Beyond HEIS’ polarised reception, Rema is blending rare colours to create an even rarer palette, and cementing himself as the vanguard of Afro-Rave.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
When the Mavin Records wunderkind, Rema, stepped onto the Headies Award stage in 2019 to accept the ‘Next Rated’ award, he left the audience with a statement that resonated deeply: “One love, respect. I am the future”. At the time, it felt like a bold prophecy from a nascent artiste, yet it was clear he was more than confident in his destined path.
His post-Headies award releases reveal that his words were not mere lofty aspirations but a clear-eyed vision of what he knew he would achieve. Following years of prolific music releases and international collaborations, he crowned the expansive arc of his career in 2022 with his debut album, Raves and Roses, and extended the album’s shelf-life with the ultra version in 2023. These two projects unfurled the multifaceted layers of his sound, while his 2023 EP, Ravage, pointed toward the avant-garde sonic style he would later unlock widely and wildly in his new album, HEIS.
His music has always stood out as distinct. At the early stage of his career, netizens once derided it for its perceived similarities to Indian music. His many augmentations, deft manipulation of minor keys and sharpened notes, a fusion of Rock and Trap with Afrobeats, and consistently mystique branding; from the teddy-bear-carrying, to the bat emblem paying homage to his roots in Benin City—contribute to his unique artistry that makes his core fans, whom he dub ‘ravers’, relate to his music on an intimate level.
With HEIS, a Greek term that translates to ‘number one’, he exudes the braggadocio of an artiste with much to prove. At just 23, he scored a global hit “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez in 2023, sold out the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena, and filled venues worldwide.
Contextualising HEIS, Rema has perfected the balance needed to connect with both his home audience and the new markets his music has reached after the “Calm Down” wave. The angsty, devil-may-care, percussion-heavy Pop songs are imbued with an underlying theme that embraces his Nigerian roots.
The rock guitar strings and eerie laughter that introduce the swashbuckling album opener, “March Am”, hint at an explosive start. The track then shifts to a rapid-paced instrumental, leaving Rema with no room to catch his breath. “Every day, this my mouth, I dey sharp am/ Knew I was H-I-M from the zanga”, he boasts, reiterating his signature self-assured greatness. The brisk tempo persists in “Azaman”, augmented by synthesisers and percussion, where he name-drops influential Nigerians with a fervent and intense flow.
Before the release of HEIS, the pre-released track, “Hehehe”, became a viral TikTok sensation thanks to its lyrics, “Monday morning talking about me when I’m making money”, and the derisive laughter that, while ideally suited for TikTok content, appears discordant in a composition that resembles a freestyle.

The jarring delivery pattern of the Amapiano-laden “Yayo” is reminiscent of Asake’s flow executed with P.Prime and Altims’ precise production. Rema’s affection for Benin City underpins his collaboration with Shallipopi on “Benin Boys”. This isn’t his first tribute to his city; he similarly honoured it during his 2023 Ravage Uprising-themed O2 Arena show, where he donned a red mask, rode a stationary horse, and even flew an artificial bat.
If the album opener, “March Am”, is a self-affirming, braggadocious declaration that Rema is here to stay, then the Swahili-influenced titular track, “Heis”, is his tectonic offering where he references his Headies award acceptance speech. “Said, I’m the future, una no believe, Oya, how e be now?”
The 120+ BPM instrumental on “Ozeba” pays homage to the Mara sound, the frenetic, suburb-powered beat that fuels wild legwork dance moves. It is a track poised to dominate club scenes, where the lines of ethical conduct blur in the heat of the dance floor. Odumodublvck steals the show on “War Machine” with his signature hyper-masculine rap delivery.
On “Egungun”, Rema proclaims his focus on money: “Don’t call my phone if it’s not ‘bout the money oh, the money oh”. “Villian” sees the singer creatively incorporating elements from Lana Del Rey’s 2023 track, “A&W”, delivering the album’s most melodic track.

There’s a sense of introspection on the album’s closing track, “Now I Know”, that captures his journey of growth and the support he’s received during challenging times. “Keep my guy Crayon safe for me, na ‘em I tell Solo”, he salutes his label-mate and friend, Crayon.
After 27 minutes of listening to the album, HEIS reveals itself as an extreme exercise in escapism and self-praise without any pretense of digging deeper. With no intention of crafting songs that enchant with regular Afro-Pop melodies or lacing them with sublime lyricism, Rema’s aim with HEIS is unmistakable: to assert his self-coined genre, Afro-Rave, through bold experimentation and fusion of diverse sounds and elements.
Beyond HEIS’ polarised reception, Rema is blending rare colours to create an even rarer palette, and cementing himself as the vanguard of Afro-Rave.
Lyricism – 0.9
Tracklisting – 1.0
Sound Engineering – 1.5
Vocalisation – 1.2
Listening Experience – 1.0
Rating – 5.6/10
Abioye Damilare is a music journalist and culture writer focused on the African entertainment Industry. Reading new publications and listening to music are two of his favourite pastimes when he is not writing. Connect with him on Twitter and IG: @Dreyschronicle