Rema
Biography
Divine Ikubor, known professionally as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper who has become a prominent figure in the global music scene. He was born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Rema grew up in a Christian home and began his musical journey singing in church. He faced significant hardship at a young age with the loss of his father and older brother.
Career Beginnings
Rema's career took off in 2018 after he posted a viral freestyle to D'Prince's song "Gucci Gang" on Instagram. This captured the attention of D'Prince, a Nigerian artist and record label executive, who signed him to Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records, in 2019. That same year, he released his debut self-titled EP, "Rema," which featured the breakout hit "Dumebi." The song "Iron Man" from the same EP gained international recognition after it was included on former U.S. President Barack Obama's 2019 summer playlist.
Rise to Global Stardom
Rema's unique sound, which he calls "Afrorave," is a blend of Afrobeats with pop, trap, and other influences. This distinctive style has helped him to build a worldwide fanbase. His debut album, "Rave & Roses," was released in 2022 and included the massive international hit "Calm Down." A remix of the song featuring American singer Selena Gomez propelled Rema to new heights, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track also spent a record-setting 58 weeks atop the Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his career, Rema has received numerous awards and accolades. In 2019, he won the Next Rated award at The Headies. His collaboration on "Calm Down (Remix)" earned him an MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video in 2023 and an iHeartRadio Music Award for Best Collaboration in 2024. His second album, "Heis" (2024), received a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Album. Rema has also collaborated with other international artists such as Chris Brown, 6lack, and AJ Tracey.