Burna Boy to perform at the NBA All-Stars game in 2023 was a major moment for most Nigerians. Rihanna had just completed her Super Bowl performance, but for us Nigerians, this was the actual music meets sport event of February. 

The time the Calm Down remix with Selena Gomez became a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 

We鈥檝e only ever had two Nigerian artistes crack the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart: Wizkid with Essence and One Dance, and Tems with WAIT FOR U and Essence. But Rema has officially joined this list with his Selena Gomez-assisted remix of Calm Down climbing up to the 19th spot on the chart. Iconic AF. 

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