Rema won at the MTV VMAs, hit streaming record: What to know about the Nigerian artist
Rema is doing the opposite of calming down as he continues to rise in recognition.
The Nigerian artist, 23, won best Afrobeats song for his hit "Calm Down" with Selena Gomez at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday.
The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June and has spent over 50 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's U.S. Afrobeats songs chart.
Although Rema's climb to the top of the U.S. charts and award shows has seemed overnight since releasing the "Calm Down" remix with Gomez in August 2022, the singer and rapper has had international success since the release of his 2019 single "Dumebi."
Here's everything to know about Africa's shining star Rema:
Rema's 'Calm Down' is the first African-led track to join Spotify's Billions Club
Prior to winning his VMAs award, Rema was celebrating a historic win. On Sunday, Spotify announced that his hit single "Calm Down" has become the first song from an African artist to join Spotify's Billions Club, an honor awarded to songs that have racked up over a billion streams.
"It’s a blessing. It's not just a big win for me, my team, and family; it's also a big one for the culture," he said in an interview with Spotify. "I feel really happy, and I’m really proud of the fans as well for going back to the song and putting people onto the song. Shout-out to the DJs and everyone who made this possible."
Gomez congratulated Rema on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "I’m so grateful. Love you @heisrema !"
Rema performed at the 2023 NBA All-Star halftime
Rihanna set a high bar for halftime performances at the 2023 Super Bowl, and Burna Boy, Tems and Rema were able to keep the bar elevated at NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City on Feb 19 days later.
The halftime concert during the NBA All-Star game featured three Nigerian artists — Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer Burna Boy, Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated singer Tems and rapper Rema — doing an Afrobeats-themed performance.
Rema delivered on his performances of "Calm Down" and "Holiday.
Rema released his debut album Raves & Roses in 2022 with 'Calm Down'
Rema's single "Calm Down" was apart of his debut album "Rave & Roses," which was released in March 2022, though the original version did not include Gomez. The "Only Murders in the Building" star was later added to the remix, which gave the duo a push on global music charts.
The Nigerian star released a deluxe version of his album in April with six additional tracks, including the "Calm Down" remix. Chris Brown and 6LACK are among featured artists on "Rave & Roses."
The album has not only brought him award success in the U.S., but he also took home three awards at The Headies, a global awards show for Afrobeats music founded by Nigeria's Hip Hop World Magazine, earlier this month for best male artist, African artist of the year and digital artist of the year.
Rema was on Barack Obama's 2019 and 2022 summer playlist
Rema landed on the ever-popular summer playlist of former President Barack Obama in 2019 alongside Drake, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Camilla Cabello and more.
"It was amazing being the only Nigerian artist there. I don't know anybody in the White House or in the American government," he told Rolling Stone in 2020. "How did my music walk so far to his doorstep?"
"Calm Down" was also included in Obama's 2022 summer playlist.
Rema got his start in music at church
The Afrobeats artist first got into music at a church in his Nigerian hometown of Benin City. The church had a youth program called "Rap Nation," which taught congregation-friendly rap music to kids. "If I look back, I wasn’t really that good," he told Rolling Stone in 2020.
Rema was forced to move away from home in 2008 to Ghana after his father and brother died, leaving him as "the only man of the house" amongst his mother and two sisters. A year later, he moved back to Benin City and got a chance from fellow Nigerian artist D’Prince, who would later sign him to the record label Mavin Records.
"I had to prove myself. At that time, I had no Afrobeats songs — strictly hip-hop, strictly trap. D’Prince started pitching some Afrobeats to me, and I started vibing," Rema recalled to Rolling Stone.