Born on May 1, 2000, Divine Ikubor, known on stage as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper. Rema began his musical journey performing at Christian gatherings with his partner, Alpha P, in 2019. He rose to prominence after posting a viral Instagram freestyle set to D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang.” Rema initially gained recognition with her 2019 track “Dumebi.” He signed to D’Prince’s record label, Jonzing World, that same year. He achieved international acclaim with her 2022 single “Calm Down,” featuring a remix featuring renowned American singer Selena Gomez, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped the Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart with a record-breaking 58.
Rema’s “Calm Down” is from his 2022 debut album Rave & Roses. The song was released on February 11, 2022, through Jonzing World and Mavin as the album’s second single. The track charted across Europe, reaching number one on the Belgian Ultratop 50, the Dutch Top 40, and the Dutch Singles Top 100. “Calm Down” peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and spent 27 non-consecutive weeks in the top ten of the chart.
“Calm Down” is about the events that led me to make love all the time. It started at a party where I saw a girl who stood out from the rest, so I felt like shooting the breeze. We talked and danced… but her friends wouldn’t let me get any closer, which killed the vibe, but then when they weren’t there, we kept in touch and made it happen,” Rema said. Rema is the kind of singer-songwriter who enjoys pop simply with an appropriately warm, bright, and captivating song.
In the bustling landscape of Nigeria’s music scene, where every note fights for attention, Rema shines like a beacon of artistry and legitimacy, and her journey so far has been one of discovery and expression, calling the audience into her universe with every verse and beat. Rema, who collaborates with musical heavyweights like Selena Gomez, Don Jazzy, and Tiwa Savage, has created a set of tracks that range from reflective moments to festive, windows-open bangers. Being a narrative of self-examination, resonant or free energy, each track feels like a journey through the ups and downs of the way of life.
Connect to Rema on YouTube.