Rave & Roses

Rave & Roses
Studio album by
Rema
Released25 March 2022 (2022-03-25)
Genre
Length59:09
Label
Rema chronology
Rema Compilation
(2020) 		Rave & Roses
(2022) 		Heis
(2024)
Singles from Rave & Roses
  1. "Soundgasm"
    Released: 10 June 2021
  2. "Calm Down"
    Released: 11 February 2022
  3. "FYN"
    Released: 11 March 2022

Rave & Roses is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Rema. It was released on 25 March 2022 via Jonzing World and Mavin Records. The album included guest appearances from 6lack, Chris Brown, AJ Tracey, and Yseult.[2][3] The deluxe version of the album was released on 28 April 2023, renamed as Rave & Roses Ultra.[4]

Background

In May 2021, Rema announced he would be calling his sound "Afrorave", a subgenre of Afrobeats with influences of Arabian and Indian music, saying "my album seals this claim for good".[1][5] In an interview, Rema discussed the importance of the album to him saying it's a "breath of fresh air for him as an artist."[6]

Recording and production

Rema recorded most of the album in Benin City. He told NME about the recording process saying, "I tapped into a different mind space for this album, though. Learning through personal experiences, I knew I had been pushed into a different space compared to where I was before. As I'm currently at the forefront of a musical generation, I know the album is going to have an impact."[7]

Singles and promotion

In June 2021, Rema released the first single titled "Soundgasm", with a music video.[8] On 11 February 2022, Rema officially announced the album's release date and released the second single "Calm Down".[9][10] On 11 March 2022, he released the third single "FYN" featuring AJ Tracey.[11] The album became the first album by an African artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify, following the release of the Ultra Version.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Cable3/5[12]
Clash8/10[13]
Crack7/10[14]
The Native7.7/10[15]
Pitchfork7.2/10[3]
Pulse Nigeria7.2/10[16]
The Scoove Africa7.2/10[17]

Jessica Kariisa of Pitchfork stated that "Rema sounds just as confident and irrepressibly youthful as ever".[3] Motolani Alake of Pulse Nigeria gave the album a 7.2/10 rating, but said that the album has unmissable flaws and there is evidence of lazy songwriting.[16] Olayiide Bolaji of The Scoove Africa also gave the album a 7.2/10 but noted that while the album shows Rema's artistic evolution, it is predictable and most of the songs sound too alike.[17]

Track listing

Rave & Roses – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Divine"
Sarz3:33
2."Hold Me" (with 6lack)
  • Dez Wright
  • Kill September
  • London
4:09
3."Dirty"Ikubor
3:42
4."Calm Down"Ikubor
3:39
5."Soundgasm"Ikubor
3:24
6."Time n Affection" (with Chris Brown)
3:50
7."Jo"IkuborLondon3:07
8."Mara"IkuborAndre Vibez2:58
9."Love"IkuborLondon4:10
10."Addicted"IkuborLondon4:30
11."Are You There?"Ikubor1Mind3:13
12."FYN" (with AJ Tracey)
3:27
13."Oroma Baby"Ikubor
3:29
14."Carry"Ikubor
3:42
15."Wine" (with Yseult)
London3:50
16."Runaway"IkuborLondon4:18
Total length:59:09
Rave & Roses Ultra (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."HOV"Ikubor
  • Alex Lustig
  • Otxhello
2:18
18."Calm Down" (with Selena Gomez)
  • Andre Vibez
  • London
3:59
19."Dunno Me (Freestyle)"Ikubor
  • Rodlof
  • xynothing
2:22
20."Charm"IkuborLondon3:24
21."Reason You"Ikubor
  • Alex Lustig
  • 80root
  • LNKmusic
3:22
22."Holiday"IkuborBlaise beatz2:40
Total length:73:28

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for Rave & Roses
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[31]
Deluxe version 		2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[32] Platinum 80,000‡
France (SNEP)[33] Platinum 100,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[34] Platinum 20,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[35] Platinum 20,000‡
United States (RIAA)[36]
Deluxe version 		Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "My Sound Will Be Called Afrorave – Rema". Independent Nigeria.
  2. ^ "Rema Shares Long-Awaited 'Rave & Roses' Album With AJ Tracey, Chris Brown & More". GRM Daily. 25 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Kariisa, Jessica (12 April 2022). "Rema – Rave & Roses". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Rema Enhances the 'Rave & Roses' experience with an Ultra (Deluxe) Edition: Listen". Notjustok.com. 12 May 2023.
  5. ^ "My brand of music is 'Afrorave', says Rema". The Nation Online. 22 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Rema Discusses The Importance Of His Debut Album 'Rave & Roses'". NotJustOk. 13 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Rema: ambitious afrorave pioneer with fans in FKA twigs and Skepta". NME. 9 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Rema Releases Video For Single 'Soundgasm'". Soundcity. 12 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Rema announces debut album 'Rave & Roses,' shares "Calm Down"". Brooklyn Vegan. 11 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Rema Announces Debut Album Rave & Roses, Shares New Song "Calm Down": Listen". Pitchfork. 10 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Rema enlists AJ Tracey for "FYN"". The Fader.
  12. ^ Daraloye, Emmanuel (28 March 2022). "REVIEW: Rema's Rave & Roses is a monotonous album with happy ending". The Cable. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  13. ^ Murray, Robin (13 April 2022). "Rema – Rave & Roses". Clash. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  14. ^ Kambasha, Michelle (24 March 2022). "Rema – Rave & Roses". Crack. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  15. ^ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (4 April 2022). "REVIEW: REMA'S RAVE & ROSES". The Native. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  16. ^ a b Alake, Motolani (26 March 2022). "On Raves and Roses, Rema weaves pop brilliance around inconsequential flaws [Pulse Álbum Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b Bolaji, Olayiide (27 March 2022). "{Review}: Rema's Rave and Roses album shows artistic evolution, but..." The Scoove Africa. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rema – Rave & Roses" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Rema Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rema – Rave & Roses" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Lescharts.com – Rema – Rave & Roses". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Nigeria Top 50 Albums". tTurnTable. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Rema Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Rema Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  25. ^ "2022: La production musicale française toujours au top" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  27. ^ "2023: La dynamique de la production et de la consommation musicales en France" (in French). SNEP. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  29. ^ "World Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Tops de l'année – Top Albums 2024" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  31. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Rema – Rave & Roses Ultra" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  32. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Rema – Rave & Roses". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  33. ^ "French album certifications – Rema – Rave & Roses" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  34. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 January 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Rave & Roses in the search box.
  35. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Rave & Roses')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  36. ^ "American album certifications – Rema – Rave & Roses Ultra". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 18 December 2023.