Imagine a world where beats drop, with an ectrifying bass that sends shivers down your spine. A world where the music takes control of your body and transports you to a euphoric state of mind. This is how I describe, Rave & Rose Ultra, the album which has recently earned the title of the most streamed African album of all time, by none other than the young Nigerian music sensation, Rema.
Rema is a Nigerian musician, singer, and songwriter. His real name is Divine Ikubor, born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He gained prominence in the Nigerian music scene in 2019, after his hit song “Dumebi” became a viral sensation. Since then, Rema has been making waves in the music industry, both in Nigeria and internationally, with his unique style of music that blends Afrobeats, trap, and pop.
He has won several awards, including the Headies Award for Next Rated Artist in 2019, and has been recognized by major international music publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Billboard. Rema is considered one of the rising stars of African music, and he continues to push the boundaries of the genre with his innovative sound and style.
Rema’s Style
Rema had successfully paved the way for a new Afrobeat subgenre which he calls Afrorave. And, unlike any regular subgenre of music, it is an interesting enhancement of the revered Afrobeats—one that has shown immense potential to revolutionize the entire music industry. And that would take us right to the currently buzzing acclaimed GOAT album: Rave & Roses Ultra.
With its distinctive blend of Afrobeats, pop, and EDM, this album has broken records and enthralled audiences worldwide. Rave & Rose Ultra is a musical trip that will enchant you, from the enticing hooks to the throbbing rhythms. So buckle up, put on your dancing shoes, and prepare to enter the hypnotic world of Rema's Rave & Rose Ultra.
Origin of Rave & Roses Ultra
Rave & Roses Ultra was released on April 28, 2023, as an extension of his previously released album Rave & Roses. Rave & Roses Ultra has six more songs added to Rave & Roses, including Calm Down Remix, Holiday, Reason You, and three other previously unheard tracks: HOV, Charm, and Dunno Me. And that is so impressive because Rave & Roses is originally a beautiful work of musical art on its own.
What is Rave & Roses Ultra Album About?
Aside from just being two sides of one album, the albums have some of the best tracks ever recorded in the history of Afrobeats. Rave & Roses consist of sixteen songs and was released on March 25, 2022, with tracks that discuss the artist’s journey through life, his rise to fame, his experience with love, and his hope for success.
Rave & Roses is not, in any considerable way, different from its parent album, as it discusses those and MORE. With the six songs added to Rave & Roses to birth Rave & Roses Ultra, the latter emphasizes the original essence of the previous album, without even altering its amazing message.
Some extensions of albums try to remove the essence of the original album, but Rema has effortlessly done beautifully well by increasing the love from his fans and even drawing the attention of foreigners to become fans.
Overall, Rave & Roses Ultra is an album that captures the passion and enthusiasm of today's African youth culture. It is a love, life, and music celebration that has connected with people all around the world, making it the most streamed African album of all time.
Achievements of Rave & Roses Ultra
Rave & Roses has become one of the most successful albums of the year by amassing over 1 billion streams on Spotify on the second day of its release. Also, it happens to be on Apple Music’s second most streamed album after Davido's Timeless.
This feat is accomplished in such a short time also because of the success of the Calm Down Remix with Selena Gomez which has gained more than 670 million streams on Spotify currently — and more than a billion streams globally — and Holiday which has gained more than 14 million streams also on Spotify. Thanks to the several hit singles that made their way into the deluxe album, Rave & Roses Ultra is a massive success.
Rema is owning up to being his big name and growing his massive influence in the music industry with Rave & Roses Ultra. His album remains a game-changing record that has captivated the music globe and will continue to grab the attention of audiences worldwide. One thing is sure Rema's unique sound and style continue to push the frontiers of African music, and his career prospects are promising.
Rema’s Feature on Guiness World Record
In November 2022, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced that Calm Down was topping the Official MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Chart as the No. 1 hit on this chart that collects data from various streaming platforms with the population of over 300 million people across Middle East and North Africa.
Image Credit: Screenshot from Guinness World Record post on website. (Alt text: rema-guiness-world-record-feature-memo)
So in recognition of this feat, the Guiness World Recordpublished a memo on its website that stated Rema was being recognized for achieving this historic feat. In it, they said: “On 29 November 2022, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced that “Calm Down” by the Nigerian rapper Rema (b. Divine Ikubor) had become the first No.1 on The Official MENA Chart – the world’s first regional music streaming chart and the first-ever official chart in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).”