Rema
Rema: The Prince of the New Wave
By KULTUR
Rema didn’t just step into the scene — he warped the soundscape.
Born Divine Ikubor in Benin City, Edo State, this genre-bending prodigy came with a sound that was fresh, fearless, and entirely his own. Call it Afrobeats, call it trap, call it Afro-rave — whatever label you slap on it, one thing’s clear: Rema is the future.
When he dropped “Iron Man” and “Dumebi” in 2019 under Mavin Records and Jonzing World, it wasn’t just Nigeria that took notice — the world tilted. Suddenly, we had a kid with red hair, anime aesthetics, and flows that felt like they came from another dimension, blending Yoruba cadences, Edo swagger, and global rhythm into one.
But Rema isn’t just vibes — he’s vision.
He coined the term “Afro-rave”, fusing Afrobeats with trap, dancehall, pop, and psychedelic soundscapes that don’t follow the rules. His debut album, Rave & Roses, wasn’t just a record — it was a manifesto. Songs like “Calm Down”, “Soundgasm”, and “Are You There” showed a Gen Z artist unafraid to explore politics, passion, and spirituality — all while topping charts.
And when “Calm Down” got remixed with Selena Gomez? It became a global smash, breaking records, dominating airwaves, and proving Rema’s reach wasn’t just continental — it was cosmic.
Offstage, he carries an aura that’s both mysterious and magnetic. He speaks in riddles, dreams in color, and moves with the confidence of someone who knows he’s not just part of the new school — he’s building a whole new syllabus.
What makes Rema different?
He’s spiritual but edgy. Young but wise. Local but limitless. He pulls from Benin traditions, street culture, futuristic anime, and online chaos — then pours it all into music that moves bodies and minds alike.
In a time when everyone is trying to sound like someone, Rema only sounds like Rema. And that’s why he's not just riding the wave — he is the wave.