REMA THE 'AFRO-WAVE' WARRIOR
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper Divine Ikubor is making massive waves on the global music scene under his stage name Rema. Born in Southern Nigeria’s Benin City, Rema discovered his music talent, as many do, through the church. Rema’s beginnings are a testament to how music can provide a bright spot in the darkest of times, as he continued pursuing his musical passions through poverty and the tragic death of his father. The hardships Rema had to undergo during his childhood cannot be understated. Yet, it helped him develop an undeniable work ethic that led him to sign his first record deal with Nigeria’s Jonzing World at 19.
Rema’s first feature in mainstream consciousness can be traced back to 2018 when the teenager shared a freestyle rap over afro pop singer D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang” and went viral. Rema’s freestyle caught the attention of D’Prince himself, and the teenage sensation was then signed to his first record deal. Soon after his record deal, Rema dropped his first EP, a four-track project named after himself. The EP catapulted Rema to international exposure after one of its singles, “Iron Man” was listed by former US president Barack Obama in one of his year-end playlists. Another single, “Dumebi,” from the EP became a massive hit and cemented Rema’s mid-tempo afro beat sound. Garnering this amount of success with his first release was a precursor to how bright Rema’s star would shine.
In March 2022, Rema released his debut album, “Raves and Roses,” which further consolidated his unique spin on afro beats, a mid-tempo soothing yet bouncy sound that quickly implanted itself in the listener’s mind. The Nigerian artist developed a subgenre of his own in the larger afro beats category and coined it “Afro-rave,” an unlikely yet highly appealing mishmash of Rema’s favorite genres, including lo-fi alternative, hip hop, and traditional African music. The single “Calm Down” from the album made a massive impact soon after its release, and Rema knew he had to capitalize on the momentum and created a remix of the song with international superstar Selena Gomez. The song’s irresistible vibe, coupled with Gomez’s stardom, made it a smash hit worldwide, and it peaked at #15 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s ubiquity on social media platforms ensured that Rema carved a niche in the global music scene.
Rema’s meteoric rise to stardom is due to many factors; however, the one aspect that will ensure his longevity is his overall grounded outlook on life. The Nigerian superstar is acutely aware of his origins and wants to use his fame to give back to his community. The singer has expressed delight about the barriers his music has been breaking and how people are exposed to African music through him. Despite his unique sound, Rema focuses primarily on keeping the overall vibe of his music distinctly African and ensures that his music is seen as a subgenre within afro beats rather than a diversion from it. Rema’s ambient sound is, in many ways, a reflection of the times we live in, and it is exciting to see how his sound evolves as he continues his musical journey.
