How Rema Surpassed Sunny Ade’s Records on US Billboard Albums Chart
If you are a fan of Nigerian music, you probably know that Rema is one of the hottest stars in the Afrobeats scene right now. The 21-year-old singer, rapper, and songwriter has been making waves with his catchy tunes, versatile style, and charismatic personality. But did you know that he also made history by breaking a 41-year-old record on the US Billboard Albums Chart?
Rema’s debut album, Rave & Roses, which he released in November 2022, spent 30 weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart as of this week. This is the longest-running Nigerian album in the chart’s history, surpassing the record set by legendary Juju musician, King Sunny Ade, in 1982.
King Sunny Ade launched his album Juju Music in 1982, and is widely considered as one of the forerunners of contemporary African pop music. The album was a fusion of traditional Yoruba percussion, guitar riffs and vocal chants, and it introduced Juju music to an international audience.
For 41 years, no other Nigerian album could match or beat King Sunny Ade’s feat, until Rema came along with his Rave & Roses. The album is a display of Rema’s many musical inspirations, which include Afrobeats, pop, R&B, hip hop, electronic dance music (EDM), and more. Along with collaborations with musicians like Drake, Burna Boy, and Don Jazzy, the album includes popular tracks including Bounce, Soundgasm, Woman, and Alien.
Rema’s achievement is not only a testament to his talent and hard work, but also a reflection of the growing popularity and recognition of Nigerian music in the global market. Rema is a prominent member of the new wave of Afrobeats musicians whose contagious music and lively culture are sweeping the globe. Rema has further shown that he is not afraid to try new things and explore other genres and styles, while yet remaining loyal to himself and his origins.
The young blood has broken a long-time record of King Sunny Ade, but he has also created a new one for himself and for Nigerian music. He has created a new benchmark and raised the bar for the following artists. And he has demonstrated that Nigerian music can compete and succeed internationally. Eventually, has contributed to history and made us happy.
