Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema shared on Sunday how he made a transition from gospel music to secular music.
Rema, who once led church’s gospel rap group, stated that the change began when she started singing in bars and lounges to make ends meet.
The Mavin Records signee made this known during Rubbin’ Minds show, televised on Channels TV.
The Benin-born singer noted that he hadn’t yet relocated to Lagos when he made a switch to secular music.
He said;
“I was still in Benin when that switch happened. A lot of people thought that when I got signed, I started deviating.
“No. Actually, life was tough in Benin. I’m not that guy to ask the people in church to pay me because I’m doing God’s work.
“Right there in Benin, I started going to competitions, going to bars, lounges, political rallies; just trying to get on the stage and hold a microphone, to at least get sprayed some money to come back home and feed my family, because we were going through tough times.
“I lost my father and brother and I needed to come through for my family. At that point in time, I felt like that’s where I started spacing out; little by little, until I just exiled.”
According to him, the transition was weird for him and his mum but he was unable to convince his mum about his choice.
“It was weird for me and most especially for my mum because she was well known in church. I didn’t do any much explaining. I just told her to trust me,” Rema said.