‘I just want to feel free and break some rules,’ Rema speaks on his new-found smoking habit

The well-known Afrobeats artist Divine Ikubor, also referred to as Rema, has talked candidly about how his father’s passing impacted his childhood.

The “Calm Down” singer claimed that he was “forced to sell” his youth because, at a young age, his father’s death left him responsible for providing for his family.

Rema expressed in an open conversation with GRM that he wishes to “feel young again.”

The musician continued, saying that he just started smoking in an effort to feel “free and break some rules.”

Rema lamented that despite being an adult before deciding to smoke, people still criticise his decision because he’s a celebrity. In Rema’s words:

“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 shoulder 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 never ending level of seriousness. So much adults. So much meetings. I didn’t even rolled with my age mates.

“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.

“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 feel so planned and scheduled. I just got tired.”