Billboard ranks Rema among 21st century one-hit wonders

Rema makes Billboard’s one-hit wonder list 

Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema has been included in Billboard’s 2026 list of “The 25 Biggest One-Hit Wonders of the 21st Century.”

The ranking, released in early 2026, looks back at artists whose songs achieved major commercial success in the United States but whose follow-up releases failed to replicate similar impact on the U.S. charts. 

In Rema’s case, the recognition is tied to his 2022 smash hit “Calm Down,” particularly the remix featuring Selena Gomez.

“Calm Down” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, becoming one of the most-streamed Afrobeats tracks globally. 

The record not only expanded Rema’s reach in America but also cemented his place as one of the genre’s biggest crossover success stories.

However, Billboard’s classification focuses strictly on U.S. chart metrics. 

The publication describes the list as a retrospective of artistes whose single tracks reached significant commercial heights but did not match that level of chart performance in subsequent American releases.

Beyond the U.S., Rema’s catalogue tells a different story. 

Songs like “Dumebi,” “Iron Man,” “Woman,” and “Soundgasm” have racked up hundreds of millions of streams and charted across Africa and Europe. 

His debut album, Rave & Roses, reached the Top 10 on the UK Albums Chart, and he has collaborated with international acts such as Chris Brown on “F4F” and 6lack on “Running.”

The singer has also graced major global stages, including Coachella in the United States and Wireless Festival in the United Kingdom, underscoring his international appeal.

As of now, the Afrobeats star has not publicly responded to Billboard’s ranking, but the conversation it has sparked points to a broader tension between traditional chart success and the realities of global music influence.