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Tag: REMA

  • I didn’t know how my music got Obama’s attention-Rema

    I didn’t know how my music got Obama’s attention-Rema

    Afro-pop singer, Rema has averred that he doesn’t know how his song got Barrack Obama’s attention.

    The 20-year-old singer in a chat with Rolling Stones said:“It was amazing being the only Nigerian artist there. I don’t know anybody in the White House or in the American government. How did my music walk so far to his doorstep?”

    Rema said he had started out at his hometown’s Christ of Mercy church, where he was installed as a youth leader for a program called ‘Rap Nation’ that taught kids how to rap for the congregation.

    “If I look back, I wasn’t really that good,” Rema said while detailing the experiences that had further fueled his quest to find an opportunity he could lay hands towards showcasing his talent.

    He also explained that, following the death of his father in 2008, his brother had followed seven years later, bringing untoward financial hardship to his mum and two sisters.

    To make ends meet, they had embarked on a yearlong move to Ghana where very little was in store for them. “We were hungry. I was the only man in the house. I had to do something,” Rema said.

    D’Prince, who doubles as Don Jazzy’s brother, would later sign Rema after the ‘Dumebi’ crooner did a viral Instagram freestyle of his ‘Gucci Gang’.

    “When I took that break, I saw real life. I was like, ‘This is my only chance’. I had to prove myself. I had strictly hip-hop, trap songs. But D’Prince started pitching some Afrobeats to me,” he said.

     

     

  • I am still looking for the right woman- Rema

    Rave of the moment, Divine Ikubor a.k.a Rema has said he would love to be in a relationship but hasn’t met the right person.

    The 19-year-old trap musician made this known in a chat with City People Magazine .

     

    “I really want to be in a relationship but still looking for the right one. I want to enjoy the peace because it’s really noisy: cameras flashing lights, meetings, studio sections,” he said.

    “This whole music stuff is beyond ordinary for me that’s why things are happening differently for me and I am very spiritual from my angle and I don’t do my things the same way as everybody.

    “Home is actually my peace. I find peace either in church or home. My own personal space, but yeah! It will be nice to find someone I can share it with, but then, I have not found the right one.”

     

    Asked about how his music journey began, Rema said he started considering music as far back as when he was seven but only decided to take it for a profession four years after his politician-cum-publisher father had died.

    “I worked really hard for it, having sleepless nights, prayed, gave my seeds, tithes and left the rest for the lord which gave him no other option to bless me,” Rema explained.

    “It is actually spiritual how I found myself in the midst of Don Jazzy and everybody in a blink of an eye, everything worked very fast for me. Everything that came to me, I deserve it.

    “I’m not the kind of guy to post on Instagram. The only thing people see about me is my music and my studio sessions but a lot is happening behind the screen, a lot of tears, sweat and blood.

    “People tend to believe that we over hype, but it’s not over hyping because it’s really happening while some people were sleeping, I was on the road every single night.”

     

  • Drake announces collaboration with Nigerian star, Rema

    Drake announces collaboration with Nigerian star, Rema

    Canadian entertainer, Drake has revealed he is working on a song with Nigerian singer, Rema.

    Drake revealed this on Monday during a live session on Instagram.

    During the Instagram live session, the Canadian played several songs, one of which was ‘Dumebi’ by Rema.

    While playing the song, Drake declared, “Big up Rema too. We have a sick song together…”

    He then continued playing the song.

    The release date for the song is not known.

    Rema, however, has been garnering international attention since signing to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records.

    He released his eponymous debut EP Rema in 2019. It peaked at number 1 on Apple Music Nigeria.

    On 19 October 2019, Rema won Next Rated and was nominated for Viewer’s Choice at the 13th edition of The Headies. On 12 January 2020 he received the Souncity mvp for best new artist.

    The ‘Bad Commando’ crooner recently noted in an interview that the loss of his dad and his brother brought an untold burden on him to cater for his mother.

    He stated that he had to summon courage to brace the odds by taking up different jobs, including working at a beach in Ghana just to raise money.

    “I had to work hard because I lost my father and my brother and things were left only to me. So, I had to put things in place. I did a lots of job like working at a beach in Ghana.

    “Hard work got me this shape. At first, it was really hard for me, I cried and was really sad. When I got back to Nigeria I had to appreciate my mum for being strong so I had to get her a car.

    “I was tired of seeing her trekking everyday. She didn’t even have money to use a public transport or motorcycle. Even though I had no car of my own then, I had to buy my mum a car.”

     

  • Joeboy speaks about competition with Rema, Fireboy, others

    Joeboy speaks about competition with Rema, Fireboy, others

    Fast-rising Nigerian singer and songwriter, Joseph Akinfenwa Donu, popularly known as Joeboy has spoke about his relations with other artistes who are also industry new stars.

    The Afropop and R&B singer disclosed that he’s not in competition with any artistes, identifying Rema, Fireboy, and Oxlade as “motivations” rather than competition.

    Joeboy stated these as he sat with the host of Behind The Story episode with MTV Base, Sammy Walsh to talk about his childhood, family, music, relationships and plans for the future.

    During the episode, Joeboy revisited places that were pivotal to his rise to the top and talked about the moments that made him. From a very religious family, Joeboy, revealed that his parents were very accommodating when he told them he wanted to do music full time.

    According to him, he was encouraged to make this decision because of the high rate of unemployment in the country.

    The ‘Baby’ hitmaker opened up on how his elder brother’s relationship with 9ice and ID Cabasa sparked his interest in music. He also revealed that he met Mr Eazi in 2017, through a friend in Europe who sent his song to Eazi via Instagram and how his life has changed since then.

    In the episode, Joeboy, who is 22 years old, disclosed that he has been making music since he was 17, but officially went mainstream in 2017. The singer also gave fans more than a glimpse of his life before his rise to fame and how his life has changed since 2017.

    Speaking of relationships, Joeboy revealed that he is a private person, and he is currently in a relationship with many people.

    The artiste also shared some exclusive stories about his Unilag days, the constant pressure on him always to release dope music and the challenges faced by a young artist growing up in the industry.

  • Rema opens up on losing father, brother

    Rave of the moment, Divine Ikubor a.k.a Rema has opened up on losing his father and brother at a tender age.

    The talented singer revealed this during a chat with Manny Norte on Capital Xtra, where he spoke majorly on his background and foray into music.

     

    The ‘Bad Commando’ crooner, noted that the loss of his dad and his brother brought an untold burden on him to cater for his mother.

    He stated that he had to summon courage to brace the odds by taking up different jobs, including working at a beach in Ghana just to raise money.

    Rema said that such tumultuous experiences in the past have significantly shaped his music career while also inspiring him to do more.

    He attributed his success to his mother’s support, adding that such has kept him moving.

    “At some points, things got tough I had to man up. My past life has the same effect on my present being in the music and taking things forward,” he said.

    “I had to work hard because I lost my father and my brother and things were left only to me. So, I had to put things in place. I did a lots of job like working at a beach in Ghana.

    “Hard work got me this shape. At first, it was really hard for me, I cried and was really sad. When I got back to Nigeria I had to appreciate my mum for being strong so I had to get her a car.

    “I was tired of seeing her trekking everyday. She didn’t even have money to use a public transport or motorcycle. Even though I had no car of my own then, I had to buy my mum a car.”

    Asked about his foray into music, Rema said he took to studio upon his return to Nigeria, where he spent most of his time and savings.

    He recalled it was during the time that he met Ozedikus, a producer, in August 2018, who channelled his frustration on making ‘Dumebi’ — which later turned out to be a hit song.

    Watch the full interview below:

     

  • Rema’s ‘Iron Man’ makes Rolling Stones’ list

    Nigerian Afro-pop singer , Divine Ikubor a.k.a Rema has added another feather to his cap
    His song ‘Iron man’ has been named among ’50 Best Songs of 2019′ by Rolling Stones, an American-based Magazine.
    ‘Iron Man’ occupied the 40th position on the list which examined tracks that “defined the year.”
    ‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish topped the chart, while ‘Truth Hurts’, by Lizzo and ‘Old Town Road,’ by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, secured second and third spots respectively.
    A review of the song by Rolling Stones adored Rema’s ‘vocal delivery’ and stated that his musical expertise is akin to “classic T-Pain and pop from India”.
    “At a time when tens of thousands of new songs appear on streaming platforms every day, a memorable first impression is more important than ever. The Nigerian singer Rema nailed it with “Iron Man,” the lead track on his first official EP,” a review of the song by the magazine reads.
    “The key here is the vocal delivery: Rema slathers his voice in Auto-Tune and drips come-ons — including the distinctive request to “be your Iron Man” — like warm honey over a plinking, pleasantly syncopated beat. Rema’s vocals bring to mind both classic T-Pain and pop from India; he’s almost smearing rather than singing. But when paired with the precise rhythms of Afrobeat, this becomes impressionism you can dance to.”
    TheNewsGuru recalls that months back ‘Iron Man’ was included on Barack Obama’s 2019 summer playlist — which comprises a total of 44 songs of divergent genres from across the world.
    Below are ’50 Best Songs of 2019′:
    1. Billie Eilish, ‘Bad Guy’
    2. Lizzo, ‘Truth Hurts’
    3. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, ‘Old Town Road’
    4. Taylor Swift, ‘Cruel Summer’
    5. DaBaby, ‘Suge’
    6. Vampire Weekend, ‘Harmony Hall’
    7. Bad Bunny feat. El Alfa, ‘La Romana’
    8. Hope Tala, ‘Lovestaine’
    9. Sharon Van Etten, ‘Seventeen’
    10. J Balvin, Bad Bunny, and Mr Eazi, ‘Como Un Bebe’
    11. Luke Combs, ‘Even Though I’m Leaving’
    12. Ariana Grande, ‘NASA’
    13. Lana Del Rey, ‘The Greatest’
    14. Stella Donnelly, ‘Old Man’
    15. Lizzo, ‘Juice’
    16. The Highwomen, ‘If She Ever Leaves Me’
    17. Jenny Lewis, ‘Hollywood Lawn’
    18. 100 Gecs, ‘Money Machine’
    19. Miranda Lambert, ‘Mess With My Head’
    20. Polo G and Lil Tjay, ‘Pop Out’
    21. Marshmello and Roddy Ricch, ‘Project Dreams’
    22. Billie Eilish, ‘Bury a Friend’
    23. Daddy Yankee feat. Snow, ‘Con Calma’
    24. Tyler, the Creator feat. Playboi Carti, ‘Earfquake’
    25. Harry Styles, ‘Lights Up’
    26. Leonard Cohen, ‘Happens to the Heart’
    27. Megan Thee Stallion feat. DaBaby, ‘Cash Shit’
    28. Maren Morris, ‘Girl’
    29. Young Thug feat. Gunna, ‘Hot’
    30. Lunay feat. Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny, ‘Soltera (Remix)’
    31. FKA Twigs, ‘Sad Day’
    32. Carly Rae Jepsen, ‘Want You in My Room’
    33. Better Oblivion Community Center, ‘Dylan Thomas’
    34. Rosalía and J Balvin feat. El Guincho, ‘Con Altura’
    35. Calboy feat. Yo Gotti and Lil Durk, ‘Ghetto America’
    36. Weyes Blood, ‘Picture Me Better’
    37. Neil Young With Crazy Horse, ‘She Showed Me Love’
    38. Ari Lennox, ‘BMO’
    39. Mannequin Pussy, ‘Drunk II’
    40. Rema, ‘Iron Man’
    41. Jonas Brothers, ‘Sucker’
    42. Charly Bliss, ‘Chatroom’
    43. Gary Clark Jr., ‘This Land’
    44. Ozzy Osbourne, ‘Under the Graveyard’
    45. Róisín Murphy, ‘Incapable’
    46. Sech feat. Darell, ‘Otro Trago’
    47. Faye Webster, ‘Room Temperature’
    48. Clairo, ‘Bags’
    49. KH, ‘Only Human’
    50. Kim Gordon, ‘Paprika Pony’