Rema, born Divine Ikubor, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper who has taken the global music scene by storm with his unique sound, genre-bending style, and infectious charisma. Rising from the streets of Benin City to international stages, Rema is one of the leading faces of the new generation of Afrobeats artists.
- Early Life and Background
- Full Name: Divine Ikubor
- Date of Birth: May 1, 2000
Place of Birth: Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Rema grew up in a religious, music-loving family. His father passed away when he was young, and he was raised by his mother. He began his musical journey as a teenager, performing in church and freestyle sessions on the streets. These early experiences shaped his talent and gave him the confidence to pursue music full-time.
Rise to Fame
Rema’s big break came in 2018 when he posted a freestyle of D’Prince’s track “Gucci Gang” on Instagram. The freestyle went viral and caught the attention of D’Prince himself, who signed him to his label Jonzing World, an imprint of Mavin Records, founded by music mogul Don Jazzy.
In 2019 he signed with Jonzing World (a subsidiary of Mavin Records).
His self‑titled EP Rema came out in 2019; the single “Dumebi” from that EP became his breakout hit. It spread across Nigeria and beyond, earning him early fame.
Major Breakthrough: “Calm Down”
A turning point in Rema’s career was the release of “Calm Down” in 2022 (from his debut album Rave & Roses):
The song gained massive international attention, especially after a remix with Selena Gomez.
Several historic achievements tied to “Calm Down”:
It became the first Afrobeats song ever to surpass 1 billion on‑demand streams in the U.S.
It spent a long time on the Billboard Hot 100 (over a year), peaking at No. 3, making it one of the highest‑charting Afrobeats songs led by an African artist.
The video (remix) and streaming numbers broke records: highest‑viewed Nigerian music video, etc.
It also became the first No. 1 on the Official MENA Chart (Middle East & North Africa) when the chart launched.
The success of “Calm Down” is also often credited with contributing to the establishment or broader recognition of Afrobeats categories in international award ceremonies.
Recent Projects
Rema’s second album, HEIS, released in July 2024, builds on his “Afrorave” sound and has been successful.
HEIS has already garnered nominations and wins, including Album of the Year at some major African awards, and notably was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Grammy Awards — this was his first ever Grammy nomination.
Awards & Recognitions
Here are some of his notable awards, wins, etc.:
Billboard Music Awards 2023 Won Top Afrobeats Song for “Calm Down.”
MTV Video Music Awards Won Best Afrobeats Song for “Calm Down (Remix)” with Selena Gomez.
Trace Awards & Summit 2025 Rema won Album of the Year (Heis) and Best Male Artiste among others.
Guinness World Records For “Calm Down (Remix)” being the first No. 1 hit on the Official MENA Chart, etc.
Spotify / Streaming Records “Calm Down” became the first Afrobeats song to exceed certain global streaming thresholds (1 billion US on-demand, etc.). HEIS also became one of the most‑streamed albums in Sub‑Saharan Africa.
Headies, The Headies Awards Rema has won many Headies (Nigeria’s big music awards). His count of wins/nominations is high.
As of recent counts, Rema has 23+ wins and 50+ nominations across various award shows globally.
Rema’s story is one of rapid ascent — from local freestyles and EPs, through “Dumebi,” to a global smash with “Calm Down,” and continuing with consistent output and recognition. He has broken several “firsts” for Nigerian/Afrobeat artists.
