What Happened to Temilade Openiyi?
Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to global prominence after her feature on Wizkid's 2020 hit "Essence." She has since become a multi-Grammy Award winner, released critically acclaimed EPs and her debut album "Born in the Wild" in 2024, and continues to break barriers for African artists on the international stage with significant chart success and collaborations up to 2026.
Quick Answer
Tems has solidified her status as a global music icon, achieving multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 and Best African Music Performance in 2025. Her debut studio album, "Born in the Wild," was released in June 2024, followed by the surprise EP "Love Is A Kingdom" in November 2025. As of April 2026, she continues to achieve significant chart success, including three Billboard Hot 100 entries, and is slated to co-headline the All Points East festival in August 2026, while also surpassing 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Releases Debut Single 'Mr Rebel'
Tems quits her digital marketing job and self-produces and releases her debut single, 'Mr Rebel,' marking the start of her music career.
Releases 'Try Me'
Her single 'Try Me' becomes a hit, further establishing her unique sound and building her 'rebel gang' fanbase.
Releases Debut EP 'For Broken Ears'
Tems releases her critically acclaimed debut extended play, 'For Broken Ears,' featuring tracks like 'Damages' and 'Free Mind.'
Featured on Wizkid's 'Essence'
Tems gains widespread international recognition for her feature on Wizkid's hit single 'Essence' from his album 'Made in Lagos.'
Signs with RCA Records and Releases 'If Orange Was a Place'
Tems signs with RCA Records and releases her second EP, 'If Orange Was a Place,' which includes the single 'Crazy Tings.'
Features on Future's 'Wait for U'
Tems is featured alongside Drake on Future's single 'Wait for U,' which debuts atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African female artist to achieve this.
Co-writes Rihanna's 'Lift Me Up'
Tems co-writes Rihanna's song 'Lift Me Up' for the 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' soundtrack, earning an Academy Award nomination.
Wins First Grammy Award
Tems wins her first Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her feature on Future's 'Wait for U.'
Performs at Coachella with Wizkid and Justin Bieber
Tems makes her Coachella debut, bringing out Wizkid and Justin Bieber for a surprise performance of 'Essence.'
Releases Debut Album 'Born in the Wild'
Tems releases her highly anticipated debut studio album, 'Born in the Wild,' featuring collaborations with J. Cole and Asake.
Wins Second Grammy Award
Tems wins her second Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for her song 'Love Me JeJe,' becoming the first Nigerian artist with multiple Grammy wins.
Surprise Release of 'Love Is A Kingdom' EP
Tems surprise-releases her third extended play, 'Love Is A Kingdom.'
Achieves Three Billboard Hot 100 Entries
Tems earns three entries on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2026, leading all African artists for the year, with 'Bunce Road Blues,' 'What You Need,' and 'Raindance.'
Presents at BRIT Awards; 'Raindance' Goes Platinum
Tems presents the International Artist of the Year award at the BRIT Awards, and her collaboration with Dave, 'Raindance,' is certified platinum in the UK.
Surpasses 40 Million Spotify Monthly Listeners
Tems reaches a new milestone, becoming the first Nigerian artist to surpass 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Temilade Openiyi, born on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria, embarked on her musical journey after quitting a job in digital marketing in 2018 to pursue her passion. She taught herself music production using YouTube and released her debut single, "Mr Rebel," that same year. Her unique blend of Afrobeats, R&B, and Alté sounds quickly garnered attention, leading to the release of her debut EP, "For Broken Ears," in 2020.
The turning point in Tems' career came in 2020 with her feature on Wizkid's global hit "Essence," which gained massive international acclaim and peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix with Justin Bieber. This collaboration earned her a Grammy Award nomination and introduced her to a worldwide audience. Following this success, she signed with RCA Records and released her second EP, "If Orange Was a Place," in 2021.
Her breakthrough continued in 2022 and 2023 with high-profile collaborations, including a feature alongside Drake on Future's "Wait for U," which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African female artist to achieve this milestone. She also contributed to Beyoncé's "Renaissance" album and co-wrote Rihanna's Oscar-nominated song "Lift Me Up" for the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" soundtrack. Tems won her first Grammy Award in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Wait for U."
2024 marked the release of her highly anticipated debut studio album, "Born in the Wild," on June 7, which was supported by singles like "Me & U" and "Love Me JeJe." The album was a commercial success, becoming the highest-charting album by a Nigerian female artist in the US. In February 2025, Tems made history again by winning her second Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for "Love Me JeJe," becoming the first Nigerian artist to win multiple Grammys. She also surprise-released the "Love Is A Kingdom" EP in November 2025.
As of 2026, Tems continues to be a dominant force in global music. In February 2026, she achieved three Billboard Hot 100 entries, including collaborations with J. Cole and Future ("Bunce Road Blues") and Dave ("Raindance"), and her solo track "What You Need." "Raindance" also went platinum in the UK and topped UK YouTube Music charts in March 2026. She presented at the BRIT Awards in March 2026 and is set to co-headline the All Points East festival in London in August 2026. Tems has also surpassed 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, reflecting her sustained global appeal and consistent success.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Temilade Openiyi made different choices?