Tag: Tems

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as the first African female artist to record seven entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The singer hit the milestone after her song ‘What You Need’ surprisingly debuted at 93 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart, bringing her total entries to seven.

Tems now tie her compatriot Burna Boy and South African group Seether as the African artists with the most Billboard Hot 100 entries, with seven each.

In 2022, Tems made history as the first African artist to debut at number one the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her collaborative hit with Future and Drake, ‘Wait For U.’

Tems is poised to break the tie with Burna Boy and Seether soon as J. Cole’s ‘Bunce Road Blues’ featuring her and Future is bound to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart next week.

Temilade Openiyi, the popular Nigerian singer, who is better known as Tems, has talked about what inspired one of her current songs, ‘Big Daddy.’

In a recent interview, Tems admitted that the song is a feel good song that was inspired by an experience.

In her words, “Big Daddy was inspired by an experience of a type of person.

“I would describe the type of person as someone who wants to look cool but doesn’t work on themselves internally, it translates to they want to have control but they don’t add any value.”

The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single ‘Essence,’ which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber.

Tems has since gone ahead to win Grammy Awards, American Music Awards and BET Music Awards. She’s currently signed to RCA records in the United States of America.

Temilade Openiyi, the world-famous Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Tems has made a revelation about her friendship with British rapper, Dave.

The popular singer revealed just how close her relationship is with Dave describing him as one of the few people she genuinely trusts.

This development is coming on the heels of rumors that Tems and Dave are dating.

In an interview with BBC, Tems said Dave is firmly part of the small circle that has been there for her, calling him “real, genuine and honest” — someone who doesn’t pretend.

Watch video below…

Temilade Openiyi, the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Tems, has stirred controversy after declaring herself “a Jesus baby.”

The Crazy Tings crooner made the declaration while responding to a question about her zodiac sign in an interview with The People Gallery at the 2025 Fashion Awards.

“Oh, I’m a Jesus baby. My sign is love, peace and joy,” she said.

This earned Tems backlash after a clip of the interview went viral on social media, with critics chastising her for associating herself with Jesus despite being a secular artist.

Read some of the reactions on X below: xm_muva wrote: “She [Tems] makes worldly music and shakes her fine ass on stage to the entire world. Christians are hypocrites lol. Y’all think your religion is a buffet, bro. Be free, ah?”

Chocodilish wrote: “Add some personality to your music, this Jesus baby bllsht is killing your brand abeg.”

Phena95 opined: “Jesus or Christianity is not an aesthetic; it’s not just about love, joy and peace. Repentance as well.”

max_sticks said: “It’s funny when I see believers attacking her [Tems] for doing too much. Your identity is Christ and not one useless zodiac sign, please.”

Gigialwashere added: “I agree with her [Tems]. Grown past being a Gemini, now I identify as a Jesus baby.”

Temilade Openiyi, the world-famous Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Tems, has said she has achieved more than her targets in the music industry.

The Love Me Jeje crooner disclosed this during a recent interactive session with fans on X.

A fan asked: “What are you currently looking forward to? Also would you say you’ve achieved all of your dreams prior to stardom?”

Tems replied: “I’m looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store and honestly I’ve achieved beyond my dreams from when I had a 9-5.”

Tems launched her music career after quitting her job as a digital marketer in January 2018. Later that year, she released her debut single, ‘Mr Rabel,’ which gained some traction in the media.

However, she rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single ‘Essence’, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber.

In a 2023, she became the first female Afrobeats artist to win a Grammy after her collaboration with Future and Drake, ‘Wait For U’ won the Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2025, Tems won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, becoming the only Nigerian artist with multiple Grammys.

She also earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for co-writting Rihanna’s ‘Lift Me Up.’

Temilade Openiyi, the Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Tems, has shared what career path she would have pursued if she hadn’t become a musician.

During an interactive session with fans on X on Tuesday, Tems disclosed that she would have been an accountant or a mathematics teacher if she wasn’t a musician.

“If music didn’t work, what else do you think you would be doing today?,” a fan asked.

Tems responded, “I might have been an accountant or a mathematics teacher.”

The multiple Grammy-winning singer has previously revealed that she quit her job as a digital marketer in January 2018 to focus on her music career.

She released her debut single ‘Mr Rabel’ in July 2018. The song gained some traction in Nigeria.

However, she rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single ‘Essence’, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber.

Temilade Openiyi, the Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Tems, has spoken about the struggles she faced at the beginning of her career.

Tems, during a recent interview with CNN, said it was hard for people to take her seriously, stressing that she did not feel supported for a long time.

The 30-year-old hitmaker also noted that authenticity is her non-negotiable core principle.

She said, “Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have, who I really am.

“It was really hard to get people to take me seriously not just as a producer, but as a singer, period. I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time.”

Speaking about her initiative, ‘The Leading Vibe,’ Tems said she is using the platform to create the opportunities she once lacked.

According to her, the programme aims to support and elevate women in behind-the-scenes roles in the music industry.

She added, “There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, audio engineers — but they’re not even visible.

“We’re definitely taking this beyond Nigeria. Actually, we’re going to Kenya next. There are women everywhere who just need to feel seen. All they need is that platform, all they need is that chance, and I really believe it’s going to change the shape of the music industry for sure.”

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as the first female African artist to achieve over 10 million single sales in the United States.

This is her collaborative hit with Future and Drake ‘Wait For U’ hit 10 million unit sales mark in the US recently, according to chart monitoring platform, Chart Data.

The song is now eligible for a US RIAA Diamond certification.

Tems is the second African artist to achieve this feat after Wizkid, who did so with his collaboration with Drake on ‘One Dance.’

The ‘Love Me Jeje’ crooner is now the overall best-selling female African artist in the United States, with her other hits like ‘Essence’, ‘Free Mind’, ‘Higher’, ‘Me & U’, and ‘Found’ certified multiple Platinum, Platinum and Gold.