rema

Biography

Divine Ikubor, known professionally as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper born on 1 May 2000 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.[4][1] Raised in a Christian family and originally from Igbanke in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo State, he began performing in church as a child, rapping, singing, and even forming school and church-based music groups before finishing secondary school at Ighile Group of Schools in Edo State.[4][6] The early loss of his father and later his elder brother placed heavy responsibility on him and pushed him to work to support his family, experiences he has cited as shaping both his character and the emotive edge of his music.[1][4]

Rema’s professional breakthrough came in 2018 when he posted a viral Instagram freestyle over D’Prince’s track “Gucci Gang,” which led D’Prince to fly him to Lagos and sign him to Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, in 2019.[4][3] That same year he released his self‑titled debut EP Rema, containing the hit “Dumebi” as well as “Iron Man,” which drew international attention after being included on Barack Obama’s 2019 summer playlist.[1][2][4] Across subsequent EPs and his debut album Rave & Roses (2022), he developed a distinctive style that fuses Afrobeats with trap, pop, and other global sounds—an approach he branded “Afrorave,” blending Afrobeats with Arabian and Indian influences and helping define a new, youth‑driven edge within the Afrobeats movement.[4][5]

Rema’s global breakthrough arrived with “Calm Down,” first released as a single from Rave & Roses and later remixed with American singer Selena Gomez in 2022.[3][2][5] The remix peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a record 58 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, becoming one of the most commercially successful Afrobeats records in history and earning him major international awards and nominations.[3][4][5] Critics and industry observers credit him with pushing Afrobeats into new sonic territory and cementing himself as a leading figure of his generation; outlets such as The Native and writers like Victor Okpala have described him as a trailblazer whose innovations and success have left an indelible mark on Afrobeats and inspired a new wave of African artists.[4][5]

Fun Facts

• Rema’s song “Iron Man” from his debut EP was featured on Barack Obama’s 2019 summer playlist, giving him an early boost in international visibility.[1][2]
• Before mainstream fame, Rema performed primarily in church, leading rap and music groups and even forming a live band while still in secondary school.[4][6]
• He coined the term “Afrorave” for his own sound, blending Afrobeats with Arabian and Indian influences to distinguish his music from other Afrobeats artists.[4][5]
• “Calm Down” and its remix with Selena Gomez not only reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 but also set a record by topping the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for 58 weeks.[3][4][5]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• D'Prince - Label boss who discovered Rema after his viral 'Gucci Gang' freestyle and signed him to Jonzing World, guiding his early professional career. (Signing and executive involvement in early releases including the Rema EP and subsequent singles.) [2018–present]
• Don Jazzy - Founder of Mavin Records, under which Jonzing World operates; oversaw Rema’s entry into the Mavin ecosystem and broader Afrobeats industry. (Executive role around the Rema EP, subsequent EPs, and Rave & Roses through the Mavin/Jonzing structure.) [2019–present]

Key Collaborators

• Selena Gomez - High‑profile international collaborator on the remix of Rema’s global hit, expanding his reach into mainstream pop markets. (“Calm Down (Remix)”) [2022–present]
• Chris Brown - Featured guest on Rema’s debut album, reflecting his crossover into U.S. R&B and pop circles. (Collaboration on a track from Rave & Roses (2022).) [2022]
• 6lack - Guest collaborator blending Rema’s Afrorave sound with alternative R&B. (Featured on Rave & Roses (2022).) [2022]
• AJ Tracey - UK rapper featured on Rema’s debut album, linking him to the UK rap and Afroswing scenes. (Collaboration on Rave & Roses (2022).) [2022]
• Yseult - French artist featured on Rema’s album, highlighting his European crossover. (Collaboration on Rave & Roses (2022).) [2022]
• Alpha P - Early gospel/teenage collaborator; they formed the duo RNA and performed together in church before Rema’s solo breakthrough. (RNA duo recordings and performances in church and local settings before 2018.) [Mid‑2010s]

Artists Influenced

• Emerging Afrobeats and Afrorave‑leaning artists (various) - Critics note that Rema’s Afrorave style and global chart success have inspired younger African artists to experiment with genre‑blending Afrobeats and futuristic aesthetics. (Subsequent Afrorave‑styled releases across the Afrobeats scene following Rave & Roses and “Calm Down.”) [2020s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #afrobeat, #afrobeats, #afrorave