Rema: The Rising Star of Afrobeats and Afrorave - Fama

Rema (Photo: Getty Images)

Rema is a Nigerian musician who has taken the world by storm with his unique blend of Afrobeats and Afrorave, a genre he pioneered. He is also known for his collaborations with international artists, and his inclusion on former US president Barack Obama's playlist.

Rema was born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He grew up in a Christian family and developed a passion for music at a young age. He started singing and rapping in church and school, and learned to play the piano. He also lost his father and elder brother, which motivated him to pursue his dreams.

He began his professional music career in 2018, when he posted a freestyle video on Instagram, covering D'Prince's song "Gucci Gang". The video caught the attention of D'Prince, who is the CEO of Jonzing World Records and the younger brother of Don Jazzy, the CEO of Mavin Records. D'Prince flew him to Lagos and offered him a record deal.

Rema signed with Jonzing World Records, a subsidiary of Mavin Records, in 2019. He released his self-titled debut EP, Rema, which featured the hit songs "Iron Man" and "Dumebi". The EP topped the Apple Music Nigeria chart and received critical acclaim. "Iron Man" also appeared on Barack Obama's 2019 summer playlist, which gave him international exposure. Since then, he has released three more EPs: Rema Freestyle, Bad Commando, and Rave & Roses. He has also collaborated with artists like Selena Gomez, Drake, Skepta, Major Lazer, and Becky G. His song "Calm Down" with Selena Gomez reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and led the US Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.

Photo: SCRDOFME

Rema has also won several awards and accolades, such as the Next Rated Award at the 2019 Headies, the Best New Act at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards, the Best Male West Africa at the 2020 AFRIMMA Awards, and the Best International Act at the 2020 MOBO Awards. He was also nominated for the BET Awards, the MTV EMA, and the Grammy Awards.

Rema is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative artists in the African music scene. He has created a new sound that combines Afrobeats, rap, pop, EDM, and R&B, which he calls Afrorave. He has also inspired many young talents to pursue their dreams and express themselves through music. He is currently working on his debut album, which is expected to be released in 2024.

Rema is a rising star of Afrobeats and Afrorave, who has achieved remarkable success and recognition in a short span of time. He is a trailblazer, a trendsetter, and a role model for many. He is Rema, and he is here to stay.