Feid Embraces Afrobeats With Rema in ‘Bubalu’
Get to know Rema, the artist whose song 'Calm Down' continues to top the charts
Feid is one of those artists who never seem to take a break. This time, he’s fused his musical prowess with a somewhat unconventional genre that’s been gradually influencing the styles of many artists. «Bubalu» features on Feid’s forthcoming album, Mor, No Le Temas A La Oscuridad, and it represents Feid’s inaugural collab with Rema, the artist who made waves globally with the remix of his chart-topping track, «Calm Down,» featuring Selena Gomez.
Notably, «Calm Down» has held the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats chart for over a year, and just recently, Rema and Gomez won the inaugural Moon Person award for Best Afrobeats at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month.
«Bubalu» Music Video
Who’s Rema?
Full Name & Birthdate
Rema’s real name is Divine Ikubor. He was born on May 1, 2000, in the state of Edo, Nigeria, specifically in the city of Benin. Raised in a devout Christian family, Rema’s journey into music began in the church, where he started singing and rapping during his formative years while also dedicating himself to his studies.
A Brief But Intense Career
Nicknamed the «Afrovave Prodigy,» Rema shot to stardom in 2019, largely due to his track «Iron Man» making it onto Barack Obama’s popular summer playlist that year. Prior to this breakthrough, his viral freestyle of D’Prince’s «Gucci Gang» caught the attention of Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by the renowned producer Don Jazzy, leading to his first record deal.
In his discography, Rema boasts three EPs released in 2019: «Rema» (which dominated Apple Music Nigeria charts for several weeks), «Freestyle EP,» and «Bad Command.» Furthermore, he dropped his debut studio album, «Rave & Roses,» on March 25, 2022, comprising 16 tracks, including collaborations with 6LACK, Chris Brown, AJ Tracey, and Yseult.
In a surprising feat, Rema has also released a compilation, «Rema Compilation,» consolidating all his individual singles. This is quite remarkable considering his youthful age and relatively brief career.
By The Numbers
Rema boasts a robust fan base across various platforms and social media channels. On Instagram, he commands a following of 6 million fans, with 4.8 million followers on Twitter and 3.2 million on TikTok.
Furthermore, his presence on Spotify is undeniable, amassing over 31 million monthly listeners. Notable among his chart-topping tracks are «Calm Down» (both the original and remix versions), «Dumebi,» and «Soundgasm.»
Fashion Enthusiast
Beyond music, Rema has consistently showcased his keen fashion sense. His Instagram feed, visual aesthetics, and attendance at prestigious fashion events like Paris Fashion Week, often alongside renowned brands such as Dior, have endeared him to fans who eagerly follow his distinctive style, making him a trendsetter on and off the figurative runway of life.
Future Prospects
As Rema’s career took flight, he swiftly garnered acclaim. In 2019, he was awarded the title of Best Rated Artist at The Headies, along with the Best New Artist accolade at the City People Music Awards, both esteemed honors conferred in his homeland of Nigeria.
Don’t miss out the article of ‘5 Facts About Rema’ in Spanish by Ana Escobar Rivas for LOS40