One of Africa’s youngest acts, Rema, has been dominating clubs and party scenes worldwide for the past few years with his viral hits. To date, he holds one of the biggest songs out of Africa in recent times with his breakout jam featuring pop icon Selena Gomez. Now, he’s been cleared to sample another female music legend for his latest track, “Baby, Is It a Crime.”
Originally performed by Sade Adu—a British Nigerian singer known for timeless love ballads and smooth jazz hits like “Smooth Operator,” “By Your Side,” and “No Ordinary Love”—the track “Is It a Crime” debuted in 1985 on Sade’s second studio album, Promise. It was penned by Sade Adu, Andrew Hale, and Stuart Mathewman, produced by Robin Miller, and reached the No. 55 spot on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at the time.
Rema first teased his rendition in November 2024 with a casual video of him singing along while chilling to the sample. Since then, fans around the world have been eagerly anticipating its official release. Because the track directly samples Sade’s classic, he likely had to secure the proper clearance before dropping the full version. Coming off a hugely successful year and a Grammy nomination, Rema looks to build on that momentum with a song that already boasts over 700,000 views and 56,000 likes on YouTube. Visually, the clip exudes a throwback 2000s vibe, complete with durags, fur coats, and a party scene reminiscent of classic basement get-togethers—or even a retro Sean Paul music video.
Lyrically, “Baby, Is It a Crime” spotlights a woman whom Rema describes as more stunning than anyone he’s seen on Instagram, showcasing a mix of his native Nigerian dialects and popular slang. Discussing the sample, Rema shared that he’s long been a fan of Sade’s work and was sifting through her discography before finally deciding on “Is It a Crime.” The iconic chorus weaves through Rema’s version, surfacing at both the beginning and key moments throughout the song.
