Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has made a bold statement, asserting that every Afrobeats artist who has emerged since 2019 has been following the blueprint he laid out. According to Rema, he is responsible for revolutionizing how new artists approach the music industry, particularly when it comes to releasing their first projects.
He made this claim during a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, a popular radio show, where he also accused some big shots in the music industry of downplaying his achievements and belittling his influence. Despite his international success, Rema expressed frustration over the lack of recognition he feels he deserves for his pioneering efforts.
The ‘Ozeba’ hitmaker further emphasized that he was the first to popularize the trend of new artists debuting with an extended play (EP). He noted that before his arrival, this was not a common practice in the Afrobeats scene.
“When I came into the game [music industry], I brought a template. The way new artists come and dominate, mine was different. I started the EP trend. Every [new Afrobeats] artist since 2019 walked on that path like when you come out, you popped out with an EP,” Rema affirmed during the interview.
Rema went on to say that, despite his significant contributions to the genre, many people are reluctant to acknowledge his impact on Afrobeats, leaving him feeling the need to promote his own achievements.
“A lot of people would argue [my innovation in Afrobeats]. I don’t like to feel like an Afrobeats Messiah,” he shared.
He added, “Sometimes, people don’t like young people applauding themselves. Sometimes, it’s not for you to say. Sometimes, it’s the truth but it’s just not for you to say.”
“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 concluded, reiterating his belief that his influence on the Afrobeats genre is undeniable, even if it goes unspoken by the industry's veterans.
