The momentum is is building even higher for Calm Down by Rema as the song was certified 2x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) on Friday (May 5, 2023) for selling more than 2 million equivalent units in the US. The song which the Nigerian singer performed at the NBA All Star Weekend in February has spent 35 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard afrobeats chart has peaked at No. 6 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Rema, a former gospel artist who only started doing afrobeats in 2018 was recently surprised when he discovered during an interview on Hot 97 that Busy Signal had remixed his song unofficially.
The 22 year old said he had never heard of the remix before then but was delighted to hear Signal’s lyrical caresses over the beat of his breakout hit.
“Hard. That’s hard, I swear that’s hard, that’s so so hard,” he responded after hearing the remix live on air.
Host Ebro then asked him if he was familiar with Busy Signal’s work to which he said, “I am familiar with a couple of his records,” with an obviously impressed demeanor, Rema continued “”I swear this is hard this is so hard. Blew my mind.“
More than 14 songs that feature Rema hit the US Afrobeats chart in the last year while Calm Down spent 57% at the top of the chart’s first year.
The song’s global impact is also being felt in home territory on the Middle East & North African Chart (MENA) where it has spent 3 non consecutive weeks at No. 1 (12wks total).
