Rema Quick Info
| Key Name | Details |
| Full Name | Divine Ikubor |
| Stage Name | Rema |
| Date of Birth | May 1, 2000 |
| Place of Birth | Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Singer, Rapper, Songwritter |
| Genres | Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Trap, Hip Hop |
| Labels | Jonzing Worlds, Mavin Records |
Early Life and Education
Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, was born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He grew up in a humble Christian household, where the early life of Rema was greatly influenced by a strong religious background. This then plays a huge part in forming one’s character that really determines their career life in the future.
Rema was brought up by only his mother, an unfortunate circumstance due to the death of his father. That really helped in discloser of the mother as a strong pillar in showing him ways the music world can treat him despite the challenges.
Rema started his musical career at quite an early age. He got his first exposure to music at his local church, where he actively participated in the choir.
This came as early exposure and set him up in his vocal abilities, and more importantly, it made him build confidence. His church performances became the very base for his future in the music industry.
Education
Rema studied in Benin City at both primary and secondary school. He was constantly singing and performing during his adolescent years.
He had a natural flair for music, and it was not long before other pupils became ardent fans of his unique voice and vigorous stage appearances.
Inasmuch as Rema’s interest in music was building up, he didn’t compromise his pursuit of academic excellence but was able to equally divvy his time between his studies and extracurricular activities.
While in high school, Rema developed a passion for music. He started experimenting with all kinds of styles in music and borrowed from different artists.
He started developing his unique sound, where his love for Afrobeat merged with the influences of contemporary hip hop and trap music.
Musical Influences and Early Career
Rema’s distinct sound incorporates bits from popular music genres and influences. Brought up in Benin City, Nigeria, he had exposure to music from the most traditional Afrobeat to today’s pop and hip-hop. Some of the most notable influences directly from:
Fela Kuti: The pioneer of Afrobeat, whose rhythm and politically charged music left a deep impact on Rema.
Wizkid and Davido are a few of the contemporary Nigerian artists who mixed Afrobeat with a pop sound, which has seen them influential on the newer wave of Nigerian music.
Drake and Travis Scott are also international artists whose music exposed Rema to the elements of trap and modern hip-hop.
It’s why Rema has managed to become thoroughly versatile in mixing Afrobeat, trap, and pop in a way that no one else in that particular style can claim.Rema started the whole musical career by doing freestyles.
Often, he recorded videos of the freestyles and shared them on social media, where his raw talent and unique style began to catch people’s attention.
One such opportunity was presented to him in 2018 when he recorded a freestyle to the track “Gucci Gang” by D’Prince and posted it on Instagram.
In 2019, D’Prince discovered his talent, and he was signed to a record deal with Jonzing World, under the Mavin Records label, founded by Don Jazzy.
This partnership with Jonzing World marked the kickstart of Rema’s journey to the limelight, with all glows that might come with the heavy platform at his reach.
Breakthrough Success
Rema’s international stardom started with his breakout single, “Iron Man,” from the singer’s 2019 debut EP, “Rema.” It caught on quickly and showed that the artist was capable of fusing Afrobeat with contemporary sounds.
What really made the track catch fire was its unique melody. A highlight in his career must have been when former U.S. President Barack Obama even added “Iron Man” in his 2019 summer playlist, which buoyed Rema onto the world scene and made him even more outstanding with a global profile.
While “Iron Man” stamped Rema onto the face of the world, it is “Dumebi” that shot him high into the sky of global music competition. Listeners able to do so could not resist the infectious rhythm and catchy chorus of “Dumebi,” especially the young music lovers.
The song was also a chart-topper across Africa and beyond, with millions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music. “Dumebi” also birthed numerous dance challenges on social media platforms like TikTok, and it gained the young act an even larger fan base.
After success on this debut EP, Rema continued to release music that only touched down to have a large international audience. Later on, in 2019, he dropped two other EPs: “Freestyle” and “Bad Commando,” which were also widely received by all the music circles across the world.
The projects opened a new chapter of understanding to the audience in the way Rema remained versatile and an experimenter with sounds yet an individualist at the same time. The tracks picked out in this segment include “Lady,” “Bad Commando,” and “Rewind.”.
And, by that analogy, Rema’s music could always be expected to do well with charts and streaming agog. His singles normally ruled on the number-one spot in Nigeria and a couple of other African countries before significantly making its inroads into the music scenes of international markets.
Rema’s Discography Highlights
| Year | Album/EP | Notable Tracks | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Rema | “Dumebi,” “Iron Man,” “Corny” | Over 10 million streams in the first month, topped charts in Nigeria and beyond |
| 2019 | Freestyle EP | “American Love,” “Boulevard” | Showcased versatility, received praise from international music critics |
| 2019 | Bad Commando | “Bad Commando,” “Lady,” “Rewind” | Further cemented his place in the industry, millions of streams globally |
| 2020 | Rema Compilation | Compilation of previous hits | Expanded his reach, consistently high streaming numbers |
| 2022 | Rave & Roses | “Soundgasm,” “Bounce,” “Calm Down” | Debut album, critical acclaim, millions of streams worldwide |
Collaborations and Musical Evolution
The music potential of Rema has greatly been tapped into as a result of early strategic collaborations with heavy hitters both in Nigeria and around the world.
Key Collaborations and Evolution Milestones
| Year | Collaboration / Evolution Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Collaboration with Tiwa Savage | Featured on several tracks, blending traditional Afrobeat with contemporary sounds |
| 2020 | Collaboration with Major Lazer | Released “Can’t Let You Go,” merging Afrobeat with electronic dance music |
| 2020 | Collaboration with 6lack | Featured on the track “4AM,” exploring deeper, introspective themes |
| 2021 | Evolution of Sound with “Soundgasm” | Incorporated pop and R&B elements, showcasing a more mature and sensual side |
| 2022 | Release of “Bounce” produced by Don Jazzy | Club hit that highlighted Rema’s versatility and ability to create universally appealing music |
Major Achievements and Awards
Rema has amassed several awards and nominations throughout his career. Some of his notable accolades include:
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Headies | Next Rated | Won |
| 2020 | Soundcity MVP Awards | Viewer’s Choice | Won |
| 2020 | BET Awards | Best New International Act | Nominated |
| 2020 | City People Music Awards | Best New Male Artist | Won |
| 2021 | AFRIMMA | Best Male West Africa | Nominated |
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, is his real name, and he is pretty private about his life. He tries to let the public know very little about him apart from his music. However, a few things related to his personal life were made public.
- Family background: Rema was born, having only his mother as his fellow compatriot. His father had passed away before he was exposed to the world. Here and there, there have been statements in the press, publicizing the essential role the mother has played in the artist’s life: support and encouragement throughout the journey the faith she has had in his talent.
- Faith: Rema grew in a Christian family. The strong foundation and background from there have influenced his life in many ways, including music. He has been noted to talk about his faith in interviews. Rema maintains that his faith plays a crucial role in his reasoning and career.
- Hobbies: Rema likes to play video games whenever he gets a chance and watches a lot of anime. This helps him relax and also takes his mind off music in a busy schedule.
Public Image and Social Media
He has well-crafted the image of a young, vibrant, and talented musician through his presence on social media. With millions in his followers count on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, Rema consistently intermingles with his fans by giving them a sneak peek of what he does, which can range from behind-the-scenes footage of his music projects to just informing his fans about what he is up to when it comes to his latest releases.
His social media presence is characterized by just the right balance of personal/professional, getting the public to understand him beyond his music.
Key Personal and Philanthropic Milestones
| Year | Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Public Recognition of Faith | Spoke about the influence of his Christian upbringing on his music and life decisions |
| 2020 | Support for COVID-19 Relief Efforts | Donated to relief funds and raised awareness about supporting communities during the pandemic |
| 2021 | Educational Support Initiatives | Involved in programs providing resources and support to schools in Nigeria |
| 2022 | Youth Empowerment Efforts | Encouraged young creatives through social media and interviews, sharing his journey as inspiration |
Social Media Statistics (as of 2024):
- Instagram: 5 million followers
- Twitter: 2 million followers
- TikTok: 3 million followers
- YouTube: 1 million subscribers
The Future: What He Did Next Will Shock You!
Rema, Nigeria’s music wonder, is on the brink of innovative future, strategic collaborations, an extended influence on the global stage. Rema is a mixed sound transmitter from the overly traditional music genres emanating out of Africa.
His trap and pop sound will have to interweave it with exactly the Afrobeat that he is producing. This future is always experimental with several musical styles, but with potential crossing international collaborations for a global appeal.
With live music events picking up across the world, Rema is expected to take international tours very soon with his electrifying performance energy to win over audiences on all continents.
The tours will not only insist on his status as a supercharged performer but will also increase the fan base worldwide.
Apart from the music, there also is an entrepreneurial part of the Rema spirit that is really driving him to grow this brand into fashion, and perhaps other philanthropic projects.
The vision of launching different lines of clothing and branded stuff in the future would really emulate from this fashionable image he carries, and the launch of initiatives for education and community development back in his home country of Nigeria would portray his philanthropic commitments.
As the digital space innovates, Rema will also look up to the likes of virtual reality concerts and blockchain for some fan experiences, using digital platforms as a means to global relevance.
Such innovations are in line with his forward-thinking in fan engagement and adapting to the ever-changing musical landscape.
Innovation in music, touring globally, diversification of the brand into fashion and philanthropy, and making it an integral part of technology would be the future of Rema.
With every new project, Rema is turning into one of the most versatile artists and culture influencers across the globe.
