Rema also said he switched his brand of music while he was in Benin and not because of pressure from his label, Mavin Records
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian singer and fast-rising star, Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, has disclosed that he crossed over from gospel songs to circular songs to make ends meet.
Rema began his music career in the church and headed a gospel rap group, before switching to circular music out of the necessity to take care of himself and his family after his father passed away.
The 21-year-old singer disclosed this while speaking on Rubbin’ Minds show on Channels TV on Sunday
The University of Lagos undergraduate said during the interview that after losing his dad and brother, his mum found it difficult to pay the bill at home and he needed to help out.
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He also said contrary to what a lot of people think, he switched his brand of music while he was in Benin and that it was not because of fame or being pressured by his label as a lot of people have suggested.
He said, “I was still in Benin when that switch happened. A lot of people thought that when I got signed, I started deviating.
“No. Actually, life was tough in Benin. I’m not that guy to ask the people in church to pay me because I’m doing God’s work.
“Right there in Benin, I started going to competitions, going to bars, lounges, political rallies; just trying to get on the stage and hold a microphone, to at least get sprayed some money to come back home and feed my family, because we were going through tough times.
“I lost my father and brother and I needed to come through for my family. At that point in time, I felt like that’s where I started spacing out; little by little, until I just exiled.”
He went on to say his mum found his decision awkward at the beginning because of her strong Christian foundation but he was able to convince her that he promised not to depart from the ways of God.
“It was weird for me and most especially for my mum because she was well known in church. I didn’t do any much explaining. I just told her to trust me,” Rema added.
