Nigerian global superstar Rema has opened up about the deeper meaning behind his sophomore album HEIS, marking its first anniversary with an emotional and insightful reflection.
In a series of posts on X, the Grammy-nominated artist shared the hidden symbolism, spiritual timing, and personal weight that shaped the album, explaining that it was never intended for mass appeal but rather crafted as a gift to his core listeners.
According to Rema, HEIS wasn’t just a follow-up project, it was a statement. Released in 2024, the album’s timing was intentional. “I was born in a Dragon year, if you know what it is, you’d get a hint of why HEIS needed to happen in 2024,” he wrote, referencing the Chinese zodiac and his birth year, 2000.
The Calm Down hitmaker also revealed that the album’s depth was hinted at in the cover arts of his earlier projects like Ravage and Raves & Roses. The presence of a dragon in the Bounce cover art, he said, was an early clue about the sonic shift he would later call “RAGE.”
But the decision to make HEIS feel underground, raw, and emotionally charged was deliberate. Rema shared that he asked his label not to promote the project heavily. “It didn’t need a fancy rollout,” he explained. “It needed to feel like an underground project from an underground artist. Only the core Ravers can carry this weight.”
He intentionally limited physical merch, vinyls, and CDs, insisting that the album “didn’t need to feel sold” but rather “discovered, hated, loved, and respected in its own front.”
Beyond the symbolism and minimal marketing, Rema also revealed he co-produced some tracks on the project to ensure that emotions he couldn’t express with lyrics still came through in the music. “Some emotions needed sound, not words,” he added.
While HEIS sparked mixed reactions at release, its impact was undeniable. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album and clinched Album of the Year at the 17th Headies, solidifying its place in Afrobeats history.
Rema’s anniversary reflection affirms what many of his die-hard fans already suspected: HEIS wasn’t just another project, it was a deeply personal, soul-stirring experience designed for those who truly understand the journey.
