Tems

About Tems

"Essence" was still climbing the charts when Tems became a household name across Nigeria and beyond.

Temilade Openiyi was born on June 11, 1995. The Lagos-bred singer, songwriter, and record producer would later become known professionally as Tems. Her rise to prominence came swiftly in 2020 when she was featured on Wizkid's "Essence."

The single peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 following the release of a remix featuring Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on "Fountains" by Canadian rapper Drake, further cementing her place on the global stage.

In 2020, Tems released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears. She signed with RCA Records to release her second EP, If Orange Was a Place, in 2021. These projects showcased her versatility as both a vocalist and creative force.

In 2022, her vocals from "Higher" were sampled by Future on his single "Wait for U," which featured Drake. She was credited as a guest artist. The song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist and second Nigerian artist to achieve this feat on the chart. She won the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.

That same month, her song "Free Mind" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46. She broke the female record for longest charting number one song on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. She also covered Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

Tems co-wrote and rendered background vocals on Rihanna's "Lift Me Up." The song earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award. Her collaborations have positioned her as one of Nigeria's most sought-after artists internationally.