Since his explosion into the limelight with the release of Fela, his viral remix of Desiigner’s Panda in 2016, Aboriomoh Femi Raymond, popularly known by his stage name Dremo, has continued to remain a major voice in Nigeria’s hip-hop scene. His duality as a rapper and singer has made him more than just a dominant figure in the rap community, having found success in the more mainstream Afrobeats.
His debut project, Codename, Vol. 1 and its follow-up Codename, Vol. 2 showed an artist who was intent on collaborations. Exploring his sound while delivering on high-energy rap tracks or pop bangers, where his laid-back flows deliver the perfect verses to melodies.
Taking a break from music last year to focus on other activities, Dremo talks about his personal growth and how it is shaping his approach to relationships and his forthcoming project.
What have you been up to music-wise?
Dremo: I’ve just been doing work in the studio. I’m starting to drop music this February, the love month. I’ve decided that this year it’s going to be all about love. I want people to see the soft side of me, so I’m going to give you people more love songs. You know, usually, I always give them hardcore. I’m just trying to let them know there’s this other side of me.
Is there anything that inspired this change?
Dremo: I lost a couple of friends last year, I just decided to love who loves me. People that check up on you don’t have two heads, they’re checking up on you because they love you. Not everyone who checks up on you wants your money, some people just genuinely love you
How have you been managing grief?
Dremo: I mean, it’s life, everyone will die one day, and it was just their time to leave and guide us. I hope they’re in a better place. I’m coping, but whatever we’re doing on earth, we’re doing it for them, to make them proud.
What does love look like to you?
Dremo: To me, I feel love is a friendship that has caught fire. That’s what I see it as. You don’t have to be a girl before I love you. Love is just a strong relationship. I have my guys that I love; if anything happens, I will ride for them. I have female friends that I love, so love to me is a strong relationship that goes both ways.
What’s your creative process like?
Dremo: It depends. Before I never used to let anyone in the studio when I was recording. I just started to get used to letting people in my creative space. Sometimes it depends on what I’m doing, but right now, I’m actually learning how to let people give me ideas because before, I hated it. I felt like it always distracted me, but now I would just switch off the lights and be in my zone. If you want to add one or two lines, you’re free. I can give you a percentage of my royalties. So right now, my creative process has changed. I let other people get involved because if you actually think about it, a lot of people around, it was even Davido that taught me this thing, cause when Davido is recording, you have like 20 guys. You don’t have to be an artist, you don’t have to be a musician or anything, just your ideas and just put them into the song.
What comes first for you, the lyrics or the production, or do you go straight into it?
Dremo: It depends. Back in the day, I used to write down lyrics because I no get money for any producer. My head was my production, so I could make up a beat in my head and write to it. But now producers don spoil me. I have too many beats to write on. Right now, I get the beats and think of something to write on because I like to have something that makes sense. As I said, if I’m singing about anything this year, it’d be love; friendship, love, heartbreak love, true love. Anything about love.
Would you say working on the theme of love helped shape this new creative process?
Dremo: Yes, because I know a lot of people have different ways on how to love. The way I love is different from the way you love. It’s different from the way other people love. I like to explore people’s ideas and different scenarios in life. Sometimes I can invite one of my friends, and we’d talk. I think that changed a lot, because normally when I’m writing, I like to write about my life but I haven’t really loved. But now it’s inspiring me.
You have a song with Simi coming out soon. How did that come about?
Dremo: Yes, that’s the next song I’m about to drop. I had that song created two years ago, and I kept looking for the perfect person to be on that song. I thought about Simi, and when I sent it to her, she sent it back in two days, and it was fire. I can’t wait for you guys to listen to it. It’s a beautiful song. It’s dropping this month, the month of love. Be expecting it on the 24th.
Does it key into plans for a project?
Dremo: It definitely leads to a project. I don’t know if this is still going to be the name of the project, but for now, Emoji Love will be the name of the project. It’s the second single off the project. The first one was… Let’s see how that goes. Might fuck around and drop a single right after that, then drop the project. There’s a couple of collaborations, but I might be changing some songs, so I’d love you guys to wait for it. The project is definitely dropping this year. I’m also trying to drop an album later this year too.
How did you settle on the name?
Dremo: I think that’s the name I’m going to stick with because that describes how this year feels for me. I haven’t been focused on people that really love me. Last two years, I’ve actually been about work, I don’t check on anyone, I check on nobody. Sometimes people call me, and I’d probably not pick up because I’m recording or working, but this year, I just decided to check on my people because a lot of people are going through shit, and your phone call can be the reason they bounce back. Everyone needs someone to do.
What’s been your most significant achievement so far?
Dremo: Letting my name still be in the game. I haven’t really dropped music if you think about it. I have so much music to drop, but the fact that a lot of people are still on me it’s humbling. Every day, I see different messages from people like, when are you dropping? That’s crazy for me. Before, I used to be under pressure but now, no pressure because this project will live forever. It’s going to live forever whenever I drop.
