REVIEW: Rema’s ‘Heis’ is an underwhelming feel-good album

‘Heis‘, Rema’s second studio album, is a confident and audacious project. Right off the bat, the singer throws listeners into a whirlwind of intriguing, high-octane tracks. ‘Heis’ is a braggadocious affair. Throughout the album, Rema celebrates his success, addressing his critics and reveling in his achievements.

Production Techniques: The production on ‘Heis’ is slick and polished, like Rema stepped into a high-end studio and did not hold back. It shows a clear step up in his sound, which is exciting for any fan.  However, ‘Heis’ feels like a different vibe. This album is all about high-energy tracks, which are undeniably catchy. However, some fans who loved the way Rema could cruise through different moods on his older projects might miss that variety here.

Similarities: There is a striking similarity between tracks like ‘Hehehe’ and ‘Ozeba’, particularly in their opening beats and tempo. In ‘Hehehe’, Rema cleverly incorporates the viral slang “abido shaker” made famous by Odumeje, the controversial Onitsha-based pastor. His playful lyrics shine with lines like, “I won’t go easy on my haters, I’m just getting started with my abido shaker”, and “My bank balance starting to resemble those politicians”. The pen game on ‘Ozeba’ is also good.

Collaborations:  In this album, Rema teams up with Odumodublvck and Shallipopi. ‘War Machine’ featuring Odumodublvck, has intense instrumentals and echoing vocals. In ‘Benin Boys’, Shallipopi’s “talk-singing” style mixes well with Rema’s sound. Both collaborations are good, but Rema and Shallipopi’s teamwork really stands out.

Homage to Roots: The collab between Rema and Shallipopi on ‘Benin Boys’ is a full-on hometown celebration!  The lyrics drip with pride in their Benin roots.  Lines like “Na we be the pride of Benin, Oba sef suppose give us medal oh” show they see themselves as ambassadors for the city, worthy of royal recognition.  It is a fun and boastful declaration of their love for Benin.

The track also throws in some shoutouts to specific Benin locations, like “Remy Ekehuan Road” and “Shalli Sapele”.

Shallipopi previously did the same in his hit song ‘Obapluto’, featuring the renowned Benin musician Pa Monday-Edo.

Overall Impression: This album might not be for everyone. When I imagined this project, I hoped for a range of emotions and a showcase of Rema’s matured sound. However, ‘Heis’ feels a bit underwhelming to me. Fans who loved the emotional variety in Rema’s earlier work might find this album a bit repetitive. Still, if you are after a unique and intense Afrobeats experience, there is plenty to appreciate here. I expected more versatility and some real standout tracks. Sadly, it did not quite hit the mark for me.