Rema whose name is Divine Ikubor, has become a global phenomenon in the Afrobeats scene. His rise to stardom feels like a whirlwind – from singing in a Lagos church choir to collaborating with international artists. But beyond the infectious tunes and celebrity status lies a young man with a bag of rich experiences that have shaped him into the artist he is today. Let’s look into ten facts about Rema, offering a glimpse into the life that fuels his music.

1.  A humble and struggling beginning:

Rema’s musical journey began at a young age, not in a recording studio, but in a church choir. Growing up in Benin City, Nigeria, Rema honed his vocal skills singing gospel hymns. Long before Rema achieved superstardom and became a prominent figure in the Afrobeats movement, he endured the hardships associated with growing up in a disadvantaged background. He encountered many obstacles on his path to fame. As a child, Rema took on various odd jobs to help his family and finance his musical ambitions.At one stage, he resorted to stealing a friend’s laptop, a revelation he later shared in his popular song “Holiday.”

2.  He dropped out of School

Despite being admitted to the University of Lagos in 2022, Rema left the institution in 2023 because of a strike by the ASUU teaching union. His highest level of education currently is Senior Secondary School. Rema attended both primary and secondary school in his hometown, Benin City. He was a famous student known for his inclination to music and for being a young talent whose face was already on television screens in Edo State even before his rise to major fame.

3.  He is loved and recognised by Barack and Michelle Obama

Rema, a rising star in Nigerian music, has garnered attention from Barack and Michelle Obama. His track “Iron Man” was featured on Barack Obama’s 2019 Summer Playlist, which the former US President shared on Twitter. The playlist included 44 songs that he and Michelle enjoyed that summer, with Rema’s song listed as number 42. Obama noted, “With summer winding down, here’s a sampling of what Michelle and I have been listening to—some new, some old, some fast, some slow. Hope you enjoy.”

The playlist also featured international artists like Drake, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Frank Sinatra, Rihanna, DJ Khaled, and Robin Thicke.

4 The mysterious death of his father

Rema’s father, Justice Ikubor, held a prominent position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State and had previously served as the General Manager of the state-owned Ethiope Publishing Company.

In a purported post on Twitter, Rema addressed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), demanding an explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding his father’s demise in a hotel room. He wrote, saying that PDP will need to explain what happened to my father in the hotel room.

Additionally, he allegedly mentioned witnessing a bag of money in 2008 and expressed the hardships he faced after his father’s passing. The tweet reportedly stated, “I saw the bag of money, 2008. Life was rough when I lost him. When I come to Benin, I’m gonna visit the houses of the names I still remember, peacefully“.

5.    He gained recognition for his freestyle

In 2018, Rema shared a freestyle on Instagram to D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang,” which went viral. This attracted D’Prince’s attention, leading him to fly Rema to Lagos to offer him a recording contract. In 2019, Rema signed with D’Prince’s Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records, owned by producer Don Jazzy.

6.    He holds a Guinness world record with ‘Calm Down’

The Nigerian singer has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming a Guinness World Record holder with his global hit single “Calm Down”. His song “Calm Down” has garnered over 577 million streams on Spotify, while the remix featuring US artist Selena Gomez has reached over

1.3 billion streams on the platform.

“Calm Down” made history in 2022 when it became the first song to top The Official MENA Chart, shortly after the chart’s inception, and this feat was recorded in the Guinness world records official platform. This MENA chart, launched by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), is a regional platform that tracks the top streaming tracks across 13 MENA countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Covering a combined population of over 300 million people, the chart provides a weekly top 20 list of the most streamed songs in the region.

Rema’s remix of “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez also received a nomination for Best Social Trended Song at the Global Awards in 2023. The song’s success and its historic achievement on the MENA chart underscore Rema’s significant impact on the global music scene and his growing influence in the Middle East and North Africa region.

7.    A Rising Star on the Global Stage

Despite his early career, Rema has made a name for himself on the international stage. His talent has garnered recognition from prestigious platforms like BBC Radio 1Xtra’s “Hot for 2020” list, Apple Music’s “Up Next” programme, and The New York Times’ prestigious “The 54 Best Songs of 2019” list. Additionally, his global hit “Calm Down” has achieved certified success in the United States.

8.    His debut album broke a 40-year old record

Though his career is still young, Rema has already established himself as a major force with his debut studio album, Rave & Roses, released in 2022, which is the only album he has so far.

The state’s debut album went on to break a four-decade-old record held by the legendary Nigerian music maestro, King Sunny Ade. The album, “Rave & Roses”, emerged as the longest-charting African album in the United states. Rave & Roses peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200 album charts.

9.    Rema’s Beginnings in RnA

Before embarking on his successful solo career, Rema collaborated with a friend, Alpha P, in a musical group called RnA. The name playfully combined the initials of their names (R for Rema, A for Alpha). Their collaboration resulted in several songs, some of which, like “Starboy,” are still available on platforms like Apple Music.

10. The Kcee Connection: A Spark of Inspiration

Rema’s musical journey wasn’t solely fueled by his own talent and drive. A chance encounter with Afrobeats legend Kcee played a significant role in motivating the young artist. In a heartwarming social media exchange, Rema revealed that meeting Kcee backstage at a concert three years prior to his own rise to fame had a profound impact on him. A simple photo with Kcee proved to be a powerful source of inspiration for Rema, solidifying his belief in achieving his own musical dreams.