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Heis (album)

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Heis
Studio album by
Rema
Released10 July 2024 (2024-07-10)
Genre
Length27:33
Label
Producer
Rema chronology
Ravage
(2023) 		Heis
(2024)
Singles from Heis
  1. "Benin Boys"
    Released: 20 June 2024
  2. "Hehehe"
    Released: 7 July 2024

Heis is the second studio album by Nigerian rapper and singer-songwriter Rema. It was released through Mavin Records, Jonzing World, and Interscope Records on 10 July 2024. The album features guest appearances from Shallipopi and Odumodublvck. It serves as the follow-up to his previous album, Rave & Roses (2022).[2] The album received a nomination for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, earning Rema his first career nomination at the Grammys.[3]

Background and promotion

[edit]

In July 2024, Rema announced the forthcoming release of his second studio album, titled Heis.[4][5] Over a duration of two years, Rema engaged in creative collaborations with a plethora of producers and artists, notably Shallipopi and Odumodublvck, to craft this opus.[6] The recording process was marked by an spirit of experimentation, as Rema ventured into uncharted sonic territories, yielding a diverse and innovative body of work.[7] The album's production credits include a roster of esteemed producers, such as Rema himself, P.Priime, London, Cubeatz and Take a Daytrip, among others.[8] Comprising eleven tracks, the album serves as a testament to Rema's artistic maturation. Prior to the album's release, Rema embarked on an extensive promotional tour, gracing various venues and festivals worldwide with his performances.[9][10]

Singles

[edit]

The lead single of the album, "Benin Boys", was released on 20 June 2024, which features Nigerian Afrobeats singer Shallipopi.[11] The second single, "Hehehe", was released on 7 July 2024, three days before the album was released.[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME[13]
Clash8/10[14]
OkayAfrica7/10[15]
Pulse Nigeria8/10[16]
Pitchfork7.8/10[17]
Billboard9/10[18]
Premium Times4/10[19]
NotJustOk8.5/10[20]

Kyann-Sian Williams of NME stated that "HEIS opens with the Afrorave powerhouse's signature chuckle, but takes you to unknown territory with the enthralling, synth-heavy 'MARCH AM' and "AZAMAN". Blending orchestral strings, thumping drums, and (on the former) a car's revving engine, these energetic gems reaffirm Rema as a true rhythm scientist."[13] Adeayo Adebiyi of Pulse Nigeria gave the album a 8.0/10 rating, but noted that it feels like an outburst driven by a perceived lack of acknowledgment. What should have been a display of elevated artistry quickly turned into a petulant demand for recognition through an obviously one-take project, which he hopes showcases his superlative talent.[16] Wongo Okon of Uproxx called the album "polarizing" and said it's the "jolt that afrobeats needs," noting that "the beauty of afrobeats must be preserved and it’s artists like Rema who will make sure that happens."[21] Kyle Denis of Billboard stated that "Rema's vision of Afrorave relies on the unbridled energy generated when people collectively surrender to music's power". His album begs to be experienced live; it's as if Rema envisioned each song's live rendition before entering the studio. The result is a dark, raucous, and distinctly liberating sound – the long-awaited embodiment of Rema's touted "Afrorave" style, despite initial sonic ambiguity.[18] Utere Naomi of NotJustOk awarded the album an 8.5/10 rating and praised HEIS as masterful, boasting smooth tracks and a cohesive narrative. Each song delivers a powerful statement of domination in the music industry. Notably, Rema eschews western influences, instead making a deliberate move to reign supreme in his hometown.[20]

Track listing

[edit]
Heis track listing
No.TitleLength
1."March Am"2:23
2."Azaman"2:28
3."Hehehe"1:53
4."Yayo"2:30
5."Benin Boys" (with Shallipopi)2:49
6."Heis"2:33
7."Ozeba"2:17
8."War Machine" (with Odumodublvck)2:37
9."Egungun"2:38
10."Villain"2:49
11."Now I Know"2:36
Total length:27:33

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Heis
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22] 169
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 131
Nigerian Albums (TurnTable)[24] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 99
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 90
US World Albums (Billboard)[27] 7

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rema redefines the Afrobeats genre with sophomore album 'HEIS'". NotJustOk. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Rema drops sophomore album HEIS". Music in Africa. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  3. ^ Blistein, Jon (8 November 2024). "Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar Lead 2025 Grammy Nominees". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  4. ^ Heran Mamo (9 July 2024). "Rema Announces Sophomore Album Heis". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  5. ^ Larisha Paul (8 July 2024). "Rema Announces Second Studio Album Heis". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  6. ^ Oke Odunmorayo (6 July 2024). "Rema's He Is To Feature Shallipopi, Odumodublvck". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  7. ^ BN (11 July 2024). "Rema Champions His Roots & Afrobeats in New Album Heis". BellaNaija. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Rema's He Is Debuts At No. 1 On Nigeria's Apple Albums Chart". Guardian. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  9. ^ Mankaprr Conteh (11 July 2024). "Rema Shocks Afrobeats to New Life With Heis". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  10. ^ Taiwo Okanlawan (11 July 2024). "Rema unveils sophomore album 'Heis'". P.M. News. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  11. ^ Kyle, Dennis (20 June 2024). "Rema & Shallipopi Returns With New 'Benin Boys' Banger". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  12. ^ Adeayo, Adeyemi (8 July 2024). "Rema shows a different dimension to his artistry with new single 'Hehehe". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b Kyann-Sian, Williams (11 July 2024). "Rema – 'Heis' review: a divine return full of feel-good floor fillers". NME. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  14. ^ Murray, Robin (7 July 2024). "Rema – HEIS A honest and emphatic return". Clash. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  15. ^ Emmanuel, Esomnofu (11 July 2024). "Five Takeaways from Rema's New Album, 'HEIS'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b Adeayo, Adebiyi (11 July 2024). "Rema fails to properly execute his daring vision on 'HEIS' [Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  17. ^ Nathan Evans (17 July 2024). "Rema: HEIS Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b Kyle Denis (16 July 2024). "Rema Gets Daring and Defensive on Dynamic New 'Heis' LP: Critic's Take". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  19. ^ Nosakhale Akimien (26 July 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: Rema pushes boundaries in "HEIS" but struggles with cohesion". Premium Times. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  20. ^ a b Utere, Naomi (13 July 2024). "Rema takes on new bat wings with 'HEIS': Review". NotJustOk. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Rema's Polarizing 'Heis' Album Is The Jolt Afrobeats Needs". UPROXX. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rema – Heis" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rema – Heis" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Top 100 Albums: July 12th, 2024 - July 18th, 2024". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rema – Heis". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Rema Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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