Rema

Biography

Divine Joshua Ikubor (born 1 May 2000), known professionally as Rema, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and rapper. He gained recognition with his 2019 song "Dumebi×Dumebi13 February 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dumebi3:00". That same year, he signed with D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World. He achieved international recognition with his 2022 single "Calm Down×Calm Down10 February 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Calm Down3:402Soundgasm3:25", which spawned a remix with American singer Selena Gomez that peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also led the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
That same year, Ikubor released his debut studio album, Rave & Roses×Rave & Roses25 March 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Divine3:332Hold Me4:103Dirty3:434Calm Down3:405Soundgasm3:246Time N Affection3:517Jo3:088Mara2:589Love4:1010Addicted4:3111Are You There?3:1312FYN3:2713Oroma Baby3:3014Carry3:4215Wine3:5016Runaway4:18 (2022), which reached number 81 on the Billboard 200. His second album, Heis (2024), was preceded by the single "Benin Boys×BENIN BOYS20 June 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BENIN BOYS2:50" with Shallipopi, and earned him his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Early life and education

Divine Ikubor was born on 1 May 2000 into a Christian family in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He is from Igbanke an Igbo community in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo state. He discovered his passion for music during his secondary school days at Ighile Group of Schools in Edo State, where he began singing and rapping. After losing his father and elder brother, Rema was raised by his mother, who played a significant role in shaping his life.

2019–2021: Career beginnings and record deals

Rema started his music career performing in churches with his collaborator Alpha P in 2019. He gained recognition after posting a viral freestyle on Instagram to D'Prince's song "Gucci Gang". Impressed by his talent, D'Prince flew him to Lagos and offered him a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by music executive and producer Don Jazzy. In 2019, Rema released his self-titled debut EP Rema, which topped Apple Music's Nigerian charts. The music video for "Dumebi×Dumebi13 February 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dumebi3:00", a breakout song from the EP, was released on 21 May 2019, featuring a cameo appearance from Diana Eneje and has since gained 85 million views on YouTube. Later that summer, another popular song from the EP was featured on former United States President Barack Obama's annual summer playlist. In September 2020, Rema's songs were included on the FIFA 21 official soundtrack. In September 2021, he was unveiled as a brand ambassador for Pepsi, alongside his label mate Ayra Starr.
Toya Delazy, a South African music producer, coined the genre "Afrorave" in 2019, combining elements of garage, Zulu lyrics, and other African styles. In May 2021, Rema adopted the term "Afrorave" to describe his own music, which blends Afrobeats with Arabian and Indian influences. This distinct sound has resonated with fans, earning him a dedicated fanbase known as Ravers.

2022–23: Rave & Roses and Ravage EP

After releasing three EPs, Rema debuted his first album, Rave & Roses×Rave & Roses25 March 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Divine3:332Hold Me4:103Dirty3:434Calm Down3:405Soundgasm3:246Time N Affection3:517Jo3:088Mara2:589Love4:1010Addicted4:3111Are You There?3:1312FYN3:2713Oroma Baby3:3014Carry3:4215Wine3:5016Runaway4:18, on 25 March 2022, under Jonzing World. The album features 16 tracks, including collaborations with 6lack, Chris Brown, AJ Tracey, and Yseult. It charted 10 songs on the US Billboard Afrobeats Chart in its debut week. The single "Calm Down×Calm Down10 February 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Calm Down3:402Soundgasm3:25" gained international recognition, it reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix with Selena Gomez, breaking multiple records. Rema received various awards, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video and the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song and many other awards. On 7 November 2022, he was awarded for achieving 1 billion streams worldwide during his London concert. In February 2023, he won the Digital Artist of the Year award at the Soundcity MVP Awards held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. In April 2023, he released the deluxe edition of Rave & Roses, titled Rave & Roses Ultra, which became the first African album to cross two billion streams on Spotify. On 26 October 2023, Rema released the Ravage EP, and on 30 October 2023, he performed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony held Theatre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
In 2025, Rema became the most-streamed Nigerian artist on YouTube, with his hits surpassing other major Afrobeats stars and his song “Calm Down” accumulating over one billion views, setting a new benchmark for Nigerian artists globally.

2024: Heis

On 11 July 2024, Rema released his second studio album, Heis, through Mavin Records, Jonzing World, and Interscope Records. The title of the album is derived from the Greek word for "number one". The 11-track project features guest appearances from Shallipopi and Odumodublvck was preceded by the singles "Benin Boys×BENIN BOYS20 June 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BENIN BOYS2:50" and "Hehehe×HEHEHE7 July 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1HEHEHE1:54", and adopts a darker, drum-driven sound compared to his debut album Rave & Roses×Rave & Roses25 March 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Divine3:332Hold Me4:103Dirty3:434Calm Down3:405Soundgasm3:246Time N Affection3:517Jo3:088Mara2:589Love4:1010Addicted4:3111Are You There?3:1312FYN3:2713Oroma Baby3:3014Carry3:4215Wine3:5016Runaway4:18. Rema refers to this new style of his music as "afro-rave" which he describes as "[his] own perception of Afrobeats," he stated in an interview with HOT 97 in 2022. The sound is a blend of genres ranging from Afrobeats, house, hip-hop, and dancehall. Heis contains several references to his native Edo culture and addresses themes of cultural pride and self-assertion. Some listeners initially criticized aspects of its imagery and themes, interpreting them as demonic. Despite the early criticism, the album debuted at number two on the TurnTable Top 100 Albums chart, later reached number one, and remained on the chart for 29 weeks with more than 104 million streams. It also received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Rema's first Grammy nomination.

2025: "Baby (Is It a Crime)" and "Bout U"

On 7 February 2025, Rema released the single "Baby (Is It a Crime)×Baby (Is it a Crime)7 February 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Baby (Is It A Crime)2:44", which samples Sade's 1985 single "Is It a Crime". The song quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the most streamed Nigerian songs of 2025. On 11 April 2025, Rema released another single titled "Bout U×Bout U10 April 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Bout U2:43".
On 12 June 2026, Rema performed "Goals×Goals21 May 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Goals3:00" together with Lisa of Blackpink and Brazilian singer Anitta at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

Personal life

On 28 September 2020, Rema tweeted accusations against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding their involvement in the death of his father, Justice Ikubor, a former chieftain of the party. Although Rema gained admission to study at the University of Lagos in 2022, he was forced to leave the institution in 2023 due to the ongoing ASUU teaching union strike.

Impact

Rolling Stone said "Rema has undoubtedly and proudly become an emblem of Afrobeats global rise." Writing for Business Day Anthony Udugba remarked Rema has "expanded the horizons" of African musical impact on the global stage. The Guardian Nigeria opined "As the Afrobeats landscape continues to flourish, Rema’s success sets a high standard, showcasing the global appeal and dominance of Nigerian music on the international stage." The Native stated "It’s impossible to erase the mark he has left on Afrobeats history." Victor Okpala said "Rema’s sound has cemented his place as a true musical trailblazer." Many critics have praised him for breaking barriers and inspiring other African music artists.