From “Charm” to “Calm Down”: Here are Rema’s 13 best music videos

Rema's career officially began when he was a teenager after D'Prince came across one of his Instagram videos, prompting him to sign a joint management deal with Mavin Records and Jonzing World. The Benin City star released his first self-titled EP in 2019, which included his breakthrough hit “Dumebi.”

By 2022, Rema released “Calm Down” from his debut studio album. Rave & Roses. The remix with Selena Gomez brought the song's worldwide recognition to an astronomical level. The hit became the debut of the Nigerian talent Billboard Hot 100 record and the first track produced by an African artist to reach over 1 billion streams on Spotify.

“Every day I wake up to good news,” the self-proclaimed Afro-rave artist told the publication in a 2023 interview. “Not just good news about how well my career is doing; it's about how well my culture is being received. Afrobeats is going to the next level. This song is opening doors and bridges. Listeners want to know what else is coming out of Nigeria, what else is coming out of Africa.”

He continued: “I'm happy for myself, my team, the culture and for Selena. She embraced the sound and did her own thing. It was the right time [with] the right person, and the impact was so great. To see people who don't speak my language singing my song word for word really shows that people are touched by the sound, and for that I'm grateful.”

As Afrobeats became increasingly popular worldwide, Rema released his second album, HOTin July as a call to action to preserve the fundamentals and essence of the genre.

“I feel so [album] is rawer,” he said on Apple Music's “Le Code” with Mehdi Maïzi. “It's more local. It's like a reset that brings Afrobeat back to what it was. From the beats to the lamba to the mood, the flow, the simplicity. Even in the mixing, the dirtiness. Raw and organic, because I feel like with the success of Afrobeats, our perception of the sound is slowly changing.” The Nigerian star went on to explain that everyone is looking for something that the whole world can appreciate. “We listen too much to the voices of the world and we need to listen to the voices at home to preserve our roots. Our roots are very important.”

As Rema continues to return to the roots of Afrobeats, REVOLT has listed some of the best music videos of his career.

1. Are you there?

The music video for “Are You There?” is a collaboration between the “YAYO” singer and renowned director and cinematographer TG Omori. In addition to the song's call for change within the Nigerian government, the scenes feature protesters rebelling against police harassment and corrupt politicians. Rema leads the group, driving through the streets of the West African country with a megaphone to address the people.

“'Are You There?' is a wake-up call,” the global star explained according to Genius. “We are crazy about the government, [yet] we have [slowly] We have accepted their nonsense and tend to ignore it and only talk when it concerns us. We still complain about the things our parents complained about.”

“In this song, I'm complaining about certain problems that we're facing and the way I express my feelings about certain problems in the country,” he continued. “A lot of things are happening at the same time and while people are dying, some are in the club. So I decided not to worry about it anymore. I just can't be here and focus on the negativity of the country. Don't ask me questions when I'm out of the country and I'm fine.”

2. Do not disturb

From the start, the “DND” video feels like a short action film starring Rema. Directed by Meji Alabi, the clip follows multiple storylines, with the award-winning artist portraying a prisoner who escapes with the help of a strapped-down crew, a professor whose students get their mouths taped shut, and himself in front of the press. Overall, the main message is that “even Egbon collect DND,” meaning that regardless of the person’s age, Rema pushes aside politeness and blocks out outside noise.

3. AZAM

The West African artist's visuals can always match the energy of the record. Just as “AZAMAN” is upbeat with its musical production, the first scene of the music video sets the tone for the experience. It features Rema dressed all in black, driving around with butterfly doors. For the two and a half minutes, the musician is in his element. Much like the track itself has enormous replay value due to its brevity, the accompanying video also keeps you pressing play over and over again.

4. Calm down

While “Calm Down” is considered the first Afrobeats song in history to garner over 1 billion streams in the United States, the music video features simple and vibrant clothing and set design, making it a standout gem in Rema's videography. Upon its release, the collaboration with Director K garnered numerous accolades, including a Headies Award for “Best Music Video” in 2023.

In addition, the video for the remix featuring Gomez won the inaugural “Best Afrobeats” award at the MTV Video Music Awards.

5. Holiday

The video for “Holiday” perfectly captures Rema’s carefree essence. While the record’s lyrics testify to his resilience and perseverance in the industry, the DK-directed video shows him finding peace in hindsight. Whether he’s chilling with his close circle or showing up, Rema is all smiles from start to finish, basking in happiness at having gone from problems and difficulties to “every day being a holiday.”

6. Charm

Even a year after its release, “Charm” was still one of the Afrobeats mogul's most-watched music videos. Rema also directed the video alongside Perliks ​​and Folarin Oludare, the plot of which revolves around the beauty of a woman who captivates him. The lead actress stands in the spotlight and dances effortlessly in a short, shimmering skirt, putting the singer-songwriter in a trance. Alongside the dancer, there are transitions of silhouette shots of Rema showing off his own dance moves, which went viral before the video's release.

7. Woman

Rema repeats “I too like woman” in the chorus of the pop-tinged track, so it's no surprise that the music video for it is the definition of women galore. Throughout the video, the “Soweto” remix collaborator is surrounded by black women of all colors and sizes. In one scene, one of them even hands him an apple, likely symbolizing the story of Adam and Eve. Rema shows his love for women to the fullest by lying on the floor in the final shot, surrounded by an abundance of photos of women.

8. Dirty

“Dirty” is one of the more sensual songs on Rave & Rosesand the accompanying video brought the romantic image Rema had created even more to life. Shot in Lagos, Nigeria, the video stars Mariana Jaguite as Rema's lover. The two are seen in a variety of locations – from cozying up in a bedroom to walking hand in hand on the beach. The lighting and composition of the clip is reminiscent of the “Calm Down” video, released a few months earlier.

The music video for “Dirty” was directed by Earthboi, who also worked with Ayra Starr, also of Mavin Records.

9. FYN

“Fresh young n**ga cruisein' in a Bimmer,” goes the opening chorus of “FYN,” and it's only right that the accompanying visual reflects the mood. Rocking a Louis Vuitton set in the video, Rema sits in the passenger seat of a white BMW. The influential star shows that he's fresh, showing off his lifestyle and all the joys that come with it – like sitting poolside next to beautiful women and splurging on expensive jewelry. For this release, Rema has once again collaborated with Grammy Award-winning director Alabi, who has previously worked with Beyoncé, Tiwa Savage, and Victoria Monét, to name a few.

10. Dumebi

“Dumebi” burst onto the music scene when the Nigerian hitmaker was just 19 years old. For his first official music video, Rema captured a day in the life of an adventurous teenager. Directed by Ademola Falomo, the video sees him and a few friends on a road trip, with some stops including dance breaks. The video ends with a camping trip full of good vibes, complementing the light-hearted, fun hit beautifully.

11. Jumping power

The opening scene of the music video for “Bounce” features countless bats flying – a symbol of Rema’s origins in Benin City, Edo State. From there, the clip goes into full rave mode, set in “Rave County”. Don Jazzy, founder and CEO of Mavin Records and producer of “Bounce”, also makes an appearance.

12. Ginger I

Shot during the “Time N Affection” singer's era of red locks, the serene music video for “Ginger Me” rivaled The Elements' production. Showing off their loverboy side, Rema and his lady love are seen cuddling indoors on a living room sofa and outdoors on park swings. The video also features dancers sporting a variety of hairstyles, from a short blonde haircut to an African hairstyle. There is also a brief appearance by Rema's signature teddy bear.

13. Soundgasm

The magic behind “Soundgasm” is its simple yet infectious melody. To complement the hit, the visual is set in a seemingly abandoned house, with only a mattress, a piano and a mirror. In addition to the empty rooms, there is a scene with Rema and a dancer in front of a car – the musician strums his guitar while his lover dances on the hood.

Bobby Hanaford – who directed the visuals for Starr’s “Last Heartbreak Song” and Johnny Drille’s “Loving is Harder” – also lent his talents to the “Soundgasm” video.