Rema - “Dumebi”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 10

Pairs Well With…Wizkid, Davido, Post Malone

Nigerian R&B/hip hop artist has had a quick rise in a short time by melding Western trap beats and Afropop music since debuting last year, truly finding middle ground without deviating far from either genres’ cores. Breakout “Dumebi” is equally danceable and downtempo cool, a percussive track steeped in electronic R&B tones and even finding some jazz leans on the excitingly chill single. 2020 singles “Beamer (Bad Boys)” and sunny, love-rap track “Rainbow” find Rema going further into pop-rap territory, but Rema still maintains the textured rhythms and melodies that are hallmarks of Nigerian music while hitting more mainstream notes. (Kevin McStravick)