News flash: no reason, other than he’s probably just too good, and is flexing supreme in his own time. So rest, this piece is not to slander anyone for the exaltation of Rema the banger boy.
When Rema came with a mighty wave in 2019, the artist brought the wave of a very peculiar sound; people often argued that he wasn’t the pace setter for that sound, attributing it to Dice Ailes, but what’s unarguable is that with Rave Lord Rema, the sound got mainstream. What sound? The sound we’re all accustomed to, and attribute to Rema.
Nigeria probably paused when Rema dropped “Dumebi”, and consecutively followed with “Corny”, “Iron Man”, and a host of his historical freestyles he often made seated in a certain car. That moment, you’re probably not wrong, is noted as one of the redefining moment in the Nigerian music scene for new cats in the music game.
Rema came solo, and he climbed the music ladder solo, all while in a short period of time.
It’s been well over four years, and Rema has built for himself, a historic catalogue for himself, he has carved his name into the books as an iconic artist, and as Nigerians, we couldn’t be any prouder.
I think it’s beautiful, how Rema has leaped through his career, defying the odds of having to sweat it out in the music scene before getting to an OG level— the artist most definitely can’t say he relates to the hurdles crossed by the likes of Wizkid, Burna Boy or even Davido. We’re not opposing the fact that perhaps he suffered as a hustling Nigerian, but we’re arguing and standing on the rock that Rema did not sweat before making it in this thing called music.
For the artist, it’s been roses ever since he debuted with Dumebi, this writer does not think there ever was a time when one doubted his longevity in the game; no such as thing as doubting how far his talent would carry him. With Rema, it’s just been sitting back to enjoy the musical ride the artist has carried us through.
With an album and over two EPs, Rema has done so much for himself. With few years in the game, the artist has been able to redefine talent, craft his own music and embody it like the Prince of Afrobeats that he rightfully is.
Let’s try and be realistic, you’re very correct if you drop the bombshell of Rema being up the apex of Nigerian music with the big dogs. This artist has fought head to head with legendary artists in award shows and has emerged winner, he has leaped international boundaries and has taken a bite of the international stardom— which this writer thinks, is peak accomplishment.
Rema can quite boast of an impressive catalogue, because where does it start from? From “Bounce”, to “Woman”, to “Soundgasm”, “Ginger Me”, and to the delectable “Calm Down”, including it’s remix with Selena Gomez. It’s only been five years, and Rema has delivered accurately like a polling unit would deliver, during times of an election. What a marvelous artist!
Signed from under Jonzing World courtesy of D’Prince, and leading into Mavin Records, the “Calm Down” crooner has led an exceptional music career, so far. Rema has been able to prove to every artist, emerging or even established, that it is possible to skip a step or two, even three, to get to the apex level. It’s usually the due diligence process for musicians in Nigeria, creeping slowly and having to constantly prove to Nigerians how worthy of attention their musicality is; but with Rema, the artist started from bombarding with impressive music, to dropping an impeccable album, and eventually burrowing into the global music scene.
Five years; five years into his career and he has carted for himself, awards, even with just a song, “Calm Down” remix, featuring Selena Gomez. When Rema emerged winner of Headies Next Rated in 2019 and laid claim to be the future, he wasn’t joking; the artist in fact, took that statement way too serious and need not be to doubt at this point.
That Rema will fall off in this thing called music is the line we might have to draw from naysayers of this brilliant artist’s music. He didn’t fall off when he started, he didn’t fall off all these years, and at this point when he has rightfully earned a spot amongst the old cats of the music game, you think he would be old news? At this stage, Rema can decide to “Wizkid us, or Davido us”, if he chooses— which is, he can decide to have Nigerians enjoy music from the past year in a new year, or decide to drop just a single and ghost off. Anything the artist does, on his mandate we’ll stand.
With consent from Kizz Daniel, might we say that Rema has no bad songs? Even with the discrepancies concerning the perfection of his debut album, “Rave & Roses”, the artist still swayed us with his music. If you like, say he’s acting like Wizkid, or his sound isn’t as unique as it seems to look like, Rema’s music is a bop and more.
A very good perspective as to why Rema might be way ahead of his peers is his level of solo-movement— we’ll explain; Rema probably moves the way Wizkid does, drink water and mind his business. We’re not saying others aren’t measuring up to him because they don’t mind their businesses, but we’re only saying maybe this is why.
It was a pattern with the artist at one point to drop singles with no features, while he was open to being featured, collaborations on his own songs weren’t much of a thing, probably still isn’t— if you don’t count the international collaborations of course, but we’ll let it slide as there’s a vivid reason for that.
You know what makes Rema adorable? It’s how he’s able to bend, mold and recreate sounds— there’s a certain way he’s able to redefine Afrobeats with his sound, how in a mumble of sweet nothings as lyrics, he’s able to captivate the attention span of his listeners.
The artist recently released his very new EP, “Ravage EP”, and here’s a snippet review of the project from the teasers spreading across the X platform— Rema has to be the craftiest new generational artist so far. There’s a sync with his flow, melodies and rhythm. We don’t expect anything short of amazing, neither do we anticipate an iota of faltering.
Rema’s music this far, isn’t from a standpoint of the need to express his musical prowess, but the need to constantly feed his audience with good music, and remind of what creativity is embedded in his artistic mind. This perhaps, is why Rema might be way above his peers. The undue need to remind how much good he has to offer, but a confident display of his talent, regardless.
Whatever Rema claims to be, however he sees himself as of this moment, or moving forward; this writer does not think anyone should contemplate arguing. Nod assertively and graciously admit that Rema might just be the future of Afrobeats he once claimed he would be.
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