Rema speaks on competing with Nigeria’s ‘Big Three’ artists

Afrobeat singer Rema has expressed his views on competing with Nigeria’s top artists, Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.

He said that he doesn’t give much weight to others’ opinions, saying that “these artists weren’t known to him five years ago.”

In a recent interview with GRM Daily, Rema attributed the competitive narrative to fans, stating that his focus remains on perfecting his craft and preserving the “sport” of lyricism.

He likened it to the rivalry between Ronaldo and LeBron, where competition exists on the field but not beyond it.

Rema said: “I do not want to praise myself. Everyone who has met me has been super respectful. In the game, people act crazy. It is okay to take bullsh*t or overlook,” he said.

“We are all human beings. But one thing I always want. I always tell my boys that five years ago, I did not know these dudes. My colleagues literally. So why would they be my priority? Why would I wake up and say this move I am about to make will compete with them? Or we go show them? Why would they ever be my priority?

“It is always the fanbase making it seem like any move we make is competition. But, when I put it in terms of lyricism, I always want to keep the sport going. We have lyrics where Davido will be like ‘I’m bigger than all of them’ or Wizkid’s ‘Dem sey dem bad I swear dem do nothing or eh’. All to keep the sport going. We keep it the Ronaldo, the LeBron way. When we are in the match, it is war, outside of the match, it is love.”

He confidently declared that he’s now on par with the “Big Three.