Rema’s ‘Oh No’ Ushers in a Bold Era for Global Afropop

(Image Credit: thinkakanni)

Rema returns with his latest single, ‘Oh No’, following the release of ‘Tea’ earlier this year. The Nigerian artist, now 26, continues to build on the global momentum of 2022’s ‘Calm Down’, which, after a remix with Selena Gomez, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart for 58 weeks. His debut album, Rave & Roses, has surpassed two billion streams on Spotify, and in 2023 he headlined his first sold-out stadium show at London’s O2 Arena. In 2026, Rema has featured on Don Toliver’s ‘Secondhand’, collaborated with Skillibeng on ‘Ballerina’, and joined LISA and Anitta for ‘Goals’, the official FIFA World Cup anthem performed at the opening ceremony in Los Angeles.

​Produced by Rvssian, ‘Oh No’ weaves kompa, reggaeton, dancehall, and Afropop into a cohesive rhythmic palette. Lyrically, the track lingers on the initial rush of infatuation and flirtation, capturing the intensity of new attraction. The accompanying video, filmed in Los Angeles, follows Rema through vibrant cityscapes as he pursues a romantic interest. This release signals the beginning of a new project centered on dance-driven records, with Rema emphasizing creative freedom and a focus on enjoyment.

​‘Oh No’ is shaped by this dance-oriented vision. Since Rave & Roses and the success of ‘Calm Down’, Rema has consistently positioned Afropop alongside Caribbean and Latin influences, maintaining his distinctive vocal identity. His recent collaborations have reinforced this direction, and ‘Oh No’ continues the trajectory: a tempo built for the club, a topline driven by flirtation, and production that seamlessly integrates kompa and dancehall. With a broader dance project on the horizon, ‘Oh No’ offers an early indication of Rema’s evolving sound.

Stream “Oh No“: