Nigerian music star Rema continues to be a leading force behind the global Afrobeats movement. His latest album, “HEIS,” has become a massive hit on Spotify Nigeria. It smashed records to solidify Rema’s status as a superstar.
Here’s a closer look at Rema’s record-breaking achievements:
Unmatched Opening Week for HEIS Album
“HEIS” amassed 12.3 million streams on Spotify Nigeria during its first week. With this, he established a new benchmark for album debuts on the platform in the country. This surpasses the previous record held by Olamide’s album “Ikigai,” which garnered 7.92 million streams in its opening week.
Biggest first week streams on Spotify Nigeria in 2024
— @heisrema ‘HEIS’ — 12.3M
— @Olamide ‘Ikigai / 生き甲斐, Vol. 1’ — 7.92M
— @plutomaniapopi ‘Shakespopi’ — 5.7M
— @ayrastarr ‘The Year I Turned 21’ — 5.18M
— @YoungJonn ‘Jiggy Forever’ — 4.13M
— @temsbaby ‘Born in the Wild’ —… pic.twitter.com/rAymtHaxHW— TurnTable Charts (@TurntableCharts) July 18, 2024
HEIS Album, Second Highest Overall
“HEIS” falls just short of Davido’s record-breaking “Timeless” album (which holds the number one spot with a phenomenal 14.4 million opening week streams). But it still claims the prestigious number two position on Spotify Nigeria. This achievement demonstrates Rema’s immense popularity and the widespread appeal of “HEIS.”
.@heisrema’s ‘HEIS’ recorded 12.3 million streams on Spotify Nigeria on its first week of release
It becomes the second biggest first week streams for any album on Spotify Nigeria history — behind only @davido’s ‘Timeless’ (14.4M) pic.twitter.com/0ItAvwXoIQ
— TurnTable Charts (@TurntableCharts) July 18, 2024
Building Anticipation with “Benin Boys”
Even before the album’s release, Rema was making headlines with the hit single “Benin Boys” featuring Shallipopi. This track secured the most first-day streams for a song on Spotify Nigeria, effectively generating immense anticipation for the upcoming album.
HEIS Album Dominates Streaming Charts
“HEIS” didn’t just break opening week records; it also dominated its debut day, surpassing Rema’s own previous record for most first-day streams. The album continued its impressive run, reaching a staggering 1.99 million streams the following day. This early dominance indicates the album’s strong connection with listeners and its potential for long-term success.
A Global Star with a Mission
Rema’s success with “HEIS” further cements his place as a global Afrobeats phenomenon. It’s worth noting that his debut album received mixed reviews, with some praising his bold experimentation and others questioning the final product.
Interestingly, at the album’s listening party held in London, Rema expressed a desire to take Afrobeats back to its roots. He feels the genre is being simplified to cater to foreign audiences, and “HEIS” seems to be his effort to push Afrobeats in a more authentic direction.
This mission to preserve the genre’s core identity while still achieving global success makes Rema’s artistic vision particularly intriguing.
Only time will tell how “HEIS” influences the future of Afrobeats, but one thing is certain: Rema is a frontrunner in shaping the sound of the genre for years to come.
