Rema’s new album, "HEIS," shows off his intense and powerful style, making music that's exciting and energetic. This album goes beyond the usual, with a hint of danger and madness that feels almost divine. Sticking to his Afrobeats roots, Rema digs deeper to find the raw sounds that have been lost as the genre became …
Album Review: HEIS by Rema
Rema’s new album, “HEIS,” shows off his intense and powerful style, making music that’s exciting and energetic. This album goes beyond the usual, with a hint of danger and madness that feels almost divine. Sticking to his Afrobeats roots, Rema digs deeper to find the raw sounds that have been lost as the genre became popular worldwide.
He mixes the percussive style from the ‘60s, inspired by Fela Kuti, with modern influences like ‘80s synth music, trap, EDM, and amapiano. This blend creates a wild mix of global sounds, giving rise to the term ‘Afro-Rave.’
The lyrics in “HEIS” are some of Rema’s boldest, with tracks like “HeHeHe” declaring his dominance. The lead single “Benin Boys,” a tribute to his hometown featuring rapper Shallipopi, set a record for the second biggest opening day streams for a Nigerian song on Spotify.
Other notable tracks include “March Am,” with heavy drums and exciting sounds, and “Villain,” an Afro-EDM song with a sample from Lana Del Rey’s “A & W.” “Yayo” is a catchy, psychedelic song, while “HeIs” features choral melodies and Swahili praises. Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck appears on “War Machine.”
“HEIS” is breaking new ground, fully realizing the Afro-Rave genre while honoring traditional Afrobeats.
