The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Rema Speaks On Being The Chosen One, The Rise Of Afrobeat In America, New Music + More

Episode Date: September 13, 2024

The Breakfast Club Sits Down With Rema To Discuss Being The Chosen One, The Rise Of Afrobeat In America, Plus His New Album. Listen For More!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey y'all, Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a gold mine. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records.

Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16th, 2017, was assassinated. Crooks everywhere unearthed the plot to murder a one-woman WikiLeaks. She exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. Listen to Crooks everywhere on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together.

Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking música, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only nuestra gente can sprinkle.

Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, 1974. George Foreman was champion of the world. Ali was smart and he was handsome. The story behind The Rumble in the Jungle is like a Hollywood movie. But that is only half the story. There's also James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Miriam Akiba.

All the biggest black artists on the planet. Together in Africa. It was a big deal. Listen to Rumble, Ali, Foreman, and the Soul of 74 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody.

It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club. Jess is on maternity leave, of course. Lauren's holding it down. And we got a special guest in the building. We got the brother, Rema. How's it going, brother? I'm good. How you feeling? Thank you. I'm good. I'm special guest in the building we got the brother Rema how's it going brother? I'm good

how you feeling? thank you I'm good I'm alright let me tell you something I am a fan bro I appreciate it I rock with your music heavy heavy

calm down first Afrobeat song in history to earn over a billion on demand screams in America how that feel? great

all glory to God does it like annoy you at all with Calm Down? Because, like, here in the U.S., people talk about Selena Gomez on the song so much and, like, kind of throw some of the success of it her way versus you, but she gives you all of the credit. Does that annoy you at all sometimes? I don't really see that. I don't really see the success being just thrown on hard.

Because the collaboration, we both put our face into it. Yeah. We both put the same effort. It felt like a real collaboration. You did her a favor. Yes, you did her a favor. They did each other a favor. Yeah, she did me a huge favor as well.

She didn't have to do that. I reached out to her. She's been a huge supporter of my music, even before the public knew. There's been a lot of great people who hit me up. Yo, what are you doing? She was one of them. She's pulled up to shows on the low key,

just watching the young lad just like grow and become this person tell us about your inspiration what got you into music what made you start doing music and when was your that that aha moment that you was like oh this is really connected um yeah i started from the church you know the church really made me believe like i was doing something good you know i used to draw to draw, but, like, it wasn't, like, giving me so much vision, I was about to say. But I was getting more applause for music. And then, yeah, the church embraced it, and I just kept doing it.

And then, you know, life got hard and drifted a little bit. Times where I paused, times where i needed to make it out for the family you know but yeah you knew music was always the thing that you wanted to do and nothing else uh i mean i always saw myself as someone who if i put my heart into anything it's a walk you know i just believe in god's grace in my life. You're from Nigeria. A lot of times music isn't, it's probably changed now, but there was a time it wasn't culturally acceptable. They want you to be a doctor, go to school.

So how did your parents or your family, were they supportive of you going into music? First was just my brother. My brother got me my first headphone. We used to put a memory card inside, you know? And I just got so inspired by hip-hop especially. He was a huge hip-hop fan. And anything my brother listened to, I used to listen to.

Also, there was just so much gospel music around the house because my mom was just like, you know. Pops too, whenever I used to take us to school at the time used to like jam some cds i was very inspired um you know by what they were listening to but my brother was a huge supporter my brother used to throw parties and i used to gain my confidence between church and his parties and performing and his friends used to help me. And his school was doing this thing. And it's just like, yeah, yeah. But over time, my mom got to, like, understand, you know, what I was doing. Did she not like it at first? Not really.

She liked it in the church, but not. She liked it in the church, but when, you know, I started, like, going to competitions. And then, you know, at the time, I used I used to go like try to freestyle in different bars. And at the time when they spray some money, I just got it up. I give it to her and she started feeling it a little bit. She wants you to be a doctor? I remember when I got smacked by her at the time when I wanted to take an exam that would get me to college. And I really did not know what I wanted to be.

I just wanted to glide wherever the wind took me. I just do it, you know? You said she smacked you? Yeah. Backhand, overhand? Which one was it? You didn't take the exam? I took it, but it's just like she she asked, what do you want to be?

I really didn't want to tell her music because I wasn't still sure because I was just struggling on the ground. Over time, she got to understand what I was doing. She trusted me. She was not really happy about like the unsafe places I was like what 13 out at 2 a.m. like trying to get the sluts to rap at a bar I mean, if you do that in America, you're going to strip club. You get the sluts to dance. This guy is crazy.

So listen, when she smacked you, right, did that deter you or did that make you say, I got to really focus on this music? No, it was like I have to make up my mind what I really want to do and stand on it, literally. And I was just trying to be realistic inside of my heart i was like mom really do you have money to take me to college let's be real you know you don't have money to go to college let me just like did she slap you again when you said that no that was what was in my heart because i really did not want to be a burden to her because she was already going

through a lot as a single mom taking care of of, like, four kids, you know? But, yeah, I just, like, picked, on the paper, I think I picked business admin. Oh, that's my degree. Business administration, yeah. I passed the exam, though, but I just didn't go. I was just, like, at the time i i stood on business i was like you know what let me just go like talk something out for the family this school thing is not gonna you know

do it for me do you let your mom listen to your music um i never really went to her and say yo listen i wanted to hear sound guys i mean she's heard everything she's heard everything. She heard Soundgazza? Everything. What'd she say about that one? She ain't hear Soundgazza. Tell her the line. He's been talking this line for, okay, say it to the line. Got you, man.

There's a line on Soundgazza where Rima says, tapping on that pussy, you say you tapping on that pussy like you killed a motherfucking insect. Your mom ain't hear that line. That ain't from the church. That ain't from the church. Your mom ain't hear that line. Probably why I whispered it in the song.

I'm not sure she has caught that yet, but I mean, she heard my song, I'm holding up now. So she's like- What inspired that line though? Was it a big click and you was just like trying to kill it like a bullet or something? What? What? I mean, I said in a couple of interviews, at the time I recorded that song, it was Valentine's Day.

You know? I was, like, in the hotel. I got my producers. We had almost the whole floor. Like, we were just chilling, you know? And young dudes just, like, starting to enjoy the fame, I would say. Having a good time. Just having a good time.

Valentine's. So we're locked in at work on one side and phone on one side. And then I just popped out of my room, and I just called my homie, Lonan. He was in the hotel, too. He was chilling. I was like, yo, you still making beats? Are you up?

He was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. I pulled up. I was like, babe. I pulled up. I heard a sexy beat. I was like, you know what? I'm just going to sing about what happened in the other room. Dance.

Oh, wow. What was her name? Why do you want to know? How old do you want to know? How old are you, bro? I'm 24 now. Wow. You've achieved so much at a young age.

What drives you to just keep pushing these boundaries in music? I'll tell you number one thing. My driver's always been family. And I feel like my family has grown bigger by how much love I've received and how much people

have supported me to achieve my vision. I would say just, you know, I just feel like I have so much responsibilities and it's like, you know, I just feel like I have so much responsibilities. And it's like, you know, living the hood, the first thing is you want to feed your family. Yeah. You know?

And then when you come in the game and you see that there's other responsibilities that come with being an artist or being a chosen one. Not everybody is. There's just different people that are called for different purposes. And then you also look around you and see the people who supported you to achieve your dreams. They also got dreams. Sometimes you take time out and you branch out of your body a little bit and be like, what do you want? Oh, wow.

My manager could look at me and be like, do you want oh wow you know my manager could look at me and be like i want to manage the biggest artist out of africa and in my thought process like i'm gonna get him that you know and it's not everything that has to do with like a money exchange or like that it's just like yeah so different drives it's not and it's like every responsibility every drive i got it's not 100% mine it's just like what do you want what do you want to achieve where do you see us going what's what's the prophecy like you know you call yourself uh the chosen one that i can't pronounce it h-e-i-s is he is he is he is he is oh you put it together. Oh, you put it together. Oh, duh. I'm an idiot. But it translates to someone special, our chosen.

Yeah. Right? So when did you become aware of like your own special, divine, unique qualities? When did you realize, damn, I am the chosen one in my family? I would say it's just like, I'm a spiritual person. I don't like to get too deep. We can tell though. Everybody in this room loves God, brother.

But I just feel like there's just signs that come with prophecies. And you just be chilling and the prophecy just hits you and someone just walk up to you and say this and you're just like, I see this in you. It's like, you know. You had that happen to you? say this and just like i see this thing or it's like you know um you had

to happen to you sometimes it's just visions you know you just have visions um and it's like if the vision was never for me then why did it come to me in the beginning you know so i just like take hold of it and when you like put effort and faith in that one vision and it comes to life it's like oh probably might do this to the rest 50 visions i've got and they just keep coming to life and i feel like my name also like holds that grandma as a revelation from another dimension it's like another word for an idea like when an idea hits you that euphoria that's real man i mean you feel that feelings like it's just like it's just like an adrenaline pump i heard that in church and just feel like you know that name just stuck with me and i feel like i leave the name

you know you know i wanted to know you know with the success of calm down and how big the record is and how big you are with that record over here. I always talk to artists and they say one of their biggest fears is making a hit so early that big because you always chase that hit. You always want to be bigger than that record. Have you had the same problem trying to beat that record in the States? No. I never planned to make a big record. I was just doing me.

The world, you know, went with it, right? And also, it's like, I'm grateful for education. It's not like school education, but like life education. People experience things not just for them to experience it and learn their lesson. I don't always look at success stories to learn. I also like to look at mistakes. A lot of people have had big songs,

and it's like the biggest birdcage. And it's just like a cage to that. I don't let that affect my creative process. I go to the studio with the same mentality. I made my first hit song um and then um i have a vision i like if you look in my eyes like you can see that i see something that's way ahead of me it's like um whatever needs to happen now will happen now and i know my way around it i have no pressure i feel no feel no pressure. I'm happy. I'm joyful.

I'm making bangas still. And I like the way I move to my new project as well. Just like I don't like to move with the way people expect. I don't like to move with the rules. I don't do that. Yeah, you blend a lot of different genres, you know, in your music. So what do those influences say about

who you are as an artist and a person? Sorry? I said you blend a lot of different genres in your music. Yeah. So what does that say about you as an artist and a person? That you're just not afraid to take chances? You won't let people keep you in a box?

Yeah, pretty much. I'm in my own world. I don't really write songs. I don't write. I just go to the studio and have fun. Sometimes I end up saying things that do not even exist. Not even words. I just...

What's an example of something that wasn't a word? My first hit song, the chorus was not even a word. I just expressed myself. I was just in my own world, enjoying what I do. I stand on it. Like I said, if the vision was never for me, then why did it come? You know, it's like no english word or nigerian word could match the vibration that our chorus would send it was just meant to be gibberish and i did it and it gave me a platform to express myself more it gave me my first hit song you understand so and in nigeria we call that lamba lamba is just something you just create out of the euphoria of being in the studio while you're in that creative process. You just like close your eyes and just like express that one.

It's just like saying boom without saying it was an explosion. Yeah. You know? You just say boom. One of my favorite records of yours off the He Is project, you just laughing in the chorus on, he, he, he. When you say it, when you say it, when you say when you say when you say because

i just like the way you applying pressure on me when you say i'm not gonna take it easy on my haters monday morning you talking about me while i'm making money what inspired that record exactly the haters it's like for real though like day day in day out people are just like talking about me. I'm stacking up every second. It's like, it's just a sign for you to do better with your time. It's like you're just hitting on me. People been hitting on me since, since what? Dropped my first tape, 19.

I've been criticized a lot. I've not been... I would say I've not been babysitted at all. I've been poked for years. If no one got my heart, they would literally crash. I feel like over time, even with my phases, the game kind of made me colder and colder, you know? I came with a loving heart.

I spread so much love, you know? And the hate turned your heart? A little bit, you know? It's just like sometimes you just want to give back that energy. It's just like, Kendrick, sometimes you want to pop out and show me. She's talking about the wild life. But you want to pop out and show me. Sometimes you want to wild out. But you said you were learning from experiences, right? You were talking about your hit and the success, but you also said mistakes as well.

What was one of the biggest mistakes that you made that you learned from? Biggest mistakes? I'd say in the game or in life in general? Both. I would say, you know, trust. Like, you just literally have the biggest lessons from trust, you know? Being a young kid and just wanting to embrace everybody and just, like, just seeing humans become like,

like the stories you used to hear when you were younger. Greedy masters. I, it's just like, man, you know, I really, I trust, you know, when you have love, when you put your all, you know, people who you hurt so much

and they just stop not being good. Like me, I keep being good like we like me i keep being good like if i see my enemy i still shake hands but it's like we know we're not cool but it's like the respect of shaking hands and also i'm that believer that you don't have to be friends to be loyal i also believe in that like if we got money to make let's make money but we don't have to be friends you know oh you mean like here we say uh there's no permanent friends uh enemies when it comes to business is that what you mean yeah it's like let's make money it's like and another thing is like um it's like years ago

i didn't know a lot of people that the game would bring my way why would i make that like uh a huge thing like i didn't know you like at first I just wanted to feed my family why would you be the highlight of my career why should I focus on you I don't get time to do that can't you is a lot of the hate you get is it from your own city no my city love me okay okay so who's the haters so who hating like I mean it's your friend? So who's the haters? Huh? So who's hating? I mean, it's just like, I mean, it's not really restricted to a city. Social media, Twitter, stuff you see on Twitter? People just don't, people don't like a kid who's just like, has his own ideology or breaking

the rules or breaking the rules of sound and changing the soundscape or like being confident and like, you know, stepping stepping on nexus you would say that you know like not being scared like they don't they really like that beg us for your flower type energies like no i made a tweet years ago where i was like i'm not happy to be here. I was chosen to be here. I don't make it feel like I'm on some happy to be here type shit. Yeah, I feel chosen to be here. I feel chosen to do something for the game, for the next generation. Let me do it. Whatever level of success I achieve, I'm humble with it.

I appreciate it. You feel like you get the respect you deserve when they talk about the genre of Afrobeats? Do you feel like you get the respect you deserve when they talk about the genre of Afrobeats? Do you feel like you're in that conversation like you should be or do you feel like sometimes you're left out? I feel like the success came too quick that people wish I didn't get it too quick and you know when they want to give you respect when you have to be 10 years in the game? I feel like I didn't mind my career i didn't play according to those rules and i was already breaking like seven year old seven years career worth of records at three years in the game

you know i already went international for my first ep you understand so it's like people have this mind frame that we have to see you striving for 10 years like you have to grind we have to see videos of you in the studio like video walk you know why do i need to i don't post me in the studio all you hear all you see is music i don't give people what i don't really tell people nothing about my personal life they don't know nothing I think people just saw my mom for the first time two weeks ago but it's like people just want you to strive so hard so that they can be able

to give you a flower it's like no it's something called grace though it's like I put in so much work that you don't I don't want to show it people know I put in so much work

day and night but yeah they want me to be 10 years in the game to be like oh okay now we can say you are this or you are top this or like it's like come on man let's be real do you feel like when people have the top three afro beat male afro beat artist conversation um you should be included i know they right now they include burn the boy with kid and davido do you think you should be included in that? Respect to the OGs.

But, yeah, I'm one of them ones. You tweeted, no more Big 3. There's now a Big 4. Yeah. Yeah. And if you look at it, my impact in Afrobeats has been huge. You understand? It's not just about hit songs.

A lot of people have hit songs. But the impact and the journey of afrobeat to the world you know i mean like i don't even want to say a lot but just just something as little as major award shows creating an afrobeat category because of the success of my song is already has already shifted or opened gates you understand it's like India as a country like being able to do huge arenas in three cities and having Indians and multitude come out to sing Afrobeat songs what for it's like it's on another level and that's just like a little peak of the iceberg of what I've done in the game. But I don't like to talk about it.

I don't put my plaques in my house to, like, fuel myself with that ego. I don't want to talk about it. But it's quite sad. Must I be 30 years old to give me that flower? Times has changed. You don't need to be 10 years in the game to be a legend, to be an icon, to be someone who inspired the next generation be a legend to be an icon to be someone who inspired the next generation it's just what it is um whatever favoritism all of that is like that's

on them it's like everybody in their hearts they know and i know i read body language from everyone on the game the artists everything love to everybody though you said you said a lot of labels are trying to clone you you said tell your

stylist to stop sending mails to brands man you reading my tweets my name to get close artists really

sending stylist mail with your name to get close you said I'm gonna pull up to your show and script you on stage cause that's

my shithole fake celebrities fake industry labels get creative stop trying to clone me then you say rema made afro btp a big statement every new artist since 2019 ate from the same template that was pretty wordy for someone who don't want to talk about it Which one do you want me to start with? What motivated all of that? I mean, it's like sometimes, but most times I'm not on the internet. Management, I handle my social media. But I'm a very chill person until the cup is full.

It's like, might as well just say a few things, just get a few things out of my chest, right? I don't really want to embarrass anyone. And sometimes the times where you need to make a statement is the same. When a lizard shakes his head, like he is adjusting his own ego,

he's praising his own his own self because nobody want to give him his house nobody want to give him praise but i'm not here in this interview to beg for flowers or anything sometimes i just like to clear the air you know like reaching out on behalf saying you're a remastered stylist and stealing my clothes month award of course and like brands that have created a relationship think they're standing close to me and they're standing close to you and seeing some funny shoe sizes it's like whoa so we got these tiny legs it's just funny

it's like hilarious um about the EPs it's just like I mean

when I came to the game I came with a template I just like the way like

new artists come and have a have a dominance mine was just

different from day one um started you know the whole ep trail i mean every artist it's 2019 like walked on that path like if you knew artists just had to like when you come out you pop out with that ep but a lot of people would argue with you know a lot of people just don't want you know sometimes this is this is the word i don't like to feel like some afro messiah or someone just sometimes they don't really like you

being quite young and saying something sometimes it's not for you to say sometimes it's the truth but it's not for you to say sometimes i just want to leave it and sometimes i'm quite i just can't wait for it to be in the air because i i just can't wait for maybe like the ogs to say it and i'll be like okay no one's saying it so i'm i might as well but slowly it's just like i really don't want that picture of uh afrobeat messiah oh let's do it for afrobeat it's like you know i really don't want things to be that serious. And I just want to express myself. That's all.

And when things are not looking good and I want to clear something, I just want to clear it and leave it at that. But starting to like make a, an agenda on tweets that I felt at the moment. I mean, the tweets has cleared whatever I need to. I don't really need to, like, embody it in interviews. It's not so much of a big deal.

You get me? What's your relationship like with the OGs, with the Burner Boys and the Beatles and WizKids? Do y'all have relationships? Yeah. Big respect. One thing I'm happy about is that we all respect each other. There's respect.

There's a difference between being a boy. A friend. Yeah, a friend. It's like I got friendship. I got respect. A lot of people got friendship from big dogs. I ain't got respect. I got respect.

And if I don't even got friendship, but I got my respect, that's okay for me. You feel like the U.S. watered down a lot of Afrobeats? Like, it just seemed like they just took a couple of records and made them big and almost like that was it to see. But when you go to Africa, South Africa, Nigeria, all these different places, it's so much more. You feel like it's watered down at all? Give me an example of a U.S. artist. All right.

A couple of years ago, all you heard was Davido, like he was the only artist. Then two years later, all you heard was Burner Boy, like he was the only artist. Do you feel like that affected at all? No, I think they were doing the one and utmost mission I forbid to the world, right? Everyone had their own

mission to play, right? I just feel like I like to enjoy the rawness. I like to see the rawness. I like to see the rawness. But slowly, you know, when we... As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you.

Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself, and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself.

It's okay. Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it.

Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand-new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone.

The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap is another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history, like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me

Did you know, did you know I wouldn't give up my seat Nine months before Rosa It was Claudette Colvin Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Teresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for spooky season. Now, I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra.

We're talking spirits, demons, and the kind of supernatural chaos that'll make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board, just don't call me unless it's urgent,

and tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, James Brown, B.B. King, Miriam Akiba. I shook up the world. James Brown said, say it loud.

And the kid said, I'm black and I'm proud. Black boxing stars and black music royalty together in the heart of Zaire, Africa. Three days of music and then the boxing event. What was going on in the world at the time made this fight as important that anything else is going on on the planet. My grandfather laid on the ropes and let George Foreman basically just punch himself out. Welcome to Rumble, the story of a world in transformation.

The 60s and prior to that, you couldn't call a person black. And how we arrived at this peak moment. I don't have to be what you want me to that. You couldn't call a person black. And how we arrived at this peak moment. I don't have to be what you want me to be. We all came from the continent of Africa. Listen to Rumble, Ali, Foreman, and the Soul of 74 on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire,

join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When we start having a lot of international dominance, sometimes a little influence from the outside comes in and sometimes you just want to make it more understandable for the people to digest the music better. Maybe slow down on a little local dialect make it more understandable for the people to digest the music better maybe

slow down on a little local dialect and maybe like put in a little more English so that they can understand you know or like maybe the beats maybe maybe it's too intense like maybe they just want something like you know but at the time like you know we never really used to care what anybody think. It's like, if they like it, they like it. If they don't, bad. Right? It's like, we just go to the studio and be free.

I didn't know if America was going to like Calm Down. I didn't know if Europe was going to like it. I just do stuff. Some of my songs are more successful in France than they are in a country two hours away from France. It's just like different crowds pick whatever they want to pick. India they got what they like, you know? Other African countries they got what they like, you know? I would say like my first album did so well internationally than it did locally, you understand? I was just making music but the international crowd grasped it more than um the locals right my new album the locals grasp it more than the international

it's just like it comes with the face right um but i really don't have a place in people's decision when they create some people create what they want to create some people actually plan to create because they plan to be in a territory you know and sometimes could prompt several features or i need to feature this artist too or oh these people this is what they like to listen so let me do this but in an afrobeat version that will be more digestible to them. It's a different concept. But generally, I hope over time it don't be the norm. It's like, come on.

It's not us now. We're very rugged with it. We're wicked with the beats, with the flow. It's like, let's stand on that because that was the main foundation of Afrobeat. I like what you said about that because when I tell people that I listen to you, that's one thing they say about, especially with the new project, they say that you highlight the local roots of Afrobeats with your drums and your sound patterns.

So that's intentional to do that. Yeah, that was intentional, you see. It just has to do with someone that has an outside body experience that look at the game from like oh what's going on you know what's going on right now but sometimes it's like another thing is like think about it some people will be like okay you feel like you can make this move because you already have your international song why don't we we want to have our own international song too why do you think it's like i never like yeah countdown is a

softer beat it's like i have a lot of songs just soft beats like i make love songs i make all type of jams but it's just like that rawness is just something that was just being like being lost it was like what they call it lost art it's just like yo i don't mind like because also if you think about it i'm not trying to be selfish because i have a huge song also think about the guys in the underground if we lose this art like you know the streets is this is their bop that's right like you you gotta also make them know that yeah this person who's so huge is still willing to tap in so low to the roots like i see you you know it's like i see you it's like it's also possible for you guys like don't make it like because now the guys on the ground would think like

oh i have to water down my stuff no i want to hit traditional afro beats. You get it. You get it. And it just takes someone who's very confident with it, who's not going to shake with any judgment. I got so much judgment. When my project dropped, people were just going at it. My manager was telling me, because I really don't be caring what people say, I know he's trying to be positive, but people's like, people are not happy. People are like, oh, this is not the real money. You know, it's like, I don't care about the real money.

I come with phases. I've not been the same person since 2019, you know. And I'm becoming a man. So, he's like, the kid they used to know when I was 19 is not the kid right now. Fame can be very overwhelming, especially at your age, right? To have the fame, to have the fortune. How do you stay grounded

amidst all this newfound success? First of all, hustling in the streets just to make a couple of breads already kind of felt what money was like. the streets just to make a couple of breads already. I don't know. I felt what money was like.

Oh, you was getting money before the song. Yeah. Like I was not like when I made my first 50 million for me, 50 million Naira for music. Let me Google this. Wait, no,

no, not this year. You, we made 50 million? How much this is in America? It's not a bunch. Not this year. Not this year. Your inflation is crazy. You made your first decision. Who was the chick? 50 million. 15 million. Or 15 million.

15 million. Okay. You had already felt that? But that's not US dollars. He's checking what the conversion rate is. It was huge. What's the conversion rate? 30,000.

Yeah, 30,000. Look at that. You see how high she got? She got 15 million. I'm like, wait. They both turning the birds on you. This was a bird. I'm like, which streets are those? And are they still open? Because I got to go figure this out. That's 30,000. I'm like, wait. They both turning the birds on you. This was a bird. I'm like, which streets are those?

And are they still open? Because I got to go figure this out. That's $30,000 this year because inflation. Yeah. But it was better. It was much like. It was like $40,000, $50,000. Yeah.

It was like, it was good money. Right. But first of all, like when I got that, I was like, I was not freaked. Like I know a lot of young people who have that for the first time. It's like, what do we buy? What do we want to do with that? No,

my first, my first bag, I got my mom a car because I just couldn't stand her trekking. Yeah. But you bought a car? Yeah. You know,

at the time, I used to buy a lot of instruments for the church and it's just like, just to up our game, you know, because I had a rap group. But,

yeah, and I had enough money to go to the studio it's like because i stopped music because i just needed to grind right so being in the game right now like since 2019 it's just like first of all i was not freaked about nothing was a surprise to me you know um even when i was like making bread at the time before music like i wasn't even with the shorties i didn't really care about the shorties this is i just wanted to make the bread see my family happy so when i was here and seeing the shortest is like yeah it's not it's not surprising to me you know i don't really have like dirty rags in the street. I don't have no story. Me and the baddies, like,

we don't know nothing about my life. Dude, I don't even got a time. That's just it. Been there, done that. It's like,

it's like the game, it's not. So, since then, I just been grounded because I know what it's like and how hard it is to make money

and like, and then I have good people around me. You know, I have really good people around me you know i have really good people around me i saw you say uh once that you you felt like you were forced to sell your childhood just to provide for your family after you lost your brother and father condolences on that yeah they're on my channel yeah so you feel like you grew up too fast? Yeah. You didn't have a childhood? No. Yeah, I didn't really have a childhood.

I didn't do a lot of things like a lot of young people do. I didn't really grow up at a point where I was being conscious of friends. I didn't really have a lot of people my age. I always was drawn to people older than me. Losing my brother and my dad is like two people i looked up to anything you listen i listen anything you say i say if you have a new slang i'll go to school in my class i'm like yo you know anything my brother does i do i wear his clothes you know all of that it's like even when the shoe was bigger than me i put my my foot in there. They stack it up.

Skinny leg. They stack it up with socks. Skinny leg. You know? You know, I looked up to them. It's just like, at eight, I lost my dad. And my brother was holding me down. We were just keeping me sane.

And then I lost my brother. I was just like, I was confused. I held really tight to the church. The church was like my last, like, shield. But music was doing its thing thing but it wasn't paying i ran away from home i was just running mad you know i just needed to grind um there was so much pressure um my mom could not pay bills like we're just suffering you know so like from 15 especially just like. Imagine from 8, it was really bad. Everything went downhill from having a provider, no provider,

and everyone was just, like, my mom was just, like, hustling so hard. So, first of all, like, and also I had all rights to be wayward, and I feel like I give myself that little prop. I had all rights to be a stupid boy. Wilding out. You know? The doors were open. There's nobody to beat me to say,

don't go out, do whatever I want, right? But I just stayed grounded. I just needed to, you know, I just felt like, especially when my brother died, I was the only man. I really didn't want my sisters to be fooling around to make some bread. I was like, y'all sit down. I'm out. You became the man of the house.

Yeah, I go to the house. Nobody heard from me for like a year or two. I was gone. I was just stacking, stacking, saving. You know, I came back home. I just put things in place. Your hustle comes from their absence. In a way.

No, really. It's just like the drive. Seeing your mom being insulted. My mom's being insulted. Laughed at. You know, it's just like, it's not your fault. You know, it's just life, you know. And me suffering right now, it's not my fault either.

It's just like, but it's what we we decisions we make to make things better right and i just feel like i lost all of that no friends spend a lot of months alone in my head and you know and the only thing i could hold on to is god i'm grateful to be here what are the conversations like now with your mom because you know knowing all of that, now when you guys are, like, looking back at that, like, what does she say to you in those moments where y'all are, like, reflecting on that stuff? You know, me and my mom have a relationship.

Like, when she cry, I cry. I don't know if you... I'm like that, too. Yeah, you're like that. When she cry, I just, like, I don't know. I just can't hold it. And I feel like she say a lot of things without tears.'t hold it. And I feel like she say a lot of things without tears.

It's like, she just cannot like, say a lot of words. She just look at me and just start crying. And I don't understand. You know? I think,

yeah. Do you, dang, you made me, I lost my train of thought. Oh, I can tell you're a very spiritual person, right?

Like, and you say you have visions. Do you see your father and brother like in dreams now, like guiding you? Yeah, a lot of the visions are personal, I'd say. But, yeah, I feel like... I feel like, number one,

I've relieved a lot of the moment they've lived. And it's like, I've been here. It feels like I have that little deja vu that I've been here before. And it's like a second chance to make the decision i was just recently with the king of uh edola and pinning you know and i remember years ago after i lost my dad looking at his photo book and seeing when he was buying down to the king at the time and i've seen how i walked my way up to that same moment of my dad kneeling to the king at the time i was shaking and i was there he did it like everything like he wanted to like i remember when he was working on a visa for us to

go to the uk and the first country i went to when I blew up was the UK. It's just like, you did it. And I took my family to the UK. It's like, every moment, it's just like they're living through me. Yeah. You know? You talk about bad healthcare in Nigeria

and you always talk about giving back to the church, giving back to the kids. What do you think can be done to change some of the stuff that you and your family went through to make sure the next generation doesn't have that problem? Are you working towards that as well? I mean, I've done a lot that you know, I really do not even

want the media to take. I really didn't even like seeing me giving to the church and the media. I don't like I really feel like the media like to the church and the media I don't like I really feel like the media like to twist a lot of things you know um

but a lot of things are being held down by the government you know and I think the government

is starting to understand that they are not as influential I would say we are the ones having a real influence on the youth. And a lot of times they have to bring us close to know what the youth want.

And maybe some might have us close for their own agendas, but it's just your decision to stand with the agenda. There's no amount of money the government want to give me i'll be like oh like no government money can freak me i've said it in a lot of songs that i think i'm starting to make more money than politicians it's like it's like you know i feel like um with the influence that i have i feel like we are now at the point where we can tell them, like, yo, you're not doing your job. If I'm sitting with a governor, I would whisper to his ear,

I'm like, I don't think you're doing this right. I'm sorry it's coming from a 24-year-old, but it's like, I think it's happening with their perspective. You can't see that, sir. I'm sorry. You know, policies like just help like convince them about policies um and the little we can do like with investing with the money we make bringing back home giving kids life a meaning you know a lot of times i'll be telling my manager

because we have a lot of deep talks it's like it's not about giving rice everybody just want to give rice it's like you just want to go make some food do you know if some kid got some allergy to rice and then you yes you gave rice but then you leave and then the kid got to go to the hospital to sort out the allergy do you understand it's like are you like there's a whole different perspective to me giving back i don't like to do the basic give back that oh i gave you food that's it it's like no it's like what about tomorrow what are they gonna eat tomorrow it's like i'd rather create a platform that will consistently provide yeah you know create a platform that will consistently educate

create a platform that will consistently close create a platform that will consistently educate, create a platform that will consistently clothe, create a platform that will consistently shelter. It could be 100 people, it could be 500 people, but if it's 1,000 people or 500 people, but at least it's quite consistent, then I'm giving 1 million people food today, tomorrow they'll be hungry. That's my perspective of giving back platforms, and they should listen to you I mean you just had a show in your city you had 20,000 people come out I think was 30 even more a lot of people outside wow it's like what did that feel like been doing that in your

hometown how you pronounce your hometown Benin? Benin yeah there's a benin city there's a country called benin same spelling benin city it was really um beautiful iconic um there and there i just i felt a lot of joy love anger sorry to say anger why it's just oh okay it's just like this place i so hard. This place has stomped on me. You know? It's not like you're blaming the people. It's just like, you're just blaming the environment for your struggle. Yeah. You know?

And it was just like, I have to give back in some way. I didn't want your money, first of all. It was not about, hey, I'm the star. Come on, watch me. Pay to watch me. It's like, no. It's like, I made sure the tickets were affordable. Because life is hard in Nigeria, first of all.

Tickets are affordable. And also, I don't make myself the center of the event. No. The people won. And then everything that has't make myself the center of the event. No. The people won. And then everything that has to do with the show, giving them an iconic show, the great stage, great sound. Like, you know, if I had bad sound in that stadium,

they would be like, yeah, it was a great show regardless. Why? Because I didn't put my all into the stage or the sound because I was so focused on me being the talk of the town. Like, it's all about me. It's not even about the sound. People will take it. They'll still say it's a good show,

but I was like, I made sure, you know, the security of the people, even the security of the people outside, I cannot get in because I know that would be a possibility. Just making sure that they have a good show and making sure that I can impact, give back, inspire as much use as I can. I think I did that.

Is it true that you got paid $3 million to perform at the world's most expensive wedding of 2024 in Mumbai? Okay, aside from Mumbai, if you even ask me about a show, a festival, expensive wedding of 2024 in Mumbai? Okay. Aside from Mumbai, if you even ask me about a show, a festival, I would not even tell you. Smart. Yeah, I would not even tell you. It's not just Mumbai.

It's all in your money. It's just like, I feel like people would guess my wealth for eternity. You can never find out. I can smell a them with money man leave me a couple of dollars leave uncle couple of nairas man well we you know what i'm saying you asking me let's let's get into a joint off that what you want to hear what joints you want want us to play this morning let's play he he i know what no can you can

get the second hard man he wants to play? It hits different on a Monday morning, look. What record you want to do? I want to do his, the actual his, the song his. His. All right. Well, we appreciate you for joining us. Next time you're in town, come back up here. Absolutely, man.

Don't be letting them take your outfit. Say fly. Word up. I appreciate it. Don't let nobody dim your light. I like your confidence man you know what I'm saying

and your belief in God I can see God in you brother thank you thank you I appreciate it Rema ladies and gentlemen

it's the Breakfast Club good morning thank you wake that ass up early in the morning the Breakfast Club Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop.

Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records.

Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16th, 2017

was assassinated. Crooks everywhere unearthed the plot to murder a one-woman WikiLeaks. She exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. Listen to Crooks Everywhere on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, 1974. George Foreman was champion of the world. Ali was smart and he was handsome. The story behind The Rumble in the Jungle is like a Hollywood movie. But that is only half the story. There's also James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Miriam Akiba. All the biggest black artists on the planet.

Together in Africa. It was a big deal. Listen to Rumble, Ali, Foreman, and the Soul of 74 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories,

their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking musica, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world

and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only nuestra gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.