Rema: RAVE AND ROSES ULTRA

 

                                                     RAVE AND ROSES

                                    "I make music for everyone, if I say I want to make music for this kind of people, it restricts my creativity"-- Rema (I-D meets).

 

                  

     The contemporary (younger) artist in the present Nigerian music industry, I can say has brought a new influence, style, and contribution to the Nigeria Afrobeat genre of music. In compliance with their different sounds, they have taken Afrobeat to a whole new different level internationally. 

    In my today's piece, I will be focusing majorly on an artist such as Divine Ikubor also known as Rema who we can all agree has added a subgenre to Afrobeat,  which he calls "Afrorave".

   It's a known fact that Rema's music is most appealing to the younger generations also with the different styles and foreign sounds and effects he embodies in his songs, beats, his personal style, and attitude. In an interview, he mentioned he uses his voice to create some of his own beats and the Indian sounds he embodies in his music, specifically in 'Iron Man'. 

    Rema has contributed to the Nigerian music industry with his own style of music, which has gained him a large market internationally, including his international fan base because of the flexibility of his music. One of his major hits with Selena Gomez on the song "Calm Down" is evidence of fact.

     During his tour in Mumbai, India on May 13th. a viral video that broke the internet some month ago showed him taking his time to watch the crowd as they sang to his music playing, while he stood and savored the moment which some people interpreted as a moment of gratitude and accomplishment from him.

  

   The success of his songs can be examined in how many units, his songs sold, on music streaming platforms internationally, top charts on billboards, and how many Platinum records... 

   

   His recent hit song Calm Down which featured Mexican artist Selena Gomez sold over 1 million units in the US, and 500,000 units in the UK, 2X Platinum in Belgium after selling over 800,000 units. 5X Platinum in Canada after selling 400,000 units Spain after selling over 120,000 units, Italy after selling 100,000 units, and Portugal after selling 30,000 units.

 

    In India, Calm Down has been certified 13x IMI Platinum.

    Additionally, he is the first Nigerian to enter the top 5 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart as a lead artist.

   Lastly, his tour Jungle Rave in Lagos was a success and eventful, he gave his fans (the Ravers) a run for their money also the Afro Nation tour, Twitter has been buzzing with a lot of positive comments on the details of his performance. The Native Mag has fair coverage of the Jungle Rave Lagos tour. 

   His recent collaboration with Nike is AIR REMA (Nike x Rema).  

   He says he likes to think that he is special and believes that he is chosen, I honestly can't disagree.

   Giving my own two cents, Rema has a long road in his career, he is still young, and it's a good thing he started that young, he has accomplished a lot and hopefully still will and I know the Ravers are rooting for him hard. 

  After writing this piece I will say my favorite songs from the #RaveandRoses album are: 

*Addicted, 

*FYN ft. AJ Tracey.  

*Time and Affection ft. Chris Brown.