SONG BACKGROUND

DND on devices blocks calls, texts, and alerts. It's for avoiding interruptions. Rema, MJ-like, expresses emotional battles on DND, aiming to please. He seeks freedom from conformity.

Lyrics
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<input type="checkbox" id="toggle1"><label for="toggle1">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Uno, dos, tres</label><div id="content1" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">A countdown before the gunshot to emphasize yet 'another banger' by Rema </div></div>

Banger

Another banger

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle2"><label for="toggle2">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Mo to ti de, lati da gboru, oshey <br/>Me wey be were</span></label><div id="content2" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">Rema announces that he has come again to scatter the neighbourhood and he's crazy.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle3"><label for="toggle3">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Oya, gawu oh, gawu</span></label><div id="content3" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">Rema melodizes.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle4"><label for="toggle4">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Shey you no dey see say I just drop gbedu, ayy</span></label><div id="content5" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">The use of the word 'gbedu' makes it clear that Rema has not dropped just any song, but a song which is an irresistable hit that encourages his audience to dance and forget their troubles. This line also complements and reflects Rema's signature intro, where he introduces the song - DND - as 'another banger'</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle5"><label for="toggle5">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Them talk say no be?me?be?H-I-M, okay na</span></label><div id="content5" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">Rema is rhetorically asking, 'if not me then who?' In other words, he is asking the listener to name an artist better than him, while ensuniating that the listener can't or will struggle to do so, due to Rema's star power and brilliance when it comes to 'dropping bangers.'</div></div>

You?go come tell?me na who oh, na who

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle6"><label for="toggle6">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Make humility no go turn me malu (Malu, malu)</span></label><div id="content6" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">Although humility is often applauded as a virtue, Rema is taking a different view by presenting it as a negative trait that displays a sign of weakness. Through this line, Rema confirms that he would rather be confident, than display a humble or meek personality, which can be easily taken advantage of by the people around him.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle7"><label for="toggle7">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Because if I talk one they go wan swallow me, ayy</span></label><div id="content7" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">Because when he talks, he receives backlash</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle8"><label for="toggle8">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Shey I wan good, shey I wan bad <br/>Shey I wan real, shey I wan fake (Me I no do again) </span></label><div id="content8" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">He contemplates on whether he should be good or bad, real or fake. He is tired and doesn't want to do it anymore</div></div>

Oya, see wins, now they wan shallow wins, say

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle9"><label for="toggle9">    <span class="annotate-lyric">They wan dey bully me, omo, I don too calm</span></label><div id="content9" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">They want to bully him but he's very calm.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle10"><label for="toggle10">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Talk my shit right up in your face, me I no dey shak?</span></label><div id="content10" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">He'd say whatever he wants to say to your face without flinching.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle11"><label for="toggle11">    <span class="annotate-lyric">I don do too much Ps and Qs, right now, I go put you on DND</span></label><div id="content11" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">The DND function on a mobile phone, ensures that all incoming calls are silenced. It is an attempt to isolate or shut off from the world. Rema is indicating that his patience has run thin, he is no longer attempting any cordialities for the sake of it, and he is prepared to put anyone on the 'do not disturb' list and block them out. He no longer cares about whether or not he looks rude or bad by doing so</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle12"><label for="toggle12">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Keep your eye sharpen b?cause e get as you go move around me wey you fit end up for DND</span></label><div id="content12" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">Rema is telling those around him that they must be observant and aware of their behaviour. If they make the wrong move or act in ways he does not tolerate, he will not hesitate to ignore their antics and put them on the 'do not disturb' list</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle13"><label for="toggle13">    <span class="annotate-lyric">I dey waka without security because I shucking one shakabula inside my GLE</span></label><div id="content13" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">He goes around with no security personnel because he has a locally made gun (commonly called shakabula) in his Mercedes-Benz GLE. This is a luxury SUV.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle14"><label for="toggle14">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Ayy, oshey oh, o wan bi (Even egbon dey collect DND)</span></label><div id="content14" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">While 'Egbon,' originally refers to an older male sibling in Yoruba, it is also colloquially used to refer to an older person or friend who may or may not be related to the person using this term of endearment. Rema is showing he does not subscribe to outdated notions that elders need to be treated differently from people his age. He is saying that irrespective of age, seniority or the respect he may have for a person, they can still find themselves on his 'do not disturb list.' This is quite different from the ideas conveyed to young Nigerians, where older people in society are not to be ignored or blocked out, regardless of what they have done. Rema is boldly rejecting this notion</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle15"><label for="toggle15">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Baba won</span></label><div id="content15" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">This is a common insult in yoruba culture, where instead of insulting a person directly, the person's parent - in this case, the father - receives the brunt of the insult.  Rema makes use of this term, to convey his anger and frustration</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle16"><label for="toggle16">    <span class="annotate-lyric">E sure for me my confidence<br/>

No rely on any number one <br/>Too many solo hits, una go dey call me Solomon</span></label><div id="content16" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">In the bible, Solomon had many wives and this draws a parallel with the fact that Rema has many 'solo' hits. The double entrendre is particularly witty, due to the alliteration between 'Solo' and 'Solomon.'</div></div>

Girls dey chew gum

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle17"><label for="toggle17">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Because they sabi say I be idan</span></label><div id="content17" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text">He calls himself "Idan" which is a Yoruba word for wonder but has been used as a slang for a boss man.</div></div>

<input type="checkbox" id="toggle18"><label for="toggle18">    <span class="annotate-lyric">Omo make I no too talk, make I sofri sit down</span></label><div id="content18" class="annotate-explain">    <div class="annotate-text"> He doesn't want to talk too much so he would rather just sit down</div></div>

Because if I talk one they go wan swallow me, ayy

Shey I wan good, shey I wan bad

Shey I wan real, shey I wan fake (Me I no do again)

Oya, see wins, now they wan shallow wins, say

They wan dey bully me, omo, I don too calm

Talk my shit right up in your face, me I no dey shake

I don do too much Ps and Qs, right now, I go put you on DND

Keep your eye sharpen because e get as you go move around me wey you fit end up for DND

I dey waka without security because I shucking one shakabula inside my GLE

Ayy, oshey oh, o wan bi (Even egbon dey collect DND)

I don do too much Ps and Qs, right now, I go put you on DND

Keep your eye sharpen because e get as you go move around me wey you fit end up for DND

I dey waka without security because I shucking one shakabula inside my GLE

Ayy, oshey oh, o wan bi (Even egbon dey collect DND)

P

Lyric Breakdown Video
Credits
Produced by
P Prime
Written by
Rema
Release date
October 26, 2023