Rema: The Afrorave Star Who Took Nigerian Sound Global
Divine Ikubor
Rema (born Divine Ikubor, May 1, 2000) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and performer from Benin City, Edo State, best known for creating the “Afrorave” sound—a mix of Afrobeats, pop, trap, and global melodies that helped push Nigerian music deeper into mainstream international charts.
Early life and background
Rema grew up in Benin City and experienced heavy personal loss as a teenager, including the death of his father and older brother—events he has said shaped his mindset and music.
Breakthrough and the Mavin and Jonzing era
He first caught attention online with a freestyle that went viral and led to his discovery by D’Prince, who brought him into the Mavin ecosystem through Jonzing World.
In 2019, he broke through with his self titled EP and hit records like Dumebi, quickly becoming one of Nigeria’s fastest rising new stars.
Albums and global rise
Rema’s debut album Rave & Roses was released on March 25, 2022, later followed by the deluxe edition Rave & Roses Ultra in 2023.
His biggest global record, Calm Down (and its remix with Selena Gomez), became a major worldwide hit and reached a new peak in the top 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023.
In 2024, he released his second album HEIS (July 10, 2024), expanding his sound and presence internationally.
Why Rema matters
Rema is seen as a defining artist of the new Afrobeats generation: he blends street energy with pop ambition, brings a distinct vocal style, and consistently aims for global scale while keeping Nigerian identity at the center of his music.
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