Rema has been included in Billboard’s list of “The 25 Biggest One-Hit Wonders of the 21st Century.” The ranking, released in early 2026, recognises artists whose songs achieved major commercial success in the United States while subsequent releases recorded comparatively limited chart impact there.
The American music publication described the list as a retrospective of artistes whose single tracks reached significant commercial heights globally but did not replicate similar success on the U.S. charts.
‘Calm Down’ Earns Historic Recognition
Rema secured his spot on the list for his 2022 global hit “Calm Down,” particularly the remix featuring Selena Gomez.
The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. It also became one of the most-streamed Afrobeats records worldwide, significantly boosting Rema’s international profile.
Strong Global Catalogue Beyond The U.S.
Beyond “Calm Down“, Rema has released charting singles including “Dumebi”, “Iron Man”, “Woman”, and “Soundgasm”, which entered charts across Europe and Africa.
His debut album, Rave & Roses, reached the Top 10 on the UK Albums Chart. He has collaborated with global acts such as Chris Brown on “F4F” and 6lack on “Running”.
Rema has also performed at major international festivals, including Coachella (USA) and Wireless Festival (UK).
Label Reflects U.S. Chart Metrics Only
Billboard’s “one-hit wonder” label refers specifically to U.S. chart performance and does not account for global streaming dominance.
Rema continues to release music internationally, with singles such as “Dumebi”, “Iron Man”, and “Woman” amassing hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify and YouTube, underscoring his global popularity.
As of now, Rema has not publicly responded to the Billboard ranking.
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