
Rave & Roses Roundtable Discussion.
Before the scheduled release of Rave & Roses, Rema's highly anticipated debut,, we here at Bside decided to discuss the album, talking about our various expectations, what it could possibly sound like, the features and much more.

It wouldnāt be hyperbolic to claim that Rave & Roses, Remaās long-awaited debut album, has been the most anticipated project, in Nigeria at least, for about a year and a half. It makes perfect sense. Heās Afrobeatsā golden child: the kid that had all the makings, since his staggering debut, of a megastar. He is to Afrobeats what Moses, the prophet, was to the Israelites; the destined one to take the genre to the promised land. Only a handful can claim to have a breakout year like his. The 21-year-old came into the game with his eponymous debut that took the country, and eventually the continent, by storm. He quickly followed with two equally impressive EPās ć¼ Rema Freestyle & Bad Commando ć¼ which didnāt only increase his stocks but also showed the world just how versatile he is. All these culminated in millions of streams, lucrative brand deals and several award nominations.
After 2019, fans, onlookers and just about anyone interested in Afrobeats had patiently waited for his full-length release. But every time it looked like the album was on the horizon, a release of one single after the next, raising hopes and anticipation for the album, it never seemed to materialize. There were pushbacks after pushbacks for reasons unknown to the public. But again, it makes sense. Anyone that follows him knows thereās a certain gravitas with which he speaks about his work and his artistry. You can tell it's serious business to him. A couple of months ago he tweeted about the album saying: āRave & Roses is more than an album, itās a world that weāll all take part of, every fan will be impacted beyond music.ā So it doesnāt come as a surprise that heās taken this much time, carefully building this new world that is finally ready and would be open to the public on the 25th of March.
Before the scheduled release date, we here at Bside decided to discuss the album, talking about our various expectations, what it could possibly sound like, the features and much more.
What are your expectations for the album?
Jabbar: I hope the project solidifies Rema. Beyond his singles, his profile seems incomplete in a large sense. While he has a couple of projects under his belt already ć¼ three in his breakout year (Rema, Rema Freestyle & Bad Commando) ć¼ he doesnāt have a full-length album to his name and this feels like the one untrained muscle he has. Hopefully, the expectations donāt jinx his debut.
Bolu: Funny enough, I donāt have high expectations for the album. Rema is a generational talent, itās undeniable. With his incredible run of three brilliant EPās in 2019, his breakout year, coupled with his string of incredible singles, he has continuously proven himself to be head and shoulders above many. Albums are however a different ball game altogether and I donāt get the sense YET that heās capable of putting together a brilliant one. The pre-released singles ć¼ āSoundgasmā & āCalm Downā ć¼ hint at a cohesive sonic direction and thatās a good sign. I, however, hope to be blown away.
Martin: I have really high hopes for the album. In fact, I expect Rave & Roses to change the narrative and perspective around him. It should take him from being the future of the genre to the present. He has everything going for him at the moment and I believe he can achieve this.
Seeing that the āAfrobeats to the Worldā movement is currently in full steam, do you think Rave & Roses is capable of being at the centre of the conversation upon its release or do you think itāll probably be added firepower fueling the movement?
AK: I think it could definitely be at the center of the conversation. Rema shakes the game a little with almost every drop now think what it would be like when he finally drops his long-awaited debut. Also, I think thereās too much care and attention from his team and label for it not to be up there with the very best.
Jabbar: Itās impossible to tell at this point. Off ability alone, heās capable of the task, but so are at least six or seven of his contemporaries. There are also a few of them embedded enough in the machine that could create a Made In Lagos level project. Competition is tough.
Jasmine: I think that the album being at the center of the āAfrobeats to the Worldā movement might be a large expectation to place on Rema. I donāt think itāll spark a āworldwideā conversation but locally, I think itāll be widely discussed and super impactful. Especially from the perspective of the youth/young people.
What version of Rema do you think weāre getting on the album. Soundgasm Rema? Trap Out The Submarine Rema? Lady Rema? Or a new version we havenāt heard before?
Bolu: Another banger Rema. Whatever it is would most likely be another banger. Cohesion is a separate conversation but itāll be another banger still.
AK: I think weāll get a dash of everything but I expect it to be predominantly Afropopć¼ the global iteration that artists like Wizkid and Adekunle Gold have been giving us of late. But like I said, with a sprinkle of other vibes. Expect some Remapiano too.
Jabbar: I think heāll try his hardest to accommodate all musical versions of himself, he clearly has a thing for versatility but heās also very tapped in. Artists who can hone in on a sound or mood for one project tend to make better albums. If heās got anything to tap into beyond the musical personas then maybe thatās the move.
Martin: I think weāre getting all the versions of Rema at once. No better place to show off your range than an album. There will most likely be a bit of everything for everybody.
Do you think this can be a make it or break moment for Rema depending on how well the album does?
Jasmine: Rema is in really solid space, he has been since his breathtaking entry into the game. If Rave & Roses disappoints or flops, I don't think itāll make or break his career. Rema is young and talented, plus he has a lot of time on his hands. In the unimaginable case that the album flops, I think he still has enough time and tools in his arsenal to bounce back. And trust that his comeback will be crazy.
Jabbar: Nobody plans for their debut to bomb. An artist at his level probably canāt afford to have his album bomb but somehow that doesnāt seem like the worst thing that could happen to him. His stock has been stronger with singles, he could always revert to that but the album move makes him a bigger artist if he pulls it off. So yes, make or break.
AK: Ironically with the high expectations, I think itās not a make or break moment. If it slaps and it popping off everywhere, there will be no surprises. But if it gets mixed or, let's assume, bad reviews, I think heāll still have enough fuel in the tank to go again. As long as the reviews donāt get to him and sparks a war with fans, I think heāll be fine.
How many features do you think will be on the album?
Bolu: Iāll go with 4 features. I donāt think he has ever featured anyone, has he?. Itāll be interesting to see the artists that end up on the album alongside him. There are rumours of 6lack, Yseult and Aj Tracey making the album. One thing Iām genuinely excited to hear is how these artists sound in his own world because most of the collaborations heās done in the past, heās had to mostly enter into other peopleās worlds.
Jabbar: Too many.
Jasmine: Expecting maybe four to five features. A mix of both international and local artists.
AK: I think the album would have about five to seven features. Iām guessing itāll be an odd number.
Martin: Thereād probably be about four to five at most. He doesnāt exactly have a record of featuring others that much.