I rank among Afrobeats’ greatest – Rema declares

Rema, the Ozeba crooner, has noted that he ranks among Afrobeats greatest artistes.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Calm Down hitmaker clarified his earlier statement about Nigeria’s top four artistes, a list that included himself.

The 24-year-old emphasised that his confidence should not be mistaken for arrogance but rather seen as a reflection of his hard work and dedication to his craft. He also questioned why his self-proclamation is considered controversial, arguing that acknowledging other greats alongside himself is, in fact, a humble stance.

Referencing Kendrick Lamar’s famous diss line, Rema clarified his intentions, stating that he stands for the unity of Afrobeats rather than competition that tears others down.

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“So on ‘HeIs’, I was talking a lot of s**t. It is not cocky. It is like what stops you from saying you’re the best? You can say it and stand your ground. It is even humble to say four,” he said.

“I didn’t pull down the two, I didn’t pull down the three. I just see myself as one of the greats, and it’s a problem. I’m not saying oh f**k everybody. It is different from what Kendrick said: ‘It’s just big me’. I really vouch for the unity of Afrobeats,” Rema said.

Rema signed with D’Prince’s Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records, in 2019. He quickly gained recognition with hits like Dumebi, Iron Man, and Corny. His global smash hit Calm Down, featuring Selena Gomez, won the inaugural ‘Best Afrobeats’ category at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in 2023 and broke streaming records worldwide.

Other notable singles from Rema include Bounce, Soundgasm, Charm, Holiday, and Dirty. His debut album, Rave & Roses, solidified his status as one of Afrobeats’ biggest stars, while his sophomore album, HeIs, set the record for the biggest first-week streams on Spotify Nigeria in 2024.

Spotify also recognised him as one of the most exported artistes who dominated last year’s charts in sub-Saharan Africa.