Outrage as Billboard Labels Rema ‘One-Hit Wonder’ Despite String of Global Hits and Awards

American music publication Billboard has sparked massive controversy among Nigerian music lovers and the global Afrobeats community after resharing an article that tagged Benin-born superstar Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, as a “one-hit wonder.” The post, which went live on the magazine’s official X account on Sunday, referenced a June 2025 ranking titled “The 25 Biggest One-Hit Wonders of the 21st Century,” placing Rema at No. 6 solely based on the U.S. chart performance of his 2022 smash hit Calm Down, especially its remix featuring American pop sensation Selena Gomez.

The article described how the original version of Calm Down—with its catchy “lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-wo-wo-wo-wo” hook—started gaining traction on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart in 2023. Rema then recruited Gomez for the remix, which skyrocketed the track to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I had my fingers crossed,” Rema reportedly told Billboard about landing the collaboration. While acknowledging that Rema has notched six top-10 entries on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart as of June 7, 2025, the publication emphasized that he hasn’t returned to the Hot 100 since, labeling the Gomez-assisted hit as his only major U.S. breakthrough.

But Nigerians and Afrobeats fans worldwide are not having it. Social media erupted with backlash, with many arguing that the “one-hit wonder” tag ignores Rema’s extensive catalog and international dominance. Tracks like Dumebi, Iron Man, and Woman have been staples in the genre, while his debut album Rave & Roses climbed to the top 10 on the UK Albums Chart. Fans also highlighted his sold-out global tours, high-profile festival gigs at Coachella and Wireless Festival, and collaborations with heavyweights like Chris Brown and 6lack.

One X user, @bouncenetworks, fired back: “Billboard calling Rema a ‘one-hit wonder’ is pure comedy. One hit doesn’t give you years of dominance, global tours, and a catalogue that’s been running the culture since Dumebi. Rema is a star with range — Calm Down was just the loudest one.” Another post from @Titodafire added: “When Billboard labels Rema a ‘one-hit wonder,’ the real lesson isn’t the headline – it’s the mindset. The industry will try to box you. Your job is to outgrow the box.”

Defenders of the ranking, however, point out that Billboard’s criteria seem strictly tied to U.S. Hot 100 performance, not global metrics. This has reignited heated debates about the U.S.-centric nature of music charts in an era where Afrobeats is exploding worldwide. As one op-ed in OkayAfrica questioned: “A recently resurfaced Billboard list ranked Rema as a one-hit wonder. But one question rises above all others: by whose standards?”

Rema’s 2025 alone paints a picture far from a “one-hit” artist. The Afrobeats trailblazer became the most-streamed Nigerian artist on YouTube, with Calm Down surpassing one billion views. He dropped viral hits like Baby (Is It a Crime) and FUN, and his sophomore album HEIS earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Rema swept awards, winning six in total that year, including a triple crown at the AFRIMA 2025: Artist of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul. He also clinched four at the Trace Awards in Zanzibar and became the first African artist on the TIME 100 Next list for 2025.

This latest drama underscores the growing tension between traditional U.S. music metrics and the borderless success of African artists. As Afrobeats continues to take over global stages, many are calling for more inclusive ways to measure hits beyond American charts.

As of press time, Rema has yet to respond publicly to the ranking. But with his track record, it’s clear the young star is far from a flash in the pan—he’s building an empire.