Tems

Tems is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer whose thoughtful blend of alternative R&B and Afrobeats commands international attention. After notching the 2019 hit “Try Me,” she began to appear on high-profile tracks like WizKid’s “Essence” and Drake’s “Fountains.” Her first two EPs, 2020′s For Broken Ears and 2021′s If Orange Was a Place, yielded her own hits like “Damages” and “Found,” the latter with Brent Faiyaz. She was then featured on Future’s Grammy Award-winning 2022 single “Wait for U.” Born in the Wild, her debut album, arrived in 2024. Born in the capital city of Lagos to a Nigerian mother and British father, Temilade Openiyi spent part of her childhood in the U.K. before moving back to her home country. She nurtured her musical talent in a local choir, learning to play piano and eventually writing her own songs inspired both by classic Nigerian music and artists like Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse. Using the stage name Tems, she released the single “Mr. Rebel” in 2018, followed a year later by “Looku Looku” and “Try Me,” the latter of which became a significant hit. 2020 proved to be a banner year for Tems with the release of her debut EP, For Broken Ears, and a number of high-profile collaborations. She teamed up with American singer Khalid on a remix of Davido’s track “Know Your Worth” and joined WizKid on his song “Essence.” Her own track, “Damages,” also became a hit, and she followed up her success with a second EP, If Orange Was a Place, in 2021. That same year, she was featured on Drake’s track “Fountains,” as well as a new mix of WizKid’s “Essence” that also featured Justin Beiber. Along with Drake, Tems was featured on Future’s 2022 single “Wait for U,” which reached number one in the U.S. and later picked up a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. She also made appearances on Beyoncé’s Renaissance and the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. “Me & U,” an amapiano-influenced single interpolating an unreleased Drake song, was issued in 2023, and made several pop charts around the world. It was followed by two further hits, “Not an Angel” and “Love Me JeJe.” Born in the Wild, Tems’ debut album, arrived to global acclaim in 2024. ~ Timothy Monger