Talented singer-songwriter and producer Temilade Openiyi, better known by her stage name Tems, has earned various honors.
Although her rise to fame in the music industry has been swift, it has not been without grit, and she is still very young. Tems has had features from artistes such as Wizkid on his most well-known song from 2021, Essence.
Her latest musical masterpiece, Me & U, is now available for audiences to enjoy following her praised If Orange Was a Place EP release.
GuiltyBeatz, the producer of this work of art, delves into Tems’ profound exploration of spirituality, self-discovery, and the search for a true relationship with the Creator and gives listeners a window into her path to self-realization and a better understanding of who she is.
Her work on the lead song from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, Lift Me Up, appeared on Beyoncé’s award-winning Renaissance making Tems Africa’s first female artiste to win Best International Act at the 2022 BET Awards further cementing her place in musical history.
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You may have heard Bob Marley’s cover of No Woman, No Cry if you saw the Wakanda Forever teaser. In case you didn’t know, Tems was the one who showed up. How she obtained the worldwide recognition she so deserves since her sudden appearance in the spotlight has left many admiring her tenacity.
Tems’ chart-topping single Free Mind, off her 2020 For Broken Ears EP, cemented her place in history earlier this year by becoming the female artiste’s longest-running #1 song on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. More than two years after its initial release, this song received RIAA platinum certification and shot to the top of the Billboard R&B Radio and Hip Hop/R&B Radio charts.
The story of the 2022 BET Award for Best International Act winner’s rise to fame around the world is motivational. In addition to her worldwide acclaim, Tems serves as an inspiration to other female artistes as her success has opened up opportunities that were previously only available to male musicians. The first new music from Tem in two years is the tune “Me & U,” a classic pop ballad and a club-ready Afrobeats banger. “Me & U” appears to be a very straightforward love ballad on the surface, with Tems singing of companionship and complete surrender.
In a recent Kendrick Lamar interview, Tems stated that she tries to face the hurdles and expectations that success frequently brings by being herself. The Free Mind hit singer added that it is crucial to believe in one’s self since you are the one who must live with your decisions and sleep with them. I won’t stop doing it just because people can see me now. It gives off the impression that you’re in a zoo, except that the animals aren’t acting any differently simply because you’re staring at them. They’ll always be true to who they are. So why should I change?” she continued. Tems has inspired young female artistes who desire to rise to prominence by showing her resilient side and proving without an iota of a doubt that women can shine regardless of the challenges they may face.