Nigerian singer Rema has said Afrobeats artistes should not limit their music to what their fans want to hear.

Rema made the comment while speaking to fans at his Remaland event and listening party in New York City over the weekend, where he previewed unreleased music and performed his new track "Tea". 

He argued that artistes must have the freedom to make music based on their own creative instincts if Afrobeats is to keep progressing.

In his words, he said:

“I don’t care what you say about me. I don’t care if you like what I like. But I make music that I like before you like it. If I stick to what you like, Afrobeats is not going to move forward. And I will say it one more time, I am the f***ing Prince of Afrobeats.”

The singer’s comments centre on the relationship between artistes and their audiences, with Rema arguing that following established fan preferences could prevent artistes from experimenting and moving the genre in new directions.