Entertainment

Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Falls Off Billboard Hot 100 After Making History

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2023

After an incredible record of 57 weeks, Afrobeats superstar Rema’s hit song featuring American star Selena Gomez has fallen off the global music chart, Billboard Hot 100.

This was confirmed in a post on X by music monitoring platform Chart Data which reads: “REMA and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” departs the Hot 100 this week.

It made history, becoming the longest-charting and most successful African song of all time.”

REMA and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” departs the Hot 100 this week.

It made history, becoming the longest charting and most successful African song of all-time.

Calm Down – Africa’s biggest chart-topping song of all time

Rema’s Calm Down is the highest charting Nigerian and African song of all time and it broke the 35-week record previously held by fellow Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid’s song Essence ft. Tems and Justin Bieber.

The remix of the song which features Selena Gomez was released in August 2022 and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2022, peaking at number three. It marked Rema’s first top-ten hit and Gomez’s ninth.

The Billboard Hot 100 is the most prestigious music ranking in the US, and Rema’s song is the highest-charting song on which an Afrobeats musician was the lead artist.

The song has also led the U.S. Afrobeats Songs for a record-setting 57 weeks, it reached number one on both the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs and the Billboard Global Excl. US charts, and peaked at number three on the Global 200 chart.

More records and achievements

Calm Down also entered into the Guinness World Record as the First No.1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart (the world’s first regional streaming chart) and reached number one on the Canadian Top Songs chart.

The amazing song, which Billboard magazine music analysts described as “a melancholy slow jam with a subtle hypnotic draw”, has enjoyed massive raves amongst global music listeners and has also caught the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide since its release.

Vanguard also reviewed the song as a feelgood smash hit and noted that Selena Gomez’s “melodic tune complements Rema’s vibe perfectly, maintaining the same energy as the original release.”

Calm Down’s massive global popularity is partly due to American pop star Selena Gomez featuring on the song albeit for a short part.

The song has won a plethora of awards and has shattered more than a dozen records.

Last month, the song won the inaugural Best Afrobeats song at the MTV VMA Awards, edging out other popular Afrobeats artists and it also became the most streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify and the first African artist-led song to hit one billion streams on the music platform.

Calm Down is also the first song to spend one year on the Billboard Afrobeats chart and its YouTube video, with 673 million views, is the most watched music video by a Nigerian artist.

The massive recognition and success of Calm Down in the international music scene has placed 23-year-old Rema into the ranks of prominent Afrobeats superstars such as Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.
VANGUARD

REMA and Selena Gomez's "Calm Down" departs the Hot 100 this week.
It made history, becoming the longest charting and most successful African song of all-time. pic.twitter.com/6fiTR5R5vm
— chart data (@chartdata) October 17, 2023

Entertainment

VIDEO: ‘New Record’, Guinness World Record Confirms Hilda Baci’s Largest-serving Of Jollof Rice

Published

3 days ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci has officially set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, with a staggering total weight of 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz).

The feat was accomplished in partnership with food brand Gino at Victoria Island, Lagos, and has now been formally recognized by Guinness World Records.

Announcing the confirmation on Monday via X (formerly Twitter), Guinness World Records wrote:

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) September 15, 2025
“New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.”

Baci, who first rose to global fame with her headline-grabbing cook-a-thon in 2023, has once again placed Nigerian cuisine on the world stage with this remarkable achievement.

Ahead of the confirmation, Guinness World Records had sent her words of encouragement, reposting a video from the Friday event and writing:

“What’s cookin’?

Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice today.”

The record-breaking cooking event was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, attracting a massive crowd of supporters, celebrities, and food enthusiasts who gathered to witness history being made.

With this latest feat, Hilda Baci continues to solidify her place as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated chefs and cultural ambassadors.

Watch video below:

https://x.com/GWR/status/1967605828728549785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1967605828728549785%7Ctwgr%5Ef76dd52669a0205d225aa98b850aaf0d1cc2cf48%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-27499393753220136605.ampproject.net%2F2508281901000%2Fframe.html

Entertainment

Video: Davido Clarifies Viral Video Warri incident

Published

3 days ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Award-winning Nigerian singer, Davido has debunked social media claims suggesting he was slapped during a recent outing in Warri, Delta State.

A viral video that surfaced online showed the singer in the midst of security operatives and fans, with a brief moment where he appeared to be struck on the head.

This led an X user, #AsakyGRN, to post: “Warri people no get joy oo. See dem sl@p Davido for head.”

https://x.com/itzbasito/status/1967582406875254789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1967582406875254789%7Ctwgr%5E246ffeffb5e9575f6e4f4e2272b3c54eb91834d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanguardngr.com%2F2025%2F09%2Fvideo-hit-me-by-mistake-davido-clarifies-viral-video-incident%2F

Addressing the speculation on his official X handle on Monday, Davido clarified that it was his security aide who accidentally hit him, not an assault from the crowd.

“Mumu that was my security… hit me by mistake… saddist,” the singer wrote.

His response has since put an end to the rumors and clarified the misunderstanding surrounding the viral clip.

Entertainment

Brazilian Jazz Legend, Hermeto Pascoal, Is Dead

Published

4 days ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Brazilian jazz legend Hermeto Pascoal has died at the age of 89, his family announced on Saturday.

Pascoal, known for his long white beard and hair, earned the nickname “The Sorcerer” for his ability to create music using a wide range of instruments and everyday objects.

In a statement on Instagram, his family said he died “with serenity and love,” surrounded by relatives and fellow musicians. They noted that at the moment of his passing, Pascoal’s band was performing on stage, “just as he would have wished: making sound and music.”

Born in Alagoas state in northeastern Brazil, Pascoal rose to international prominence through collaborations with jazz great Miles Davis and performances with other top musicians. Davis recorded some of Pascoal’s compositions, cementing his reputation as an innovative force in global jazz.

Pascoal was celebrated as a virtuoso who mastered multiple instruments and was renowned for his improvisational skill.

Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso paid tribute on Instagram, describing Pascoal as “one of the highest points in the history of music in Brazil.”