Rema Interview: HEIS, Ye & Carti Inspiration, Drake Collab Leaking, Afrobeats, Conspiracy Theorists

In this interview, Arshan sat down for a conversation with global Afrobeats star Rema following the release of his critically acclaimed album ‘HEIS’ which not only marked a notable shift in his sound and aesthetic but also bridged a new audience toward the genre itself while still paying homage to his native Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Starting his early musical journey as a Gospel rapper, Rema developed his skills and ear for music with early influences rooted in Melodic Trap while listening to Playboi Carti, Juice WRLD, and XXXTENTACION, among many others. Rema’s music initially gained traction following the release of his 2019 single “Dumebi” which was the first domino to fall in his long line of world-dominating tracks like “Calm Down (with Selena Gomez)” which propelled him to the global stage and then some.

In their conversation, Rema discusses his favorite things to do in NY, starting his career as a Gospel rapper, being a fan of LUCKI, Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, Future, & Veeze, having early influence from Playboi Carti, Juice WRLD, and XXXTENTACION, being friends with Travis Scott & showing him around Nigeria, dealing with songs leaking & not crashing out, “Mention Me” with Drake leaking, starting from scratch with Drake to make a classic, his album ‘HEIS’ changing the sound of Afrobeats, Batman: “Arkham Knight” influencing his sound, making Afrobeats cinematic and being inspired by Hip-Hop, bringing back “the old Rema,” NOT worshipping the devil and Benin culture being misunderstood, being best friends with Lancey Foux, working with Young Thug & Akon, Afrobeats being overlooked, Rema’s biggest enemy, Rema’s advice for emerging artists, Overcoming creative burnout, being mentored by Rick Rubin, getting style inspiration from Emo-Rock, and working with Metro Boomin & BNYX going forward!

Host @ktoarshan
Producers @ktoarshan @jack.kissane
Filming @kahhre @wav3_visuals
Editing @Mikkyfilmz @ktoarshan
Research + special help @jack.kissane @antoniojohri

TIMESTAMPS! Y'all like us dipping into the international scene? Who's a NON North American artist y'all want on the channel?

0:00 - Flying from Nigeria to NYC

2:05 - Starting career as Gospel rapper

3:30 - Fan of LUCKI, Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, Veeze

4:37 - Respecting Juice WRLD, and XXXTENTACION

5:26 - Being friends with Travis Scott & showing him Nigeria

7:06 - Dealing with songs leaking & not crashing out

8:28 - “Mention Me” with Drake leaking

11:15 - ‘HEIS’ album changing the sound of Afrobeats, Afrorave

12:30 - Batman: “Arkham Knight” the game influencing his new sound

14:56 - ‘Yeezus’ & ‘Whole Lotta Red’ inspiration, Making afrobeats cinematic

16:20 - Recording “Calm Down” a year before dropping

16:45: Bringing back “the old Rema”?

18:37 - Rema NOT worshipping the devil

19:30 - Benin City’s culture being misunderstood

20:37 - Lancey Foux

21:58 - Working with Young Thug & Akon??

22:45 - Rema leaving his concert & Afrobeats being overlooked

23:43 - Rema’s biggest enemy

24:28: Rema’s advice for emerging artists

24:45 - Overcoming creative burnout: Rick Rubin’s mentee

25:36 - Emo-Rock style inspiration

27:37 - Working with Metro Boomin & BNYX

Tags (ignore):

rema rema afrobeats afrobeats heis heis benin benin nigeria nigeria melodic trap melodic trap playboi carti playboi carti juice wrld juice wrld xxxtentacion xxxtentacion dumebi dumebi calm down calm down selena gomez selena gomez lucki lucki ken carson ken carson future future veeze veeze travis scott travis scott drake drake lancey foux lancey foux young thug young thug akon akon rick rubin rick rubin emo-rock emo-rock calm down calm down metro boomin metro boomin bnyx bnyx yeezus yeezus whole lotta red whole lotta red