Temilade Openiyi aka Tems has opened up on what inspired one of her current songs, ‘Big Daddy.’
In a recent interview, Tems admitted that the song is a feel good song that was inspired by an experience.
In her words, “Big Daddy was inspired by an experience of a type of person. I would describe the type of person as someone who wants to look cool but doesn’t work on themselves internally, it translates to they want to have control but they don’t add any value.”
The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer 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.
Tems has since gone ahead to win Grammy Awards, American Music Awards and BET Music Awards. She’s currently signed to RCA records in the United States of America.
When the visuals for Raindance, Tems’ collaboration with UK rapper Dave, began making the rounds, the styling stood out for its clean, understated, and confident style. Behind that calm finish was a tight, almost frantic process led by stylist Swazzi, who joined the project just a day before filming.
Swazzi said he was contacted by the team less than 24 hours before the shoot and initially doubted the call was real.
“A day before the shoot, I was contacted and told they wanted me to style Tems,” he said. “At first, I thought it was a prank, but they asked if I was available. I said yes immediately.”
Once terms were agreed, he was added to the production group chat, where the mood board for the video was shared. With little time to overthink, he focused on a clear direction.
“I wanted something sleek and simple,” he said. “I also wanted her in Nigerian designers, not costumes or just custom pieces, but real runway looks from collections.”
What followed was a long, sleepless night. Swazzi reached out to designers across Lagos, pulling pieces wherever he could. Some of the outfits were not in Tems’ size, but designers worked through the night to make adjustments and deliver by morning.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he said. “I pulled pieces from every designer I know, even designers who didn’t have her size were able to alter pieces overnight and deliver them the next morning.”
By the morning of the shoot, the pressure had not eased. While the crew waited at the jetty for the boat to take them to set, deliveries were still coming in. In all, Swazzi had about 10 hours to put everything together, with no fittings and no prior previews.
Tems had already identified some Nigerian designers whose pieces she wanted for the video, but not all were available. Swazzi sourced what he could, unsure how she would respond to seeing the outfits for the first time on set.
“That was where the panic came from,” he admitted. “She hadn’t seen them before.”
The fear, however, quickly disappeared.
“When she saw the pieces, she loved them, and everything fit perfectly,” he said.
Swazzi also worked closely with Dave’s team, sharing outfit options for approval, while assistant director Danmbo encouraged him to push for the best possible outcome.
“It really showed how teamwork works on a project like this,” he said.
Even after the shoot wrapped, the experience took time to sink in.
“It didn’t feel real until I saw the video on TV,” he said.
For Swazzi, Raindance marked a major moment in his career, styling Grammy Award-winning Tems for a global release alongside Dave.
“It felt like a dream come true,” he said.
Looking ahead, he says the project has strengthened his resolve to keep pushing African designers onto global platforms, while also working with emerging designers across Europe and beyond.
“I’m excited about what’s next,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
Grammy-winning singer Tems has shared insight into what she considers essential in a romantic relationship, stressing the importance of friendliness and genuine curiosity.
Speaking in a recent interview with Complex, the award-winning artist said she cannot date anyone who is unfriendly or shows little interest in their partner.
She described the absence of these qualities as a significant red flag and an indication that the relationship may not be worth pursuing.
“My dating terms are that someone who is not trying to be your friend is a red flag.
“Anybody who isn’t curious about you is also a red flag. Because what are we doing? Why are we here if you don’t want to know me?
“If he or she doesn’t want to know more about you, end the relationship,” she said.
Tems, who identifies as a lover girl, said she is prioritising self-love and being cautious in her relationships due to past experiences.
She advised ending relationships with partners who show no interest in getting to know their significant other, stating that mutual curiosity and friendship are essential components of a healthy partnership.
She also emphasised the importance of positive self-talk, making a conscious effort to think positively about herself and believing in her own abilities.
The X user asked, “Before the fame and spotlight, what kept you going on the days you almost gave up? I’m a big fan trying to stay motivated.”
Tems replied, “Oh, baby, honestly, I leaned on God a lot. And I focused on serving. I hypnotised myself into thinking positively about me; most negative thoughts are lies.
“They’re just easier to believe. There’s nothing you cannot do. Just don’t focus on other people, cuz who will focus on you?”
Grammy-winning singer Tems has expressed gratitude for her remarkable success in the music industry, stating that she has achieved more than she ever imagined.
In a recent interactive session with fans on X, Tems spoke on her accomplishments, revealing she has surpassed her goals.
According to her, she is looking forward to future plans, crediting her success to her journey from having a 9-5 job to becoming a renowned artist.
A fan asked, “What are you currently looking forward to? Also would you say you’ve achieved all of your dreams prior to stardom?”
Tems replied, “I’m looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store and honestly I’ve achieved beyond my dreams from when I had a 9-5.”
The singer’s rise to fame began in 2018, when she quit her job as a digital marketer to pursue music full-time.
Her breakthrough came with Wizkid’s hit single Essence, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Since then, Tems has made history, becoming the first female Afrobeats artist to win a Grammy Award, and later winning the Best African Music Performance award at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
Before rising to fame, Tems worked as a digital marketer, a job she left in January 2018 to focus on her music career.
Just a few months later, she released her debut single ‘Mr Rebel’ in July 2018, which gained traction in Nigeria.
Tems’ breakthrough came with her feature on Wizkid’s 2020 single ‘Essence’, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after the remix with Justin Bieber.
Grammy-winning artist Tems, recently opened up about her rise from Lagos to global stages and how she’s using her platform to empower women.
In the latest episode of African Voices Changemakers, Tems opened up to CNN’s Larry Madowo on varied issues since grabbing global recognition.
Temilade Openiyi aka Tems was born in Lagos and she rose from being a self-taught producer to becoming a global star, making history as the first Nigerian to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I think for me personally, authenticity is everything to me. I feel like that’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have, who I really am, and I started doing music to share my story and to share my emotions and how I feel,” she started.
From the studio to stadiums, Tems’ rise hasn’t been without challenges. She says she’s navigated the pressures of the industry while holding onto the creative freedom that makes her music distinct.
In her words, “Music is like my playground. I just like to experiment. I’m listening to so many different sounds and I just notice things that call out to me, and I save them. Most of the time I just make sure that I’m discovering new things all the time, even when I’m not in the studio.”
Some artists have been outspoken against the term Afrobeats and grouping all African music under the genre. Tems says she sees the positives of the definition , “Right now, Afrobeats is not about a genre, it’s about the movement. And it’s the movement of Africa. I think along the way, the definition of Afrobeats changed.”
As her profile grows, Tems is investing in ventures outside of music, including sports ownership. She recently joined the ownership team of San Diego FC, becoming the first African woman in that kind of role.
“I think it’s really important to expand or diversify yourself and your business. And I think that that was like the first time I was really interested in something else that wasn’t music.”
Tems admits using her platform to open the door for other women in the entertainment industry and beyond saying, “Maybe it’s because I’m a woman and I remember my journey and I remember all the things that I had to go through, but I really want to help women to create a tangible space in all industries, especially music. But not just in music, in entrepreneurship, in tech, in business. I think it’s important and I want to give women the opportunity to redefine what people know.”
In August, the two-time Grammy Award-winner launched the Leading Vibe initiative, a groundbreaking platform to support, connect, and amplify young women in music across Africa, with plans to expand globally.
Tems describes the project saying, “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. Being in the music industry myself, I know firsthand how difficult it is for women and how people view women, and how hard it is to not even just get a foot in the door, but to be respected as someone that is a leader. And I feel like there definitely should be more women in leadership roles, not just in music.”
Tems concludes on the initiative’s expansion plans, “This is definitely going beyond Nigeria. I want to support women in all fields […] We’re going to Kenya next, because this is not just, you know, we started in Lagos because this is my home and obviously, I want my people to win. But there’s women everywhere in Africa that need visibility and just need to feel seen and really all they need is that platform, all they need is that chance.”
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has opened up about the struggles she faced at the start of her music career, revealing how difficult it was to be taken seriously both as a producer and as a singer.
In a recent interview with CNN, Tems recalled feeling overlooked and unsupported during her early years in the industry.
“It was really hard to get people to take me seriously — not just as a producer, but as a singer, period. I didn’t feel safe, I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time,” she said.
The Essence hitmaker emphasized that staying true to herself has always been her guiding principle. “Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have — who I really am,” she stated.
Tems also revealed that she is now using her platform to provide opportunities for others through her initiative, The Leading Vibe, which she plans to expand beyond Nigeria. The programme aims to empower and support women working behind the scenes in the music industry.
“There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, audio engineers — but they’re not even visible,” she said.
“So, I want to make them visible and create a space where we can redefine the perspective of women in music.
“We’re definitely taking this beyond Nigeria. Actually, we’re going to Kenya next. There are women everywhere who just need to feel seen. All they need is that platform, all they need is that chance, and I really believe it’s going to change the shape of the music industry for sure”, she said.
The 30-year-old singer has achieved significant milestones in her career, including winning two Grammy Awards.
Her first win was in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her contribution to Future’s song “Wait For U,” featuring Drake.
She won her second Grammy in 2025 for Best African Music Performance for her song “Love Me JeJe”.
Singer and songwriter Tems has set a historic record, becoming the first female Nigerian artist to sell more than 10 million units in the United States.
The milestone, confirmed on Tuesday by Chart Data on X (formerly Twitter), was driven by her global smash hit “Wait for U” with Future and Drake, which has now surpassed the 10 million sales mark.
The achievement added to Tems’ growing list of international accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Wait for U” and her distinction as the first African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.
Her meteoric rise began with her feature on Wizkid’s “Essence,” which broke into the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multiple Grammy nominations. Since then, she has won several international honours, including BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award.
Currently on her 2025–2026 world tour, Tems is performing across major cities such as Nairobi, Salvador (Brazil), and Los Angeles, where she will headline at the iconic Dodger Stadium.
Grammy-winning singer Tems has opened up about the gender-based challenges women face in Nigeria’s music industry, sharing her own struggles to be taken seriously as an artist.
In an interview with the BBC, Tems said women are often disrespected in the industry, making it harder for them to gain recognition and succeed.
To tackle the problem, she launched ‘The Leading Vibe Initiative’, a platform aimed at empowering women by providing easier access to opportunities, wider audiences, and greater success in the music business. The initiative also seeks to boost self-definition and confidence among female artists.
Tems urged aspiring female musicians to set clear personal and professional boundaries, knowing what they are willing—and unwilling—to do for fame. She stressed the importance of staying true to oneself and refusing to compromise values for success.
Tems said, “I just found out that people don’t really respect women a lot in the [music] industry. It was difficult to find people to take me seriously, but it didn’t mean I stopped; I just kept on going. I wanted to redefine the perspective that women have of themselves. As a woman myself, I’m the best person to start something like this, so that’s really the aim.
“It is to change the way women see themselves in music. For me, it is not just artists; it is also producers, audio engineers, instrumentalists, and managers interested in managing other women. When people tell you to change your style and sound, you look at them and say so.
“If it means me not being signed, I’m okay with that. I went to a couple of places that didn’t sign me, and I was okay with that. Like any other football fan, I never imagined myself being in ownership of any football team, but I think it is also a space where women are underrepresented.
“I was fortunate enough to get that opportunity brought to me, and I jumped on it because I feel like women don’t see themselves in that space, and I needed it to be known that women can be in any space that they want.”
