Everything You Need to Know about Nigerian Superstar Rema

Afro music artists are currently at the forefront of the global music industry, and it is time to find out more about Rema, the young Afropop artist who became globally popular.

Rema is one of those talented and young music artists who have made some significant progress within a short span of time. This Nigerian singer-songwriter and rapper has embraced his nation and culture through his music. As an Afro artist, he brought a new wave of Afro music and hip-hop to the industry that people cherished very much. Currently, he is one of the top music artists in the industry, with only two full-length album projects, namely, Rave & Roses (2022) and Heis (2024). Let’s find out more about Rema and his prolific musical journey.

Divine Joshua Ikubor, better known as Rema, is currently 26 years old, and he first gained attention from music lovers with his 2019 single release of "Dumebi". With the popularity of the song, the artist got to sign under D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World, and since then, he has been on a never-ending musical journey of creativity and success. He gained global recognition with his iconic collaborative project with Selena Gomez, titled ‘Calm Down,’ and the rest is history.

Top 5 Songs by Rema

    • ‘Calm Down’ (with Selena Gomez)

‘Calm Down’ definitely has to be at the top of the list, as this is the breakthrough track for Rema that allowed creating a global fanbase, and listeners just loved it. Collaborating with Selena Gomez was the best idea that allowed him to be a part of the American music industry and quickly gain global influence. This global chartbuster is a remix track that reached the no.3 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and claimed the top spot on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for 58 weeks, which means more than a year. The song was released in 2022 along with an official music video and gained more than a billion views. The song also received a hefty number of streams on Spotify and other streaming platforms. The immaculate vibes in this song can make any listener dance, including the fans of Rema!

    • ‘Soundgasm’

‘Soundgasm’ is quite an attractive track by Rema that sounds exactly as its title suggests. This song was released in 2021, and it is also the first single from his debut album project ‘Rave & Roses’. The song is co-written by London, other than Rema himself, who is also the co-producer for the song. The sultry and creative essence of the track made it popular instantly, and it gained over 133 million streams online. It is quite an engaging track that involves Nigerian Pidgin and relatable lyrics that captivated listeners of all ages and tastes.

    • ‘Dumebi’ 

This can be considered the breakthrough track for Rema that launched him to stardom. The infectious melody and his slumberous voice complement each other in this song and turn it into an enjoyable banger. This debut single is the initiation and the first milestone in the artist’s professional career. It is also considered a ‘sleeper hit’ as it received more attention later than its initial release. This track is produced by Ozedikus, and with the success and popularity of the song, 5 new remixed versions have spawned. The song offers a catchy blend of Afrobeat and dancehall, which is further enticed by Rema’s amazing voice that represents African music and youth culture. No wonder the track made its place in Barack Obama's summer playlist.

    • ‘Charm’

‘Charm’ is definitely a charming track by Rema that appeared in the deluxe version of the album ‘Rave & Roses’. This song was released in 2023 under the label of Jonzing World and Mavin Records, and it instantly won the hearts of fans with its smooth and engaging representation. This track also involves a bilingual approach through English and Nigerian pidgin, along with a flirtatious tone that leads with a romantic note. The catchy lyricism and hook musical arrangement make this track one of the finest examples in contemporary Afropop music. The artist shared a snippet of the song on social media before its release, and since then, the song has been on the top 5 list.

    • ‘Iron Man’

Although this song has nothing to do with Marvel Superheroes, it surely has some infectious energy that can captivate everyone, even the ex-US President Barack Obama, since it appeared on his summer playlist. This Afropop track comes with a theme of playful romance and confidence, which makes it quite enticing for the fans. The song carries a subtle hook which is amplified with the rhinal tone of the artist. There is a laid-back essence in this song that makes it groovier and enjoyable.

Other than these top 5 tracks, Rema has offered numerous songs through two studio albums, and the artist is looking forward to dropping more tracks in the coming days. Some of the most creative projects from his musical arsenal are ‘Peace of Mind’, ‘Too Correct’, ‘HEHEHE’, ‘Dirty’, ‘Corny’, and the list goes on. After exploring his best songs, it is time to take a closer look at his personal life.

Rema and His Personal Struggles 

Rema is definitely one of the top music artists in Africa as well as all over the world, but this huge success was achieved while dealing with a fair share of personal struggle. Rema developed his knack for music at a very young age when he was in secondary school. But his childhood was not very smooth as he lost his father and elder brother quite early. His mother raised him, and she played a significant role in the growth of his musical journey and in shaping his life. After growing up, he also suffered from long-sightedness, and he depended on spectacles to aid his vision. He was unable to focus on the objects that were near. He revealed, “I use glasses. I’m suffering from long-sightedness.”  

Even though Rema makes many romantic songs, his love life is quite void, as the artist claimed on social media. It was said that the artist had a total of three girlfriends in his life till now, and he is not looking forward to having a partner soon, as he is focused on his musical journey now, where he seeks no distraction. Joshua Ikubor, the 26-year-old rapper cum singer-songwriter, is currently single, and the longest relationship he had was around two and a half years long. But the artist is also willing to settle down for good as he wants to get married and have at least three to four kids. Now, all that remains is to witness Rema getting married to a loveable woman. Stay tuned to find out more!