American entertainment magazine Billboard has come under heavy criticism after describing Nigerian singer Rema as a “one-hit wonder.”
On February 16, 2026, Billboard reshared an article from its June 2025 Chart Beat and ranked Rema number six on its list of “25 Biggest One Hit Wonders of the 21st Century.” The ranking was based on his global hit song “Calm Down,” which featured American pop star Selena Gomez.
According to Billboard, Rema has not returned to the Hot 100 chart since “Calm Down,” even though he recorded six top 10 entries on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart as of June 7, 2025.
The post quickly sparked backlash on social media, with many fans describing the label as disrespectful and dismissive of Rema’s broader success.
One user, @flourish_empire, wrote, “What kind of downplay is that? All Rema songs are hit back to back.”
Another, @MikeAgrow, stated, “Rema has been dropping consistent bangers, selling out arenas, and putting Afrobeats on the map worldwide. One song on their chart doesn’t erase all that. Call it what it is.”
Similarly, @gtm_gtel added, “They try to kill his confidence but so bad. Billboard can’t tell Africans how to do their thing. Their rate is of no use.”
The controversy has continued to generate debate online, with supporters insisting that Rema’s global influence and consistent releases go far beyond a single hit track.
