Rema (musician)

Last updated

Rema
Rema at 2019 LFW (cropped)2.png
Rema in 2019
Born
Divine Ikubor

(2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 (age 25) [1]
Benin City, Edo, Nigeria
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
Years active2019–present
Notable work Discography
Awards Full list
Musical career
Origin Lagos, Nigeria
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
Website heisrema.com

Divine Ikubor (born 1 May 2000), known professionally as Rema, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and rapper. He gained recognition with his 2019 song "Dumebi". That same year, he signed with D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World. [2] He achieved international recognition with his 2022 single "Calm Down", which spawned a remix with American singer Selena Gomez that peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. [3] The song also led Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks. [4] [5]

Contents

That same year, he released his studio album, Rave & Roses (2022), which peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200. [3] [4] His second album, Heis (2024), was supported by the single "Benin Boys" (with Shallipopi) [6] and yielded Rema's first Grammy Award nomination—for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. [7] [8]

Early life and education

Divine Ikubor was born on 1 May 2000 into a Christian family in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. [9] He is from Igbanke in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo state. [10] [11] He discovered his passion for music during his secondary school days at Ighile Group of Schools in Edo State, where he began singing and rapping. [12] After losing his father and elder brother, Rema was raised by his mother, who played a significant role in shaping his life. [1]

Career

2019–2021: Career beginnings and record deals

Rema started his music career performing in churches with his collaborator Alpha P in 2019. He gained recognition after posting a viral freestyle on Instagram to D'Prince's song "Gucci Gang". Impressed by his talent, D'Prince flew him to Lagos and offered him a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by music executive and producer Don Jazzy. [13] [14] In 2019, Rema released his self-titled debut EP Rema , which topped Apple Music's Nigerian charts. [15] [16] The music video for "Dumebi", a breakout song from the EP, was released on 21 May 2019, featuring a cameo appearance from Diana Eneje and has since gained 85 million views on YouTube. [17] Later that summer, another popular song from the EP was featured on former United States President Barack Obama's annual summer playlist. [12] In September 2020, Rema's songs were included on the FIFA 21 official soundtrack. [18] [19] In September 2021, he was unveiled as a brand ambassador for Pepsi, alongside his label mate Ayra Starr. [20]

Toya Delazy, a South African music producer and artist, originated the genre "Afrorave" in 2019, combining elements of garage, Zulu lyrics, and other African styles. [21] [22] In May 2021, Rema adopted the term "Afrorave" to describe his own music, which blends Afrobeats with Arabian and Indian influences. This distinct sound has resonated with fans, earning him a dedicated fanbase known as Ravers. [23] [24]

2022–23: Rave & Roses and Ravage EP

After releasing three EPs, Rema debuted his first album, Rave & Roses , on 25 March 2022, under Jonzing World. [25] The album features 16 tracks, including collaborations with 6lack, Chris Brown, AJ Tracey, and Yseult. [26] It charted 10 songs on the US Billboard Afrobeats Chart in its debut week. [27] The single "Calm Down" gained international recognition, it reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix with Selena Gomez, breaking multiple records. [28] [29] [30] [31] Rema received various awards, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video and the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song and many other awards. [32] [33] [34] On 7 November 2022, he was awarded for achieving 1 billion streams worldwide during his London concert. [35] In February 2023, he won the Digital Artist of the Year award at the Soundcity MVP Awards held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. [36] In April 2023, he released Rave & Roses Ultra, which became the first African album to cross two billion streams on Spotify. [37] On 26 October 2023, Rema released the Ravage EP, [38] and on 30 October 2023, he performed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony held Theatre du Châtelet in Paris, France. [39]

In 2025, Rema became the most-streamed Nigerian artist on YouTube, with his hits surpassing other major Afrobeats stars and his song “Calm Down” accumulating over one billion views, setting a new benchmark for Nigerian artists globally. [40]


2024: Second Studio Album; HEIS

On 11 July 2024, Rema released his second studio album titled HEIS. The title of the album is derived from the Greek word for "numeral 1". [41] It represents Rema owning his title, the "Prince of Afrobeats". [41] The album consists of 11 songs and features a darker, drum-driven sound compared to his debut album, Rave & Roses. [42] Rema refers to this new style in his music as "afro-rave" which he describes as "[His] own perception of Afrobeats," [43] he stated in an interview with HOT 97 in 2022. The sound is a blend of genres ranging from Afrobeats, house, hip-hop, and dancehall. [44] HEIS has more references to his native Edo culture and explores themes of cultural appreciation and self-assertion which garnered some negative attention from listeners who initially perceived it as demonic. Despite early criticisms, HEIS debuted at No. 2 on the Official Top 100 Albums chart, later reaching No. 1, and has been on the chart for 29 weeks with over 104 million streams. [45] Additionally, the sophomore album received a Grammy nomination for Rema for Best Global Music Album which marked Rema's first Grammy nomination. [45]

2025: Baby (Is It a Crime) and Bout U

On 7 February 2025, Rema released the single 'Baby (Is It a Crime)' which samples Sade's 1985 classic 'Is It a Crime'. [46] The song quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the most streamed Nigerian songs of 2025. [47]

On 11 April 2025, Rema released another single titled 'Bout U'. [48] [49]

Personal life

On 28 September 2020, Rema tweeted accusations against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding their involvement in the death of his father, Justice Ikubor, a former chieftain of the party. [50] [51] Although Rema gained admission to study at the University of Lagos in 2022, he was forced to leave the institution in 2023 due to the ongoing ASUU teaching union strike. [52] [53]

Impact

Rolling Stone said "Rema has undoubtedly and proudly become an emblem of Afrobeats global rise." [54] Writing for Business Day Anthony Udugba remarked Rema has "expanded the horizons" of African musical impact on the global stage. [55] The Guardian Nigeria opined "As the Afrobeats landscape continues to flourish, Rema’s success sets a high standard, showcasing the global appeal and dominance of Nigerian music on the international stage." [56] The Native stated "It’s impossible to erase the mark he has left on Afrobeats history." [57] Victor Okpala said "Rema’s sound has cemented his place as a true musical trailblazer." [58] Many critics have praised him for breaking barriers and inspiring other African music artists. [59] [60] [61] “Rema is solidifying his place as one of the greatest Afrobeat artists of his generation, with a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.”

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

Tours

Headlining

References

  1. 1 2 "Is Rema dead?: Divine Ikubor aka Rema never die, na fake news dey fly upandan - Rema Manager". BBC News Pidgin. 1 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 Nwafor (23 March 2019). "Don Jazzy signs record deal with D'Prince's Jonzing World". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 tolsen (2 January 2013). "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 Anderson, Trevor (19 October 2023). "Tyla's 'Water' Hits No. 1 on U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart – Stopping the 58-Week Run of Rema & Selena Gomez's 'Calm Down'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Bella, Naija (10 December 2019). "Rema caps off an Amazing Year with Features on Rolling Stone & Pitchfork's Best Songs of 2019 Lists with 'Dumebi'". BellaNaija . Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Rema Announces Sophomore Album 'HEIS'". Billboard. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Blistein, Jon (8 November 2024). "Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar Lead 2025 Grammy Nominees". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Atkinson, Katie (8 November 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  9. ↑ "Meet Rema, The Kid From Benin With The World At His Feet". The Native. 2 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Rema Biography, Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Parents, Family, Siblings (Divine Ikubor)". The Famous Naija. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Rema Biography 2025: Shocking Facts Revealed, with 25 FAQs". 11 April 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  12. 1 2 Holmes, Charles (15 May 2020). "How Rema Became Afrobeats' New Superhero". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  13. ↑ Pierre, Alphonse (25 June 2019). "Rema Is Leading the Next Generation of Nigerian Pop Afrobeats chart". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. ↑ Akindare, Okunola (21 January 2020). "How D'Prince gave Mavin Records a new lease of life". NET. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Rema – EP by Rema". Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019– via music.apple.com.
  16. ↑ "Top 100: Nigeria". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  17. ↑ "See the music video for Rema's "Dumebi"". The NATIVE. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "FIFA 21 soundtrack: Artists, songs & music on new game, reveal date | Goal.com". goal.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Fireboy, Rema feature on FIFA 21 official soundtracks". Punch Newspapers. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "Pepsi unveils new ambassadors Ayra Starr and Rema #ForTheLoveOfMusic". Vanguard News. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  21. ↑ Zeeman, Kyle (9 October 2019). "Toya Delazy is creating her own genre called Afro-rave, and she says it's the future". Times Live. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  22. ↑ Coetzee, Nikita (3 August 2020). "How Toya Delazy carved out her own path and created a unique sound". News24 . Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "My brand of music is 'Afrorave', says Rema". The Nation Newspaper. 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  24. ↑ Storm, Camille (24 September 2019). "Rema is Nigerian pop's golden child". The FADER. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  25. ↑ Kim, Michelle Hyun (18 March 2022). "17 Albums We Can't Wait to Hear This Spring". Vulture. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  26. ↑ FOL (22 March 2022). "Rema reveals 'Rave and Roses' album tracklist – FindOutLyrics". Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  27. ↑ "Rema". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  28. ↑ "Rema – Calm Down". Top40-Charts.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  29. ↑ Zemler, Emily (26 August 2022). "Hear Selena Gomez Join Afrorave Artist Rema on Reworked Single 'Calm Down'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  31. ↑ "Rema earns first Billboard Hot 100 entry with 'Calm Down' remix". 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  32. ↑ Atkinson, Katie (19 November 2023). "Billboard Music Awards 2023 Winners: Full List". Billboard. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Woerner, Meredith (12 September 2023). "Taylor Swift Wins Big at MTV VMAs, Plus Full List of Winners". Variety. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "Rema's Calm Down sets YouTube record as Afrobeats continues global foray". Music In Africa. 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  35. ↑ Oyetayo, Bamise (9 November 2022). "Watch Rema's Plaque Acceptance For 1 Billion Streams On "Rave & Roses"". notjustok.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)". African Folder. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  37. ↑ (anonymous) (1 December 2023). "Rema's "Rave & Roses Ultra" Surpasses 2 Billion Spotify Streams". Album Talks. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  38. ↑ "Rema Releases New EP Ravage". Pitchfork. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  39. ↑ Etukudo, Itoro (31 October 2023). "'I'm grateful for this opportunity', Rema says after Ballon d'Or performance". The International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  40. ↑ "Rema Leads as Most-Streamed Nigerian Artiste on YouTube in 2025". The Guardian Nigeria. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  41. 1 2 Augustine-Edet, Aniekan (11 July 2024). "HEIS HERE: Rema Drops Sophomore Album". Mavin. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  42. ↑ Augustine-Edet, Aniekan (11 July 2024). "HEIS HERE: Rema Drops Sophomore Album". Mavin. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  43. ↑ "Rema Opens Up On Creating Afro Beat & Rave Sound + Kendrick Lamar & Madonna Supporting Him".
  44. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr (11 July 2024). "Rema Shocks Afrobeats to New Life With 'Heis'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  45. 1 2 "Following the Success of 'HEIS,' Rema is About to Take a New Spin on Afrobeats with "Is It A Crime"".
  46. ↑ Augustine-Edet, Aniekan (7 February 2025). "Rema Releases Greatly Anticipated Single "Baby (Is It A Crime?)", Alongside Music Video". Mavin. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  47. ↑ "Rema's 'Is It A Crime' is the most streamed Nigerian song of 2025 so far on Spotify | Pulse Nigeria". www.pulse.ng. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  48. ↑ Horvath, Zachary (11 April 2025). "Rema Is Completely Infatuated On Afro-R&B Fusion Single "Bout U"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  49. ↑ Mamo, Heran (10 April 2025). "Rema Releases Intoxicating Afro-R&B Single 'Bout U' Ahead of His Coachella Debut: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  50. ↑ "PDP must explain what happened to my father – Rema | The Nation". The Nation Newspaper. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  51. ↑ "Explain how my father died – Rema tells PDP". Daily Post . Lagos, Nigeria. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  52. ↑ "Rema: Biography, Age, Girlfriend, Education, Songs, and More". 18 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  53. ↑ "I abandoned UNILAG admission because of ASUU strike – Rema". Vanguard. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  54. ↑ "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  55. ↑ Udugba, Anthony (8 November 2023). "How Rema became Nigeria's biggest music act of 2023". Business day Ng. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  56. ↑ Kareem, Itunu Azeez (20 December 2023). "REMA'S R&R ALBUM IS AFROBEATS MOST STREAMED 2023". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  57. ↑ Abimbolu, Debola (22 March 2020). "HOW REMA HAS CHANGED THE AFROPOP GAME IN ONLY ONE YEAR". The Native. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  58. ↑ "Rema's hit single, 'Calm Down,' reaches 1bn streams on Spotify". Punch. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  59. ↑ Acho, Affa (December 2023). "Rema's 'Calm Down' Emerges as Global Shazam Champion of 2023, Breaks Records Worldwide". Leadership . Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  60. ↑ "Presidency congratulates Rema on MTV award, says music resonates with audiences worldwide". Vanguard. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  61. ↑ Morgan, Maybelle (6 December 2023). "Rema brings the heat". GQ. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  62. ↑ Dare, Gbolahan (9 May 2025). "Rema said to release upcoming song "Screech"". VistaSongs. Retrieved 10 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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