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American music publication Billboard has come under intense criticism on social media after resurfacing a 2025 article that labelled Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema a “one-hit wonder,” a description many fans and industry observers consider misleading and dismissive.
The controversy erupted after Billboard reshared the article on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, reviving a list that ranked 25 artistes under the “one-hit wonder” category. Rema was placed sixth on the list, a position largely attributed to the worldwide success of his chart-topping single Calm Down, featuring American pop star Selena Gomez.
In the article, Billboard acknowledged that Rema had already begun gaining traction in the United States with the original version of Calm Down, but argued that the remix featuring Gomez pushed the song into mainstream global success. The publication noted that the track peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but claimed the singer has not returned to the chart since.
“After releasing the original ‘lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-wo-wo-wo-wo’-ing version of ‘Calm Down’ in 2023, Nigeria’s Rema noticed it breaking on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. He took a swing and recruited Gomez for the female vocal and, shockingly, she agreed. ‘I had my fingers crossed,’ he told Billboard,” the article stated.
It continued: “The No. 3-peaking ‘Calm Down’ was obviously not veteran pop superstar Gomez’s only hit, but Rema has yet to make it to the Hot 100 again — although he has landed six top 10s on U.S. Afrobeats Songs, through the June 7, 2025, chart.”
However, the classification immediately triggered a wave of backlash, with fans accusing Billboard of downplaying Rema’s impact and ignoring his broader catalogue of successful releases.
One social media user wrote, “All I could see is hate on Rema’s greatness, nothing more. Calm Down was already a global hit before Selena jumped on it. Rema has countless hits that the world knows.”
Another commenter linked the perceived dismissal of African talent to wider systemic issues, stating, “Una don really see Africans finish. Rema of all people one-hit wonder. Any disrespect Africans get in any sector is because of bad leadership — sports, entertainment, aviation, oil and gas, everything.”
Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, first released Calm Down in February 2022 as part of his debut studio album Rave & Roses. The remix featuring Selena Gomez followed later that year, significantly amplifying the song’s global reach and commercial success.
The track went on to achieve several remarkable milestones. It earned platinum certification in the United Kingdom, topped music charts in India, and in August 2023, became the longest-charting Afrobeats song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. It also crossed the one-billion-stream mark on Spotify, making it one of the most-streamed African songs of all time.
By February 2026, the Calm Down remix had surpassed 1.3 billion views on YouTube, securing its place as the most-watched Nigerian music video ever.
Beyond Calm Down, Rema has built a solid global profile with multiple international collaborations, sold-out concerts, and a growing discography that continues to chart across various platforms. Many fans argue that branding him a “one-hit wonder” fails to reflect his broader influence, commercial consistency, and role in pushing Afrobeats to a worldwide audience.
As the debate continues, the backlash highlights ongoing conversations around the recognition of African artistes on global platforms and the need for more nuanced evaluations of their careers.
#Rema
#BillBoard
#NollywoodTimes
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