Rema, the popular Afrobeats artist known for hits like “Calm Down,” recently shared a personal story about why he started smoking. In a heartfelt interview with GRM, the 24-year-old musician revealed that the death of his father and brother forced him to grow up quickly and take on adult responsibilities at a young age.

Rema explained that this premature maturity made him feel like he missed out on a normal childhood. He started smoking cigarettes as a way to reconnect with his younger self and break away from the rigid expectations that come with fame. Despite being an adult when he began smoking, he faces criticism because of his celebrity status.

He said, “I just wanted to feel young again and make some mistakes like other kids. Life came at me fast, and I had to be serious all the time. Now, I just want to feel free and break some rules.”

“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.”