By Daniel Eddy
“I’m always telling my story in my songs. From the first song I ever made to the music I’m making today, all the songs I put out are just pieces and moments in time”
Tems
Temilade Openiyi,professionally known as Tems was born on 11 June 1995 in Lagos,Nigeria. Her family moved to the United Kingdom shortly after birth.Her Parents Divorced when she was 5 after which she relocated to Nigeria with her Mum and Brother.
She was raised by her single mother alongside her older brother, who had a big influence on her Music Background.
For her secondary education, Tems attended Dowen College and went on to Study Economics in Monash South Africa, now known as IIE MSA, one of the leading educational institutions in Johannesburg. At school, she learned how to play the piano.After School TEMS decided to Quit her job to focus solely on Music.
She really wanted to be able to produce for herself because she felt other producers did not understand what she wanted to express so she started studying Music Production Videos on YouTube.She dropped her debut self-produced single “Mr Rebel” on 18th July 2018.
She went on to release “Try Me”,a song that blew up all over radio in Nigeria and gave her Recognition. Her voice was the most striking thing about the song. Very Powerful and Audacious,as if telling you To stop everything and Listen. Her lyrics also got the attention of her listeners. From listening to “Try me” it was clear that she was destined for greatness.
In September 2020 Tems Dropped her debut EP,”FOR BROKEN EARS”. She is credited with producing most of the Songs on the EP. Listening to For Broken Ears is like reading Tems’ diary and simultaneously studying a how-to life guide.
Free Mind and Damages later went on to gain Global Recognition.
Though well known in Nigeria and africa by now,Tems was largely unknown in the Global Scene. Well,that was about to change. On 2020 she was featured on “ESSENCE” on Wizkid’s 4th Studio Album MIL.Essence immediately became Viral in Nigeria.
On the song Wizkid was amazing as always but it was Tems who stole the show. Tems voice was just something of beauty. Blurting out “You don’t need no other body,….only you fit hold my body”
It created a viral craze in Nigeria and Africa in general,and it wasn’t long before the craze spread beyond the shores of Africa,Essence peaked at No 9 of the US Billboard Hot 100. Essence went on to chart in Several Different Countries. Becoming Wizkid’s Biggest Song.
On 15th September 2021, Tems released her second EP, If Orange Was a Place.
Coming off her “ESSENCE” success Tems was one of the hottest artiste in the World. Drake collaborated with her on “Fountains. “Fountains” debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Future also worked with her,sampling her song “Higher” to record “Wait For U” which debuted at No 1 of The US Billboard Hot 100 Giving Future his Second No 1 Song in the US and Tems her first.
Tems Co-Wrote Rihanna’s Comeback single “Lift me Up”.
In July 2022, Tems was announced as a guest artiste on Beyoncé’s album Renaissance and is featured in the prologue soundtrack of Marvel Studios’ movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever alongside Ghana’s Amaarae.
Tems Bagged 2 Awards at the BET Awards,winning in the Category of “Best International Act and Best Collaboration. On November 21st 2022 She repeated the Same feat at the American Music Award,winning in the category of Best Song Rap/Hip hop with her Work on Future’s “Wait for u” ft Drake and Wizkid’s “Essence”.
Tems is obviously leading the Line in the Female Artist Category in Africa,and With so many things going on for her lately,one can only wonder how far ahead she’s still to go.
The Music Fanatics 
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