Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Nears Historic RIAA Diamond Certification
Rema’s hit single “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez is on the verge of making history as the first African song to achieve RIAA diamond certification. Originally released in 2022 as part of Rema’s debut album Raves & Roses, the track has reached a significant milestone, selling 7 million units in the United States and earning a 7-time platinum certification.
“Calm Down” has not only dominated the U.S. charts but also became the first African song to surpass a billion streams in the country, marking a landmark achievement for Rema and Nigerian music. The remix, featuring pop star Selena Gomez, enjoyed a remarkable 52-week run on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3. This peak is the highest for a Nigerian song and the second highest for an African artist, following Hugh Masekela’s 1968 hit “Grazing In The Grass,” which reached No. 1.
The song continues to break records, holding the title of the most-streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify with over 1 billion streams, and accumulating more than 2 billion streams across all platforms. Additionally, the music video for “Calm Down” has become the most-viewed Nigerian music video on YouTube, with over 928 million views.
As “Calm Down” edges closer to achieving diamond status, Rema solidifies his position as a global Afrobeats sensation. Following the massive success of the single, Rema released the EP Ravage and his sophomore album HEIS, further showcasing his talent and expanding his international appeal.
