Today Tems is celebrating her win for the best melodic rap performance in a collaboration with Drake and Future, which was nothing short of historic.
Who is Tems?
Tems, otherwise known as Temilade Openiyi, is of Nigerian descent. Openiyi and her brother were raised by their mother in the Ilupeju neighborhood. Openiyi used her talents early, singing in the choir as a teenager. According to a 2022 article in GQ, long before she had visions of becoming a global star, she was writing music and teaching herself to make beats. In 2018, she began her pursuits in music. Six months after delving headfirst into a career in music, she released “Mr. Rebel.” According to the artist, it has been a learning process. In her words,
‘There are no blueprints I am following. Think about it. I’m from Nigeria, from Lagos. There is nobody that I was like.”
However, she’s proved that sometimes magic happens when you become the blueprint.
Tems Path to Greatness
Tems success has been hard-earned. It’s been a pursuit that has not been without its struggles. In her interview with GQ she stayed candid about her pre-success situation. According to the source, before her debut album, she faced financial hardship. Even with the responsibility of caring for her family on her shoulders, she pushed. As she exclaimed,
“There were times when I was not just broke—I was broke and hopeless. I used to steal food.”
But she held on and pushed forward. And on February 5, 2023, Tems became the second female of Nigerian descent to win a Grammy behind Sade, also known as Helen Folasade Adu.
A Few Flowers: For Excellence
We honor those who are worthy of honor. And today is her day, a momentous day not only for her but for other little Black girls and those from her home country. Some of Openiyi’s peers from Nigeria have already taken the opportunity to give her a little shine. One industry peer, Olamide, said this of Openiyi, “It is Tems’ time. Nobody can stop her shine. Superstar.”
It’s Tems’ time. Nobody can stop her shine. Superstar 😍✨
— OLAMIDE 🌸💖 (@Olamide0fficial) February 6, 2023
This is only the beginning for Openiyi. According to Yahoo, Tems is currently working on collaborative projects with the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna. So, stay tuned, as she is the one to watch.
Written By: Renae Richardson