1. Tems 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.
41 Facts About Tems
1. 2.
In 2020, Tems released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears.
3.
Tems's second extended play, If Orange Was a Place, was released after she signed a record deal with RCA Records.
4.
Tems co-wrote and rendered background vocals on the song "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna, which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
5.
In 2024, Tems released her debut studio album Born in the Wild to critical acclaim.
6.
Tems further embarked on her ongoing Born in the Wild Tour, a supporting world tour.
7.
Tems became the first Nigerian artist with multiple Grammy Awards.
8.
Tems's family relocated to the United Kingdom when she was an infant, then returned to Nigeria following her parents' separation, when she was five years old.
9.
Tems resided in Ilupeju before moving to Lekki and later Ajah.
10.
Tems attended Dowen College for her secondary education and Monash South Africa for her tertiary education, where she obtained a degree in economics.
11.
Tems often practiced singing with her brother, who often accompanied her on guitar.
12.
In 2018, Tems quit her job in digital marketing to pursue a career in music.
13.
Tems began to learn self production skills on YouTube and on July 18th, 2018, she released her debut single, "Mr Rebel", a song which she produced by herself.
14.
On 23 April 2020, Tems was featured alongside fellow Nigerian singer Davido on a reworked version of American singer-songwriter Khalid and English electronic music duo Disclosure's single, "Know Your Worth".
15.
On 25 September 2020, Tems released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears.
16.
On 30 October 2020, Tems was featured on fellow Nigerian singer Wizkid's single, "Essence", from the latter's fourth studio album, Made in Lagos.
17.
Tems won a Soul Train Music Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Global Music Performance.
18.
On 8 November 2020, Tems was included in The Future Awards Africa: Class of 2020.
19.
On 3 September 2021, Tems was featured on Canadian rapper and singer Drake's song, "Fountains", from the latter's sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, which debuted at number 26 on the Hot 100.
20.
On 15 September 2021, Tems released her second extended play, If Orange Was a Place, after being signed to RCA records.
21.
Later, Tems reached number one on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart and the Billboard Emerging Artists chart.
22.
On 29 April 2022, Tems was featured alongside Drake on American rapper Future's single, "Wait for U", from the latter's ninth studio album, I Never Liked You.
23.
In July 2022, Tems covered Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack which she was credited alongside Rihanna.
24.
In July 2022, Tems was announced as a guest artist on Beyonce's album Renaissance, collaborating on the song "Move" with Grace Jones, becoming her fifth entry on the Hot 100.
25.
In November 2022, Tems won the Best New Artist at the 2022 Soul Train Music Awards.
26.
In February 2023, Tems headlined the Afrobeats themed halftime show at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
27.
Tems won the Female MVP award at the Soundcity MVP Awards, which were held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos in February 2023.
28.
In May 2023, Tems was invited to fashion's biggest night out, the Met Gala.
29.
Tems became the first female Afrobeats artist to attend the event.
30.
Furthermore, Tems was listed on the 2023 Time 100 Next list.
31.
The song marks Tems's first solo output since If Orange Was a Place, excluding her cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" which was released in 2022.
32.
On 5 December 2023, Tems announced that her second single of the year "Not an Angel" would be released on 8 December.
33.
In March 2024, Tems became the first African singer to be awarded a Billboard Women in Music Award in which she received under the Breakthrough category.
34.
Tems further appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and on NPR Tiny Desk Concert to promote the album performing the then unreleased songs from the album.
35.
Tems became the first Nigerian artist to win multiple Grammy Awards.
36.
In 2025, Tems became the first African woman to have part ownership in a Major League Soccer team by joining the San Diego FC ownership group.
37.
Tems listened to Destiny's Child, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, and Aaliyah, and once covered Alicia Keys' 2004 single, "If I Ain't Got You" in a live performance.
38.
Tems expressed how the music of those artists helped her understand how songs can channel emotion, provide spiritual connection, and serve as a means of pure self-expression.
39.
Tems's voice has been described as deep, velvety, and androgynous.
40.
On 14 December 2020, Tems was arrested alongside fellow Nigerian singer Omah Lay after they performed in a show in Uganda.
41.
Tems has received many accolades, including two Grammy Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, four NAACP Image Awards, four BET Awards and three Soul Train Music Awards.