The Afro-Raver is just 22, yet heading into his fifth year since his breakout with “Dumebi”. Over that period, he has cemented himself as one of the genre’s inevitable forces, pushing through with his chilled-out versions of Trappy Afro sounds, refusing to settle for a signature sound. With over two million subscribers on YouTube and 900 million plus total views, Rema is enjoying a good run, he just performed at the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend, accompanying it with a two-song pack.
You just know what time it is when you hear “Another Banger”, the singer’s signature has grazed all his songs, making it one of the favorite jargon in the Afro-world. Produced by Blaise Beatz, Rema adds mainstream sheen to a pulsing Amapiano beat driven by throbbing percussion and soothing vibrations of violin strings that allow him to reminisce on his hard times, he sounds triumphant, with honest lyrics in which he reveals stealing a friend’s laptop to feed his family, it’s all old news now, he is in a better place, per the song’s writing skills, he treats every day like a holiday because of his early-four success. The song comes with a youthful visual with cameos from The Mavin records roster, ranging from London, and Crayon to First Lady, Ayra Starr.
The second song describes Rema’s persona so well, a melodic Afro-Raver straddling the Afro and Emo-trap world. “Reason You” brings out a more vulnerable Rema, a hook-focused tune with catchy and endearing lyrics in a way it casts Rema as a bit of a frustrated lover, making him a convincing aggregate of the sound. The Production is pure Emo-Trap by Canadian Producer Alex Lustig, whose ambient production fits Rema’s consistent mood-building. His debut album shows he is not afraid to diversify his craft, there are no boundaries, and as leader of the Afro-Rave movement, his voyage into experimenting will produce more of his identity.
