REMA

Early Life and Education

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 began rapping and singing while he was in secondary school, where he formed a music group with his friends.

Tragedy struck his family early in his life. He lost his father at the age of eight and his older brother at fifteen, leaving him to step up and support his mother. This period of hardship deeply shaped his perspective and work ethic.

Discovery and Career Breakthrough

Rema's journey to fame began with social media. In 2018, he posted a freestyle video to D'Prince's song "Gucci Gang" on Instagram. The video went viral and caught the attention of D'Prince, a prominent Nigerian artist and the brother of music mogul Don Jazzy.

Impressed by Rema's talent, D'Prince flew him to Lagos and signed him to Jonzing World, his record label imprint under the larger umbrella of Mavin Records.

Rema was officially unveiled to the public in March 2019. He made an immediate impact with the release of his self-titled debut EP, Rema. The EP featured four tracks, including the breakout hits "Dumebi" and "Iron Man." "Dumebi" became a massive anthem across Nigeria and Africa, while "Iron Man" gained international recognition when it was featured on former US President Barack Obama's 2019 summer playlist.

Global Domination with "Calm Down"

While Rema had already achieved significant success, his 2022 single "Calm Down," from his debut album, propelled him to unprecedented global fame. The song's infectious melody and catchy lyrics made it a worldwide hit.

Its popularity exploded even further with the release of a remix featuring American superstar Selena Gomez. The collaboration topped charts in dozens of countries, including the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, and became the first African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. It also became the highest-charting Afrobeats song on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three. The song's music video is the most-viewed video by a Nigerian artist on YouTube.

Albums and Musical Style

Rave & Roses (2022)
Rema released his debut studio album, Rave & Roses, in March 2022. The 16-track album was a critical and commercial success, showcasing his artistic range and solidifying his "Afrorave" sound. It featured collaborations with artists like Chris Brown, 6LACK, and AJ Tracey.

Rema is celebrated for his genre-bending style, which incorporates diverse influences and melodic flows. His distinctive sound, fashion sense, and artistic vision have made him a leading figure in the new generation of global Afrobeats ambassadors. He has won numerous awards and continues to break records, including performing at the prestigious Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2023.