Tyla and Rema, Afrobeat’s youngest and brightest stars, are breaking records and reshaping African music history. Discover 10 times Tyla matched—or even surpassed—Rema’s achievements.
In a music industry historically dominated by Western and Latin acts, African artists are finally getting their well-earned moment on the global stage. Leading the charge are two of the continent’s brightest stars—Nigeria’s Rema and South Africa’s Tyla—who are breaking records and setting new benchmarks for Afrobeats and Amapiano worldwide. While Rema’s “Calm Down” has been a cultural juggernaut, Tyla is making waves of her own, and in some instances, she has even surpassed her Nigerian counterpart. Here are 10 times Tyla matched—or outright smashed—Rema’s records.
1. Debut Album Success
The two young stars are the only African artists to have a debut studio album sell over 500K units in the US to date, solidifying their places in Afrobeats history. While both albums are among the best debuts the genre has seen, Tyla’s TYLA amassed 1.3 billion streams in just six months, compared to Rema’s Rave & Roses, which took three years to reach 890 million streams. This suggests that Tyla’s debut may have had a stronger immediate impact on the global stage.
2. Award-Winning Trailblazers
They have both solidified their places as Africa’s most celebrated artists on the global stage. While Rema has consistently racked up accolades, Tyla’s 2024 award sweep set new benchmarks. She made history with over 20 awards in a single year, including a Grammy win—an achievement that eluded Rema. Tyla also claimed three MTV Europe Music Awards, two BET Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and an MTV Video Music Award, making her the most awarded African artist of the year. While Rema remains a dominant force with undeniable contributions to Afrobeats’ global ascent, Tyla’s rapid rise and historic wins further cement her as a powerhouse in contemporary African music.
3. Billboard US Afrobeats Chart Record
Tyla recently shattered the record for the longest-running No. 1 song in the history of Billboard’s US Afrobeats chart, holding the top spot for an incredible 60 weeks. This breaks the previous record set by Rema and Selena Gomez’s (58 weeks) global hit “Calm Down,” solidifying “Water” as one of the biggest African records ever.
4. The Billionaire Club on Spotify
Rema’s “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez was the first African song to hit the one billion streams milestone on Spotify. Still, it took a high-profile international feature to achieve this feat. Meanwhile, Tyla became the first African solo artist to hit one billion streams on Spotify with her 2023 breakout smash “Water,” Spotify confirmed Wednesday (February 19th, 2025).
5. Billboard Hot 100 Glory
Tyla’s “Water” peaked at No. 7 on January 13, 2024, making her the highest-charting African female soloist on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing Miriam Makeba’s “Pata Pata” (No. 12 in 1968). However, Rema’s “Calm Down” peaked at No. 3, the highest for any Afrobeats lead artist. While Tyla joined the ranks of top-charting Africans in Billboard history, she fell just short of Rema’s position on this prestigious chart. This historic feat further proves her impact on the mainstream music scene.
6. Global Spotify Charts Tussle
Tyla’s “PUSH 2 START” reached No. 65 on Global Spotify, surpassing Rema’s “Calm Down,” which peaked at No. 68 as a solo track. This makes “PUSH 2 START” the fourth highest-charting solo song by an African act in Spotify’s global history.
7. The Grammys
Tyla didn’t just get a Grammy nomination before Rema—she actually won. While Rema was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 2025 Grammys, he ultimately lost out. Tyla’s early career triumphs at the Recording Academy highlight her meteoric rise and global recognition.
8. Most Spotify Monthly Listeners
In December 2023, Tyla became the first female African act to hit the 30 million monthly listeners mark, and in the process, she dethroned Rema as the African artist with the highest monthly listeners. As of the time of writing this article (1st March 2025), Tyla still surpasses Rema in terms of Spotify monthly listeners, with 27.6 million as opposed to Rema’s 22.3 million. This reflects her growing fanbase and the worldwide appeal of her unique Amapiano-infused sound.
9. Highest Certified African Act in Brazil
Tyla now holds the title of the most certified African artist in Brazilian history, with over 440,000 certified units. This achievement places her ahead of Rema, proving that her music has found a massive audience in South America.
10. Tyla and Rema Reign at the 2025 Trace Awards
At the 2025 Trace Awards, both artists reinforced their dominance—Rema took home the Male Artist of the Year award, while Tyla was crowned Female Artist of the Year. This win further cemented their status as Africa’s biggest contemporary hitmakers.
While Rema continues to be a dominant force in Afrobeats, Tyla’s rapid ascent and record-breaking achievements are undeniable. Her blend of Amapiano and global pop sensibilities is not only reshaping the African music landscape but also proving that she is a powerhouse in her own right. With both artists pushing boundaries, the real winners are the fans who get to witness this golden era of African music.
Who do you think will set the next big record? Could a collaboration between these two powerhouses be on the horizon?
