Rema Slams Nigerian Music Industry as ‘Fake’ at Album Listening Party

Afrobeats sensation Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, has openly criticized the Nigerian music industry, labeling it as dominated by “fake people.”

Speaking at the listening party for his second album, ‘He Is,’ held in Lagos on Thursday night, the artist behind the hit ‘Another Banger’ revealed that his experiences with the industry’s insincerity inspired the song ‘Now I Know’ on the new album.

Rema expressed his frustration, stating, “There are a lot of fake people in the [music] industry, the industry is fake. So when people come and say ‘Yo, I love this guy,’ nobody should come at them that they’re chasing clout. No, it’s real.”

He elaborated on the song’s theme, adding, “When somebody comes out it’s because they’ve seen someone that’s real among everybody in the crazy industry mixed with both the fake and the real. And that’s what this song [‘Now I Know] is all about. Now I know who dey for me. All those I loved turned enemies. Now I know who dey for me. All those I trust turned enemies.”

Rema’s 11-track sophomore album, released on Thursday via Mavin Records, features collaborations with Shallipopi and Odumodublvck.