Rema – Freestyle EP: The Project That Continued His Rapid Rise in 2019

Before Rema became one of Africa’s biggest global music stars, 2019 was the year that introduced the young Nigerian artist to the world at an incredible speed.

After releasing his self-titled debut Rema EP in March 2019, Rema returned just a few months later with another project that showed he was not interested in slowing down.

Released on June 19, 2019, Freestyle EP became Rema’s second extended play and continued the musical journey that had started with Rema EP. The four-track project was released through Jonzing World and Mavin Records, with D’Prince serving as executive producer. Production came from Altims, Level, Kcaaz and Deevee.

Although Freestyle EP is only about nine minutes long, it provides an important snapshot of Rema during the earliest stage of his career.

It was the sound of a young artist experimenting, having fun and building his identity one release at a time.

Rema – Freestyle EP

The project contains four tracks:

1. Boulevard
2. American Love
3. Spiderman
4. Trap Out the Submarine

The four songs were produced by different producers, giving each record its own character while maintaining Rema’s distinctive vocal approach.

Unlike his debut EP, which introduced listeners to songs such as “Iron Man,” “Why,” “Dumebi,” and “Corny,” Freestyle EP was built around the energy of Rema’s freestyle performances.

The project allowed him to explore a more spontaneous side of his artistry.

How Freestyle EP Came Together

Following the release of his debut project, Rema began posting freestyle videos on Instagram.

Those performances included early versions of songs that would eventually become “American Love,” “Trap Out the Submarine,” “Boulevard,” and “Spiderman.”

That approach became part of what made Rema’s early rise so interesting.

Instead of waiting long periods between releases, he was constantly giving fans new material and showing different sides of his musical personality.

The Freestyle EP therefore felt like a continuation of the conversation he had started with his debut.

“Boulevard”

The EP opens with “Boulevard,” a short record produced by Altims.

At just under two minutes, the song gets straight to the point. Rema’s delivery is energetic and melodic, while the production gives him room to play with his flow.

The record demonstrates the confidence that was already becoming a defining part of Rema’s early music.

Rather than sounding like an artist still trying to figure out where he belonged, Rema sounded comfortable moving between Afrobeats and the trap-influenced sounds that were becoming increasingly popular among younger Nigerian artists.

“American Love”

The second track, “American Love,” was produced by Level and runs for just over two minutes.

The record shows another side of Rema’s genre-blending approach.

The production has an international feel, while Rema maintains the melodic delivery that had become recognizable through his earlier releases.

“American Love” also represents an important part of Rema’s early artistic vision: creating music that could connect Nigerian sounds with influences coming from outside Africa.

That international ambition would eventually become one of the biggest themes of his career.

“Spiderman”

The third track is “Spiderman,” produced by Kcaaz.

The song continues the playful and youthful energy running throughout the project.

Rema’s early catalog was often built around catchy melodies, romantic themes and imaginative concepts, and “Spiderman” fits comfortably into that world.

The track also highlights how willing Rema was to experiment with his vocal delivery.

Even at this early point in his career, he wasn’t restricting himself to one particular way of singing or rapping.

“Trap Out the Submarine”

The closing track, “Trap Out the Submarine,” was produced by Deevee.

The title alone captures the experimental personality behind the project.

Rema was blending the sounds and language of contemporary trap music with his own Nigerian musical background, creating something that felt different from the traditional Afropop formula.

The song also reinforces the project’s central idea: Rema was using the EP as a space to experiment.

Rema’s Rapid Rise

The timing of Freestyle EP is important.

Rema had only released his debut EP a few months earlier, but his profile was already growing rapidly.

His breakout song “Dumebi” had become one of the standout records from his debut project, and the attention around Rema was spreading beyond Nigeria.

By June 2019, international music publications were already describing him as one of the promising young artists leading the next generation of Nigerian pop. Pitchfork’s profile of Rema highlighted his genre-blending approach and his ability to combine Nigerian musical influences with sounds associated with trap and contemporary Western pop.

That made Freestyle EP more than just another release.

It was evidence that Rema’s momentum was continuing.

A Different Side of Rema

One of the biggest differences between Rema EP and Freestyle EP is the project’s relationship with the word “freestyle.”

The debut EP was carefully structured around four distinct songs.

Freestyle EP, on the other hand, feels more like a collection of ideas and performances that Rema had been developing and sharing with his audience.

That looseness works in the project’s favor.

The songs are short, direct and energetic, allowing listeners to experience Rema’s personality without the project becoming overly complicated.

The Importance of D’Prince

D’Prince played an important role in Rema’s emergence during this period.

After Rema’s viral Instagram freestyle over D’Prince’s “Gucci Gang” caught his attention, D’Prince helped bring the young artist into Jonzing World, which operated as a subsidiary of Mavin Records. Rema subsequently released his debut EP through the label in March 2019.

D’Prince also served as executive producer on Freestyle EP, continuing the creative relationship that had helped launch Rema’s career.

The partnership would become an important part of Rema’s early development.

Rema Wasn’t Following One Sound

Looking back at the project today, one thing stands out clearly: Rema was already refusing to stay inside one musical box.

There are Afrobeats influences.

There are trap elements.

There are melodic pop moments.

There are experimental ideas.

And there is the unmistakable vocal style that would eventually become one of Rema’s trademarks.

This genre-blending approach was already visible on his debut EP. Pitchfork later described Rema’s early music as a combination of traditional Nigerian sounds and Western influences, helping him stand out among the new generation of Nigerian pop artists.

The Beginning of a Very Busy 2019

One of the most impressive things about Rema’s 2019 campaign was how quickly he released music.

Rema EP arrived in March.

Freestyle EP followed in June.

And before the year was over, Rema would release another project.

That third project would be Bad Commando, arriving in October 2019. Contemporary coverage noted that Rema released three EPs in 2019: Rema, Freestyle, and Bad Commando.

For a new artist, that was an unusually aggressive release schedule.

But it helped keep Rema’s name in front of listeners throughout the year.

Freestyle EP and Rema’s Bigger Vision

Although Freestyle EP isn’t the project most people immediately mention when discussing Rema’s discography, it plays an important role in understanding his development.

It came at a time when Rema was still establishing his sound and identity.

He had already demonstrated his potential with Rema EP and “Dumebi,” but Freestyle EP showed that he had more ideas waiting to be explored.

The project also helped establish a pattern that would become familiar throughout Rema’s career: constantly experimenting while maintaining a recognizable identity.

That balance would eventually help him move from Nigerian Afropop into a much broader global sound.

Final Thoughts

Rema – Freestyle EP is a short but important chapter in the story of one of Nigeria’s most successful modern artists.

Released just three months after his debut EP, the project gave Rema another opportunity to experiment with his sound and showcase the creativity behind his early freestyle performances.

With “Boulevard,” “American Love,” “Spiderman,” and “Trap Out the Submarine,” Rema continued building the musical identity that had first caught the attention of listeners earlier in 2019.

It may not have had the enormous cultural impact of projects that would come later, but Freestyle EP helped keep the momentum going.

And Rema was only getting started.

Just a few months later, he would return with Bad Commando, the third EP of his extraordinary 2019 run.

Next in the Rema project series: Rema – Bad Commando EP.