Rema (musician)

Divine Ikubor (born 1 May 2000), popularly known as Rema, is a Nigerian singer and rapper. He gained recognition with his 2019 song "Dumebi". That same year, he signed with D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World. 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. The song also led Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
"Calm Down" emerged from Rema's debut studio album, Rave & Roses (2022), which peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200. His fourth commercial EP, Ravage, was released in 2023. His second album, Heis (2024), was supported by the single "Benin Boys" (with Shallipopi). The album received a nomination for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, earning Rema his first career nomination at the Grammys.
Divine Ikubor was born into a Christian family in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. 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. After losing his father and elder brother, Rema was raised by his mother, who played a significant role in shaping his life.
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. In 2019, Rema released his self-titled debut EP Rema, which topped Apple Music's Nigerian charts. 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 84 million views on YouTube. Later that summer, another popular song from the EP was featured on former United States President Barack Obama's annual summer playlist. In September 2020, Rema's songs were included on the FIFA 21 official soundtrack. In September 2021, he was unveiled as a brand ambassador for Pepsi, alongside his label mate Ayra Starr.
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. 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.
After releasing three EPs, Rema debuted his first album, Rave & Roses, on 25 March 2022, under Jonzing World. The album features 16 tracks, including collaborations with 6lack, Chris Brown, AJ Tracey, and Yseult. It charted 10 songs on the US Billboard Afrobeats Chart in its debut week. 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. 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. On 7 November 2022, he was awarded for achieving 1 billion streams worldwide during his London concert. 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. In April 2023, he released Rave & Roses Ultra, which became the first African album to cross two billion streams on Spotify. On 26 October 2023, Rema released the Ravage EP, and on 30 October 2023, he performed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony held Theatre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
2024: Second Studio Album; HEIS
On 11 July 2024, Rema released his second studio album titled HEIS. The title of the album is said to be derived from the greek word for "numeral 1". The album consists of 11 songs and features popular Nigerian artists such as ODUMODUBLVCK on the song 'War Machine' and Shallipopi on the song 'Benin Boys'.
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. 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.
Rolling Stone said "Rema has undoubtedly and proudly become an emblem of Afrobeats global rise." Writing for Business Day Anthony Udugba remarked Rema has "expanded the horizons" of African musical impact on the global stage. 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." The Native stated "It’s impossible to erase the mark he has left on Afrobeats history." Victor Okpala said "Rema’s sound has cemented his place as a true musical trailblazer." Many critics have praised him for breaking barriers and inspiring other African music artists.