I sold my childhood to provide for my family after my father's death — Rema

Nigerian Afrobeats singer Rema

Nigerian afrobeat singer Rema has opened up about losing his childhood at a young age in order to provide for his family.

In a recent interview with UK music platform GRM Daily, the "Calm Down" hitmaker reflected on the responsibilities that were thrust upon him after tragedy struck his family.

Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, lost both his father and brother at a young age.

This, the singer said, left the weight of supporting his family solely on his shoulders.

“I really wanted to feel like a child again...I feel like I grew up too fast. Life switched up on me crazy when I lost my dad and my brother. The weight was just on my shoulder and forced me to sell my childhood to provide for my family," the 24-year-old said.

He went on to talk about grinding non-stop through various hustles in order to earn a living, not knowing that music would eventually come knocking.

“I also thought maybe after hustling and doing my little beats in Ghana, and all the little hustles I put my hands into, I thought it was going to end there, but music picked up,” he said.

The fame and success that followed in quick succession also brought on more responsibility and seriousness than typical for someone his age.

“With fast fame came fast maturity, and it’s like a never-ending level of seriousness. There were so many adults and so many meetings, that I didn’t even roll with my agemates,” he noted.

Rema added, "'I’m not sure I even rolled with the 19- or 18-year-olds. When I was 17, I didn’t see a fellow 17-year-old, and when I was 20, everyone was five, six, or ten years older."

"I just want to feel young again. I just want to be a rebel. You know, kids make mistakes, and it’s acceptable. But when you’re a teenager, and you make the same mistake your peers would make, everyone will come for you just because you’re in the spotlight,” stressed the award-winning singer.