The Nigerian musician Rema has discussed his opinions on the growing international recognition of Afrobeats music.
In a recent interview on “The Breakfast Club,” Rema credited the success of his hit song “Calm Down” for leading to the inclusion of an Afrobeats category in major international awards.
Rema also identified with well-known Afrobeats musicians, saying he saw himself as one of the “Big Four.”
He emphasised the influence of himself while recognising the contributions of other great artists.
Rema clarified that he doesn’t seek to be seen as the sole savior of Afrobeats but rather wants to acknowledge his role in the genre’s growth.
“I don’t want to feel like an Afrobeats Messiah. Sometimes I can’t wait for the OGs to say it but since no one is saying it, I might have to say it myself,” he said.
“Respect to the OGs but yeah, I am one of the Big 4… Something as little as a major award shows creating an Afrobeats category because the success of my song has already opened gates.”
Rema also opened up on the inspiration behind his album HEIS.
the singer, who achieved a milestone with Afrobeats’ first 1 billion Spotify streams, stated that he sought to create something distinct from the prevailing Nigerian mainstream pop music.
Rema expressed his desire to defy expectations and challenge conventional norms.
He said:
“I like the way I moved on to my new project. I don’t like to move the way people expect. I don’t like to move with the rules”.
Rema has consistently emphasized his goal of creating a unique sound, as evident in his previous comments on the album.
