After scoring one of the biggest Afrobeats crossover hits in U.S. history with his Selena Gomez-assisted “Calm Down,” Nigerian superstar Rema is gearing up to enter a new era.
Today, the Billboard Music Award winner has unleashed his first musical release of the year — a new collaboration with Shallipopi titled “Benin Boys.” The upbeat single is an anthem for his hometown Benin City, Nigeria and features Benin’s rising artist Shallipopi.
Across heavy drums and stirring background strings, Rema and Shallipopi trade verses that flex their “big money” and exalt their status as two of the world’s hottest young stars. The new collaboration arrives alongside a DK-helmed music video that finds the two stars decked out in their freshest fits in a series of scenes, including a neon-drenched night club and private jet.
The 23-year-old’s ascent to global recognition has inspired multiple mentions in global publications and platforms, including cover stories in Fader & Dazed, and features in Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Rema Fever has spread across Africa, India, Europe, and the US where he has headlined multiple appearances on his US and World Tours. Building on a stellar debut year, Rema continued his global mission in 2020 with the double release of the Rvssian-assisted “Beamer (Bad Boys) and “Rainbow” , and chart-topping “Ginger Me” and “Woman”. In 2021, Rema continued his unassailable ascent to global superstardom with two statement releases. First was ‘Bounce’ – produced by legendary Afrobeats icon, Don Jazzy.
Building on a stellar debut year in 2019 with the release of Rema, the Nigerian star continued his global mission in 2020 with the double release of the Rvssian-assisted “Beamer (Bad Boys)” and “Rainbow”, and chart-topping “Ginger Me” and “Woman”. In 2021, Rema continued his unassailable ascent to global superstardom with two statement releases. First was “Bounce” – produced by legendary Afrobeats icon, Don Jazzy. On the back of the single, Rema went on to christen his unique brand of Afrobeats, self-titled ‘Afrorave,’ and his dedicated fanbase, the ‘Ravers’. He also served up “Soundgasm” as a taste of the new genre he’d pioneered. These songs earned him two No. 1’s and over 300 million streams on all platforms. With the release of his debut Album, Rave and Roses in 2022, followed by a 14-city SOLD OUT tour of the United States and a collaboration with Selena Gomez on his global hit, “Calm Down Remix”, Rema became the highest and longest charting Afrobeats artist on the Billboard Hot 100.
With a Guinness World Record as the first No. 1 on The Official MENA Chart, over 70 Billion Career streams, and a SOLD OUT show at London’s O2 Arena last November, Rema’s ready to take the next step on his ascent towards global stardom.
Check out the brand new single and video below!