Photo: Getty Images
Nigerian singer, Tems, always manages to stand out in everything.
And yes, she just won the Grammys and cemented herself as the first female non-mixed Nigerian artist to win the coveted award. She is currently the buzzword of the moment, and it’s not difficult to see why. With her ingenuity, the multifaceted singer encapsulates the essence of the alternative music subgenre. When it’s not a definitive rock, pop, or country style, it would be Tems’ stylized music, which is highly regarded for its exceptional depth and soul. As a result of her individuality, she now enjoys greater international recognition than the bulk of her contemporaries who are still relatively new to the music industry.
The singer’s music career is about to explode like wildfire because not only is she rubbing shoulders with Rihanna or musically admired by figures like DJ Khaled and Rick Ross, but Tems also dines and wines with Beyonce (literally). If we have to trace Tems’ career, we would land at her 20-year-old self.
Photo: Instagram.com/temsbaby Nigerian singer, Tems in her beautiful mustard dress during the 2023 Grammy Awards in at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Temilade Openiyi with the stage name “Tems,” started creating her own music at age 20 and has since then, gained good mastery of the alternative music genre. Tems is known for her unique blend of Afrobeats, highlife, and alternative R&B, which has helped her stand out in the competitive music industry. With her combination of raw talent and innovative sound, she is poised to continue impacting the music world for many years to come.
The 27-year-old is a relatively new artist who has made a rapid ascent in the music industry. She made her debut single ‘Mr. Rebel’ in 2018 and quickly gained recognition for her distinctive sound and powerful voice, establishing her as one of Nigeria’s most promising musical voices.
In 2019, Tems released two singles, “Looku Looku,” and “Try Me”, demonstrating to music industry insiders that there is a budding talent to watch out for. “Try Me” was a hit track that cemented her distinctive alternative R&B and neo-soul sound and sparked a flurry of excitement throughout the world. She has since released several hit singles, including “These Days” and “Damages,” which have been well received by audiences and helped establish her as a rising star in the Nigerian music scene.
Photo: Instagram.com/temsbaby Nigerian singer, Tems posed in her beautiful mustard dress during the 2023 Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Tems’ steady climb in the music industry is characterized by one thing in particular: her collaborative spirit. She has literally infused her distinctive flavor and recognizable style into a series of fruitful collaborations, propelling her to the top of the global music scene. In addition to her solo works, Tems has collaborated with a variety of artists, including Wizkid, Khalid, Show Dem Camp, Lady Donli, Black Magic, Mannywellz, DRB Lasgidi, and Odunsi (the engine).
Following all of those consistent but brilliant efforts, she quickly achieved public accolades in her nascent career. In 2022, Tems made history as the First Female Best International Act at the 2022 Bet Awards. On a back-to-back level, she also recently made history by becoming the first female Nigerian musician to take home a 2023 Grammy in the “Best Melodic Rap Performance” category. She gained notoriety for her sultry vocals and ad-libs on Future’s Drake-featuring single “Wait for U.”
Tems’ appearance on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy came as a surprise to her admirers, who couldn’t help but congratulate the gifted singer. She was the only Nigerian singer on the album and the song has since topped the charts around the globe. The well-known song triumphed over other nominations in its category including Latto for “Big Energy (Live),” Jack Harlow for “First Class,” Kendrick Lamar for “Die Hard,” and DJ Khaled for “Beautiful” in winning the award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone during the 2023 Grammys, Tems expressed her sensational feeling about the win saying, “It’s incredible. I got to work with people that five years ago were on my playlist. You know, I was jamming with them, and now I’m working with them. It’s such a pleasure, and I feel like this is just the beginning.”
TEMS on Winning the #GRAMMYs for Best Melodic Rap Performance
📹 – @RollingStone
pic.twitter.com/glzxoaLYdX— TXT (@txt_mag) February 6, 2023
According to DJ Edu, host of the BBC music program “This Is Africa,” Tems’ eclectic music style, has a “unique” approach. “It’s great to see Tems getting this recognition,” Edu Congratulated the Nigerian Afropop singer on her Grammy win while talking to BBC News. “She’s always stood out from the crowd, being true to her own unique sound and style, and I’m really happy she’s achieved such heights without having to conform.” He further added, “I nominated her as one to watch in 2020 so obviously I’m basking in her success.”
Popular American DJ Khaled has also highlighted his interest to collaborate with the Afrobeats diva, Tems. In a viral video at the 65th Grammys, he was seen praising Tems, stating how big a fan of Tems he is and how much he appreciated her work.
“I’m your biggest fan,” DJ Khaled to Tems#Grammys pic.twitter.com/W8lsGNPzeS
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) February 6, 2023
With fans in Drake, Rihanna, Wizkid, and Beyonce, the burgeoning Nigerian singer-songwriter is moving with incredible talent and favor, holding a position in the global music industry as a brilliant record producer, performer, and songwriter of alternative R&B. It’s hardly unexpected that she’s getting this kind of exposure now and will continue to do so in the future thanks to her acclaimed vocal prowess and spirit-uplifting melodies.
Given her co-writing credit on Rihanna’s song “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever album, Tems could, with her Oscar Nomination, also become the first Nigerian musician to ever win an Academy Award at the 2023 Oscars. The gal is seriously on fire and in her words, it feels like “is just the beginning.”
