Billboard Faces Backlash for Labeling Rema a “One-Hit Wonder”

|By Queen Banigo

United States entertainment magazine, Billboard, has come under intense social media scrutiny after calling Nigerian singer Rema a “one-hit wonder.” The controversy reignited on February 16, 2026, when Billboard reshared an article from its June 2025 Chart Beat.

In the post on X, Billboard listed Rema at number six in its “25 Biggest One Hit Wonders of the 21st Century” for his global hit “Calm Down”, which featured American pop star Selena Gomez. The magazine clarified that although Rema has not returned to the Hot 100 after the collaboration, he has achieved six top 10 placements on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart as of June 7, 2025.

The resurfaced post drew swift criticism from fans and music enthusiasts, who slammed Billboard for downplaying Rema’s accomplishments.

@MikeAgrow commented, “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.”

@flourish_empire added, “What kind of downplay is that? All Rema songs are hit back to back.”

@gtm_gtel wrote, “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 backlash underscores the growing global recognition of Afrobeats and the influence of Nigerian artists on international music charts.