“Why I started smoking” – Singer Rema

Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, has spoken out about his father’s death and how it affected him growing up

The ‘Calm Down’ singer claimed that his father’s death left him with the responsibility of supporting his family at a young age, forcing him to “sell” his childhood.

Rema, 24, told GRM he wants to “feel young again.”

He stated that he recently began smoking cigarettes in order to feel “free and break some rules again.”

Rema remarked that, despite being an adult before electing to smoke, people continue to criticize his decision because he is a star.

He said, “I really wanted to feel like a child again… I feel like I grew up too fast. Life switched up on me crazy when I lost my dad and my brother. The weight was just on my shoulder and forced me to sell my childhood to provide for my family.

“God willing, everything happened well, it happened fast. And with fast fame, comes fast maturity. It’s just like never ending level of seriousness. So much adults. So much meetings. I didn’t even rolled with my age mates.

“So this project [‘HeIs’], I just want to be a child. And it’s coming out. It’s not me forcing it out. It just sparked in my spirit. I just want to feel young again. I just to be a rebel. You know, kids make mistakes and it’s acceptable. But when you’re a teenager and you make the same mistake your peers would make, everyone will come for you just because you’re in the spotlight.

“I know people who smoked a cigarette when they were 13 and I’m 24 smoking a cigarette because I just want to feel free and break some rules. All my life just feel so planned and scheduled. I just got tired.”