Nigerian music executive D’Prince, founder of Jonzing World record label, explained the reason behind Rema being signed and managed by two music record labels. According to D’Prince, Rema is signed to both Mavins and Jonzing World, with Jonzing being his label. He emphasized that Rema is not a small artist, and the joint label/management operation involves many hands working together. D’Prince also mentioned that Jonzing records plans to introduce a new lineup of artistes following the successes of Rema and Ruger.
Rema
Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter born on May 1, 2000. He initially gained recognition with his 2019 hit song “Dumebi” and subsequently signed with Jonzing World, a record label founded by D’Prince. Rema achieved broader acclaim with his 2022 single “Calm Down,” which featured a remix with American singer Selena Gomez. The remix reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the United States Afrobeats Songs chart for an unprecedented 58 weeks, establishing it as the most internationally successful song in the Afrobeats genre.
Rema embarked on his musical journey alongside Alpha P in churches, and in 2018, he gained attention by posting a viral freestyle on Instagram to D’Prince’s “Gucci Gang” track. D’Prince, impressed by the young talent, flew Rema to Lagos and offered him a record deal under Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by Don Jazzy, in 2019. His debut self-titled EP, “Rema,” released in the same year, reached number 1 on Apple Music Nigeria.
The music video for “Dumebi,” a breakout song from the EP, was released in May 2019 and featured a cameo appearance from Diana Eneje. Directed by Ademola Falomo, the video has garnered 70 million views on YouTube. In 2019, one of Rema’s popular songs from the EP made it to former U.S. President Barack Obama’s summer playlist, further boosting his global recognition.
Rema’s songs were included in the FIFA 21 soundtracks in September 2020. Additionally, in September 2021, he was announced as a brand ambassador for Pepsi, alongside his label mate Ayra Starr.
Mavin Records
Mavin Records, also known as the Supreme Mavin Dynasty, is a Nigerian music corporation record label that was founded by record producer and recording artist Don Jazzy on May 8, 2012. The establishment of the label followed the closure of Mo’ Hits Records, a label owned by Don Jazzy and D’banj. Mavin Records is home to various recording artists, including Rema, Ayra Starr, Crayon, Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, Magixx, Boy Spyce, Bayanni, and Lifesize Teddy. It also features producers such as Don Jazzy, Altims, London, Baby Fresh, and Andre Vibez. In 2014, DJ Big N became the official disc jockey of the label.
Notable artists who were formerly signed to Mavin Records include Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Reekado Banks, and Iyanya. On May 8, 2012, the label released its compilation album titled “Solar Plexus.” In January 2019, Mavin Records secured a multi-million dollar investment from Kupanda Holdings, a subsidiary of Kupanda Capital and TPG Growth.
In 2020, Billboard Magazine recognized Mavin Records as one of the Gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry.
Jonzing World
Jonzing World is a Nigerian record label and management company that was established by recording artist D’Prince on March 22, 2019. The range of services provided by Jonzing World includes music recording, merchandising, audiovisual content creation, branding, and artist management. Currently, the label is home to artists such as Rema, Ruger, and Gdzilla, with its founder, D’Prince.
The label was officially founded on March 22, 2019, and on the same day, D’Prince unveiled Rema as its first signed artist. Following this announcement, Don Jazzy welcomed Rema to Mavin Global, a unit of Mavin Records. On that very day, Rema released his eponymous debut extended play titled “Rema,” which reached number 1 on Apple Music Nigeria.
On January 19, 2021, Jonzing World signed Ruger through a joint venture with Sony Music West Africa and Columbia Records. It’s worth noting that this affiliation has no connection with Mavin Records’ unit, Mavin Global, as clarified by D’Prince. On August 30, 2023, D’Prince introduced Gdzilla as the newest addition to the artist roster of Jonzing World.
Additionally, Jonzing World made its debut in the music scene with Ruger’s extended play titled “Pandemic,” released on March 5, 2021, through the Sony Music Entertainment UK unit.
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