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Baby (Is It a Crime)

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"Baby (Is It a Crime)"
Single by Rema
Released7 February 2025
Genre
Length2:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)P.Priime
Rema singles chronology
"Fi Kan We Kan"
(2024) 		"Baby (Is It a Crime)"
(2025)
Music video
"Baby (Is It a Crime)" on YouTube

"Baby (Is It a Crime)" is a song by Nigerian singer and rapper Rema. It was released as a single through Mavin Records and Jonzing World on 7 February 2025. The song was written by Rema alongside Stuart Matthewman, Sade Adu, P.Priime, and Andrew Hale, while production was handled by P.Priime.[1]

Background and release

[edit]

The song's creation began in 2024, following the release of Rema's second studio album, Heis. Rema first teased the song in November 2024.[2] On 4 February 2025, two days after the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Rema announced the song's release date on his Twitter account.[3] The song was officially released on 7 February 2025.[4]

Composition

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"Baby (Is It a Crime)" was written by Divine Ikubor, Andrew Hale, Helen Folasade Adu, and Stuart Collin Matthewman,[5][6] and produced by P. Priime.[7] The song samples "Is It a Crime?" by Sade, from their 1985 album Promise.[8][9] Rema delivers the lyrics of "Baby (Is It a Crime)" in a harsh and cool tone, initiating the narrative by confessing his love for a girl he has apparently just met.[10]

Reception

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Aaron Williams of Uproxx praised Rema for incorporating Sade Adu's vocals into "Baby (Is It a Crime)" alongside a pulsating Afrobeat rhythm, resulting in a track that balances nostalgia with a fresh sound.[11]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Baby (Is It a Crime)"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 98
France (SNEP)[13] 194
Global 200 (Billboard)[14] 192
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[15] 23
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[16] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 53
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[18] 17
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[19] 3
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] 4

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Baby (Is It a Crime)"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 7 February 2025
[21]
Italy 14 February 2025 Radio airplay Universal [22]

References

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  1. ^ Mamo, Heran (7 February 2025). "Rema Releases 'Baby (Is It a Crime)' Single: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  2. ^ Reed, Thomas. "Rema Announces Release of "Baby (Is It a Crime)"". Max. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  3. ^ Mamo, Heran (4 February 2025). "Rema Announces Release Date for Sade-Sampling 'Baby (Is It a Crime)' Single". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  4. ^ Mankaprr Conteh (7 February 2025). "Rema Releases 'Baby (Is It a Crime)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Rema Returns with Smooth New Single 'Baby (Is It A Crime)'". New Wave Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  6. ^ Ção, Reddac (8 February 2025). "Rema releases new single, "Baby (Is It A Crime)"". ineews. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  7. ^ @sharpgist (9 February 2025). "How P.Priime produced a generational HIT for Rema, "Baby (Is It A Crime)"". Retrieved 10 February 2025 – via Instagram.
  8. ^ Morton, Devin (7 February 2025). "Rema Delivers Sade-Sampling Single "Baby (Is It A Crime)"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  9. ^ Akhimien, Nosakhale (8 February 2025). "Rema's nostalgic touch flips script on Sade's 'Is It a Crime'". Premium Times. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  10. ^ Edah (7 February 2025). "Exclusive Insight: The Story Behind Rema's "Baby (Is It a Crime)"". V Media. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  11. ^ Aaron Williams (7 February 2025). "Rema Channels Sade On His Saucy New Single, 'Baby (Is It A Crime)'". Uproxx. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Rema Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Top Singles (Week 6, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Rema Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  15. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  16. ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: February 7th, 2025 – February 13th, 2025". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Rema Chart History (Afrobeats Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  20. ^ "Rema Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Baby (Is it a Crime) - Single". 7 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  22. ^ Seminara, Emanuela Ali (10 February 2025). "Baby (Is it a crime) - Rema". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved 15 February 2025.
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