Amaarae’s Fountain Baby album surpasses 1 billion global streams

The musician confirmed the development on X on Sunday, calling it “the perfect way to end an already incredible week.” She noted that it was a far cry from her beginnings as an ‘alternative’ artist recording songs in her room in Accra just four years ago.

“Thank you to the fans, you did this. Thank you for streaming, for buying concert tickets, merch… Thank you to my management, music and creative teams, and thank you to Interscope [Records] and [CEO] John Janick for believing in me!”

Released in June 2023, Fountain Baby follows Amaarae’s 2020 collection The Angel You Don’t Know and features singles like ‘Co-Star’ and ‘Reckless & Sweet.’ The album explores themes of female empowerment, gender norms and sexuality while blending experimental pop and mainstream Afrobeats.

“By infusing her West African heritage with a global perspective, Amaarae presents a body of work that defies genre and regional boundaries, firmly establishing herself as an essential architect in the future of music,” a statement said at the time.

Amaarae added that the project exudes “an unstoppable surge of sex appeal, abundant blessings and undeniable swag”, noting that it serves as a “vibrant declaration to the world that I am a truly blessed child of God.”

Amaarae’s billion streams milestone arrives on the heels of successor project Roses Are Red, Tears Are Blue – A Fountain Baby Extended Play. The six-track effort, which guests Naomi Sharon and 6lack, continues its predecessor’s pop, R&B and Afrobeats fusions.

Speaking to Music In Africa last year, Amaarae, whose ‘Sad Girlz Luv Money’ remix featuring Kali Uchis & Moliy was recently awarded a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America after selling over a million units, stressed an interest in representing Africa on the global stage.

“I think there are a lot of global sounds. But at the core of it, the drums and the bass are all African. I’m well-travelled and love exploring new places so that I can teach my people something new, but at the end of the day, all that matters is that I’m African and that’s what I’m representing.”

Amaarae has been confirmed as a special guest for US rapper Childish Gambino’s upcoming world tour in support of his new album Atavista. The 57-date marathon, which starts on 11 August in Oklahoma City, USA, spans major North American cities until 3 October, then heads to Europe starting 31 October in Lyon, France, and ending in Dublin, Ireland, on 5 December. The tour then moves to Oceania in early 2025, visiting Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, concluding on 11 February.