While Spotify’s Billions Club contains an exclusive group of artists who’ve had songs reach one billion streams, there’s an even more elite crop of African artists who are members.
“Essence” collaborators Wizkid and Tems have both reached this milestone, but not for their Billboard Hot 100 top 10 smash, and they both did it alongside the same superstar: Drake. His 2016 summer anthem “One Dance,” featuring Wizkid and funky U.K. singer Kyla, became the very first song to hit one billion streams on the platform at the end of that year. And Future‘s “WAIT FOR U,” featuring Drake and Tems, just achieved the feat last week, making Tems the first African female artist to have a song surpass one billion Spotify streams.
A few days after Tems made Spotify history, Tyla followed suit and became the first African solo artist to hit one billion Spotify streams with her 2023 breakout hit “Water.” “We are incredibly proud of Tyla’s historic achievement,” said Phiona Okumu, head of music at Spotify in Africa, in a statement. “This milestone is a testament to her talent, hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders. Tyla’s success is an inspiration to aspiring artists across Africa and the world, and we are honored to have played a part in her journey.”
While Tyla’s “Water” made history for winning the inaugural best African music performance award at the 2024 Grammys, Rema‘s “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez — which became the first African artist-led track to enter Spotify’s Billions Club in 2023 — won the inaugural best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
Billboard rounded up all the African artists who have songs that have hit one billion Spotify streams, in order from oldest to newest.
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Wizkid
Wizkid is not only the first African artist, but one of the first artists ever to become a member of Spotify’s Billions Club — doing so when Drake’s “One Dance,” featuring the Nigerian hitmaker and Kyla, became the very first song to hit one billion streams on the platform in 2016. “One Dance” spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, 18 weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, six weeks at No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay and one week at No. 1 on Pop Airplay. It was featured on Drake’s 2016 Grammy-nominated album Views.
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Rema
Rema’s “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, became the first African-artist led song to hit one billion Spotify streams in September 2023. “Calm Down” peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and topped U.S. Afrobeats Songs (for a record 59 weeks), World Digital Song Sales (32 weeks), Pop Airplay (five weeks), Rhythmic Airplay (four weeks) and Adult Pop Airplay (two weeks).
“Calm Down” also won the inaugural best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV VMAs, as well as top Afrobeats song at the Billboard Music Awards and best collaboration at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. The original version was featured on Rema’s 2022 debut album Rave & Roses, while the Selena Gomez remix was later included in the 2023 deluxe edition titled Rave & Roses Ultra.
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Tems
Tems became the first African female artist to hit one billion streams on Spotify in February with Future‘s “Wait for U,” also featuring Drake. The song samples Tems’ “Higher” from her 2020 EP For Broken Ears and was featured on Future’s 2022 Billboard 200-topping album I Never Liked You. “Wait for U” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic Airplay. It was also nominated for best melodic rap performance and best rap song at the 2023 Grammy Awards, winning the former.
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Tyla
Tyla became the first African solo artist to hit one billion streams on Spotify in February with her 2023 breakout hit “Water” from her 2024 self-titled debut album. The song, which included official remixes featuring Travis Scott and Marshmello, peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100, and topped each of the U.S. Afrobeats Songs (55 weeks), World Digital Song Sales (18 weeks), Dance/Mix Show Airplay (four weeks) and Rhythmic Airplay (one week) charts. “Water” also won the inaugural best African music performance award at the 2024 Grammys and picked up more awards at the Billboard Music Awards (top Afrobeats song) and MTV Video Music Awards (best Afrobeats video).
