Rema

Rema, born Divine Ikubor in Benin City, Nigeria, is a singer and rapper whose music moves fluidly between Afrobeats, trap, and pop.¹ He first drew national attention with Dumebi, a well-known track from his 2019 debut EP, then expanded his reach worldwide with Rave & Roses.¹ His global breakthrough happened with Calm Down, later remixed with Selena Gomez, a record that pushed Afrobeats further into mainstream U.S. charts.¹

With charting albums and major award recognition, Rema has become one of the most influential young voices of modern African pop.

Find Rema tickets at AXS and experience his genre-blending sound live.

Growing up in Benin City, Rema began experimenting with music early, performing in a church rap group before developing his own style.² His career changed in 2018 after he posted a freestyle over D’Prince’s Gucci Gang instrumental online. The clip caught the executive’s attention and led to Mavin Records.¹

That opportunity resulted in three EPs in 2019: Rema, Freestyle, and Bad Commando, introducing listeners to a young musician unafraid to bend genre rules.¹ Dumebi quickly became a breakout moment, helping him stand out in Nigeria’s evolving pop landscape.¹

As Rema’s audience expanded beyond Nigeria, so did the recognition. Major global award bodies have acknowledged his crossover success, highlighting both his cultural reach and commercial impact.

• MTV Video Music Awards – Best Afrobeats (2023): Rema won for Calm Down, his collaboration with Selena Gomez, which was a major international milestone.³
• Billboard Music Awards – Top Afrobeats Song (2023): Calm Down received this award for its performance on global charts.³
• Grammy Awards – Best Global Music Album Nomination (2025): His album HEIS earned Rema his first Grammy nomination in this category.¹

Rema’s discography traces a clear evolution, from viral freestyles to polished global releases. His talent for weaving Afrobeats rhythms with melodic hooks and international production has marked his rise.

• Rave & Roses (2022): His debut studio album entered the Billboard 200 and climbed to number 5 on Billboard’s World Albums chart, signaling international momentum.¹
• Calm Down (2022): The original and remix versions — including the Selena Gomez collaboration — combined to surpass one billion streams and reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.¹
• HEIS (2024): His sophomore album reached number 7 on Billboard’s World Albums chart and number 2 in Nigeria, further strengthening his global presence.¹

Rema’s live performances blend rhythm, melody, and movement into an immersive Afrobeats experience. His shows balance high-energy crowd moments with melodic stretches that highlight his vocal control.

Get Rema tickets at AXS to experience his distinctive Afrorave sound in person.