In a historic moment for African music, Nigerian Afro-beats sensation Rema has once again hit global success. His hit single, “Baby (Is It a Crime)”, has secured a coveted spot on Spotify’s Top 50 Songs of 2025 in their Half-Year Rankings, making him the only African and Afro beats artist featured on the highly acclaimed list.
Released on February 7, 2025, “Baby” blends Rema’s signature melodic delivery with edgy production and raw lyricism. The track took off almost instantly, topping charts across Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, before infiltrating global playlists, from New York to Berlin.
The solo track has enjoyed over 56 million streams on Spotify, with up to 193,000 daily streams. It was also lauded for its high number of first-day streams, achieving the biggest first-day streams by an African song in 2025.
Its success is also attributed to TikTok trends, with hundreds of user-generated remixes, a visually rich music video, and Rema’s ever-growing cult-like global fan base, propelling it to a viral hit.
Baby competes with other hits, by global stars on the esteemed list, including Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra, End of the World by Miley Cyrus, Giveon’s Twenties, Shake It to the Max remix, featuring Shenseea, among others.
This milestone is yet another feather in the cap for Rema. Born Divine Ikubor, Benin city in Nigeria, he emerged in 2019 with the breakout hit “Dumebi.” His early blend of Afro beats and trap, inspired what many now call Afrorave, a subgenre he pioneered.
From performing on the Coachella stage to collaborating with global stars like Selena Gomez and Chris Brown, Rema has consistently shattered barriers. His 2022 album, “Rave & Roses,” was a landmark release, with “Calm Down (Remix)” featuring Selena Gomez becoming one of the most-streamed Afro beat tracks of all time.
Yet even with global fame, “Baby (Is It a Crime)” proves that Rema is still evolving not just as a performer, but as a cultural shaper.
A Wake-Up Call to African Artists
Ream’s solo entry into Spotify’s global Top 50 is a powerful reminder: African artists can dominate the world stage without diluting their sound. In a digital era where streaming is borderless, this feat challenges other creatives across the continent to rethink, scale, better quality and dream beyond limits.
His success story also sheds light on the gaps within African artistry; in marketing, artist development, and global targeting, that often limits African acts from crossing over.
However, if Rema’s trajectory proves anything, it’s that global success is no longer a distant dream. It’s a strategic hustle and very achievable. Come to think of it, the cake is too big to be enjoyed by only a “chosen few.” Within the continent lies a lot of potential that needs strategic positioning in order to take the global markets by storm.
