Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has opened up about how the death of his dad affected his childhood.
The ‘Calm Down’ crooner said the death of his father left him the responsibility of catering for his family at a young age.
In a candid revelation, Rema, 24, said he wants to “feel young again.”
“I really wanted to feel like a child again… I feel like I grew up too fast. Life switched up on me crazy when I lost my dad and my brother. The weight was just on my shoulders and forced me to sell my childhood to provide for my family.
“God willing, everything happened well, it happened fast. And with fast fame, comes fast maturity. It’s just like a never-ending level of seriousness. So many adults. So many meetings. I didn’t even roll with my age mates.”
Rema
He noted that he recently started smoking cigarettes in a bid to feel “free and break some rules again.”
“So this project [‘HeIs’], I just want to be a child. And it’s coming out. It’s not me forcing it out. It just sparked in my spirit. I just want to feel young again. I just to be a rebel.
“You know, kids make mistakes and it’s acceptable. But when you’re a teenager and you make the same mistake your peers would make, everyone will come for you just because you’re in the spotlight.”
Rema
“I know people who smoked a cigarette when they were 13 and I’m 24 smoking a cigarette because I just want to feel free and break some rules. All my life just feels so planned and scheduled. I just got tired,” he bemoaned.
Rema lamented that despite being an adult before deciding to smoke, people still criticize his decision because he’s a celebrity.
Artist Reacts To Being Compared With Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy
Rema is one of the artists at the forefront of exporting Afrobeats through his music which has earned several notable firsts for Nigerian music.
The artist addressed instances of him being compared with industry heavyweights Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, classified as the “Big 3” musicians.
Rema emphasized that he doesn’t let whatever his colleagues think of him bother him because they are not his priority.
“Five years ago, I didn’t know these guys (my colleagues). So why would they be my priority,” Rema said about being uninterested in impressing his colleagues.
According to him, the chest-thumping and emphatic claims to the number 1 spot were all for sports, and that energy isn’t carried outside the music.
“When I put it in terms of lyricism, I always want to keep the sport going… We keep it the Ronaldo way, we keep it the Lebron way. When we are the match, it’s war. Outside of the match, it’s love.”
Rema
Rema restated that the idea behind his sophomore album ‘HEIS’ is a desire to make Afrobeats music that’s difficult for foreigners to replicate.
He noted that this decision was inspired by what he considers the dumbing down of Afrobeats by those at the fore of its exportation.
Rema recently performed at the Ambani wedding in India where he was rumoured to be paid $3 million.
The artist refused to confirm nor deny the claim. He instead shared his love for Indians and how they have embraced his music and shown him more love than Nigerians.
“Hehehe, that’s all I can say money wise but it was a great treatment. I love India and India loves me too, and it’s just beautiful to see something that people trolled me for and criticized me for, and I’m benefiting from that.”
Rema
Reflecting on his career and the negative remarks he previously received about his sound, Rema spoke about how ignoring the negative feedback contributed to his success in India.
“Imagine if I stopped and listened to the trolls; four years later, it paid and it paid big and more to come. It’s a huge territory and I’m actually the first person to tour India from the Afrobeats space and it’s a huge deal. It’s not just about the wedding; it’s about the reception everywhere I go.”
Rema
Rema also touched upon the broader cultural impact of his visit, highlighting how he was able to break through the racial stereotypes through his music.
“I remember when I was touring India, I don’t even know how they know, but when I go anywhere to eat or something, there is paparazzi everywhere. It’s crazier than the love in Nigeria and over the years, I heard a lot about racism and I’ve spoken to black people in India. But to see the stereotype being taken away though music is beautiful.”
Rema
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