Today is Nigerian Independence Day and some of your favorite rap stars are celebrating as well! Many Nigerian artists have made major waves in the rap music industry — here are a few: Naija to the World Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, professionally known as Nas, touts his Queensbridge upbringing, but his roots go further […]
Tems
Tems Made Her Late Night Debut With A Performance Of ‘Avoid Things’ On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’
After a massive feature on WizKid’s near-perfect “Essence” from his album Made In Lagos, Nigerian singer Tems is coming into her own. A remix of that song, which many considered to be a song of the summer in 2020, featured none other than Justin Bieber. Whenever an artist gets a co-sign like that, it definitely helps the rest of the world notice them.
The Lagos-born musician was also featured on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy for the track “Fountains” and was recently featured as one Apple’s Up Next artists. Needless to say she’s on a bit of a roll, and part of her tear of breakout moves includes an appearance on late night.
She performed “Avoid Things” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, a song off her new EP If Orange Was A Place, which came out just a few weeks ago. “I am excited for everything the future holds,” she said recently in a press release. “My team and I have been working really hard over the years, now we’re in a new season and on a higher level and things can only get better as we reach more people all over the world.”
Check out her late night appearance above and expect to see a lot more from this artist in the future.
Tems to Collab with Drake Again
Nigerian artist Tems has been making a name for herself in the industry with her hit song with Wizkid on “Essence” and her recent collaboration on Drake’s new album “Certified Lover Boy.” The artist has no plans of slowing down as another album is in the works next year, with another Drake feature. Drake A […]
Nigerian Singer Tems Details Her Rise To Stardom In A New Documentary
Lagos-born singer Tems has seen a meteoric rise over the past year in the wake of the release of her September EP, For Broken Ears. Since then, she’s received co-signs from one of her home country’s biggest stars, Wizkid, appearing on his summer-of-2021 single “Essence” and its remix with Justin Bieber, and of perennially precognitive talent scout Drake, landing a feature on “Fountains” from his new album Certified Lover Boy.
Now, she’s been selected as Apple Music’s latest Up Next artist, just in time to commemorate the release of her newest EP If Orange Was A Place, released Tuesday via Since ’93 and RCA Records. The five-song release includes the song “Found” with American R&B counterpart Brent Faiyaz (a rising star in his own right) and showcases her unique vocals, songwriting, and production style. She relates the album to “the feeling of sunset and the sweetness of an orange” in its description on Apple Music and delves into the impact her oncoming stardom has had on her in both the documentary and an insightful interview with Apple Music’s Nadeska, which you can watch below.
Watch the trailer for Tems’ Apple Music Up Next documentary up top and catch the full video (and listen to the new EP) here.
DaBaby Unloads Quick-Fire Raps Over Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ For A New Remix And Fans Are Not Happy
Prior to a month ago, DaBaby had his eyes set on new music he planned to deliver to his fans. The rapper promised a new album was on the way, but all of that became an afterthought when he unleashed a homophobic rant targeted at individuals with HIV/AIDS during July’s Rolling Loud festival in Miami. Since then, DaBaby has found himself in a string of controversial moments and it continues with the release of his latest track.
On Tuesday, the North Carolina rapper delivers a remix of Wizkid and Tems’ summer hit, “Essence.” His take of the track completely alters the song’s original nature as Wizkid and Tems’ relaxed vocals are replaced by DaBaby’s quick-fire raps. He also uses the track to address the recent criticism he’s faced since his Rolling Loud rant. “I just feel like, you know, when situations like this present themselves, man,” he says on the track. “And people try to, you know, assassinate your character, man / And assassinate who you are, man / And everything you put that hard work in for, man.” He adds, “Sometimes you gotta demonstrate, you know, that’s how I came here / And I don’t mind demonstratin’ / I don’t mind exercisin’, you dig what I’m sayin’?”
The remix arrives after it was reported that DaBaby met with nine HIV/AIDS organizations after his Rolling Loud. As for the remix itself, most fans were not too happy with it and they took to Twitter to share their displeasures.
You can listen to his “Essence” remix in the video above and read the responses from fans below.
i want that Dababy essence freestyle gone by the time i wake up.
— a* (@meergottii) September 1, 2021
Dababy just ruined my whole week with that essence freestyle dawg
— b. (@bensoned0) September 1, 2021
I don’t think a single human being on this planet heard the song Essence and thought “dababy should be on this” https://t.co/UEgatBgCRh
— Xxocolatl stan (@puIaar) September 1, 2021
DaBaby: *terrible rapping*
Essence beat: pic.twitter.com/jDFb3v23mc
— Kelechi (@heykelechi) September 1, 2021
Wizkid should sue Dababy for ruining Essence like that.
— Arike (@simplydebss) September 1, 2021
Say no to globalisation, that is the reason why we are hearing dababy on Essence. I’m gonna throw up
— ganiru (@domiiniion) September 1, 2021
Lmaooooo nah imagine hearing that Essence beat at a function then you get annoyed, then you hear DaBaby’s verse. I would literally combust.
— Broke Bobby’s Financial Advisor (@dubonde_wav) September 1, 2021
WHY IS DABABY RAPPING ON ESSENCE O.M.G???????????? pic.twitter.com/CsTIMMhmn2
— Mimi The Music Blogger (@mdaixo) September 1, 2021
Who told Dababy to give his own “Essence” remix lmaoo
— human. (@nigerianprynce) September 1, 2021
⭒ I’m on my own thinking of how to maneuver life then Dababy drops Essence remix without Trigger warning, problem no dey finish true true.
— Ug (@JustinUg_) September 1, 2021
that DaBaby Essence remix is an act of terror bruh
— druwop. (@inmanparklegend) September 1, 2021
Wizkid Invites Justin Bieber Into The Afrobeats World For A Remix Of ‘Essence’ With Tems
Wizkid’s mainstream appeal has noticeably increased since the afro-fusion star dropped his stellar fourth album Made In Lagos last fall. The project saw the singer work with big names like H.E.R., Ella Mai, Burna Boy, and Skepta, but the album’s most popular song came through an unexpected collaboration with fellow afro-fusion singer Tems on “Essence.” The track has grown to not only run in contention for song of the summer this year, but it’s also the highest-charting African song ever, as it peaked at No. 54 on the singles chart this past week. Now, the song is due for a huge boost thanks to a new remix.
Thank u for letting me jump on the song of the summer. Essence remix out tonight pic.twitter.com/sN3HvPNooD
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) August 12, 2021
I promised you something special. @temsbaby & @justinbieber on da way pic.twitter.com/o7e8azcLgb
— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) August 12, 2021
Wizkid and Tems invite Justin Bieber into the “Essence” experience for a brand new remix of the track. While some fans felt the collaboration was a bit inorganic, Wizkid and Bieber are paying no mind to the comments, showing each other love on social media. “Thank u for letting me jump on the song of the summer,” Bieber wrote in a Twitter post that announced the remix. In his own post, Wizkid wrote, “I promised you something special. @temsbaby & @justinbieber on da way.”
“Made In Lagos Deluxe”
— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) August 13, 2021
In another post, Wizkid teased more music on the way for fans. “Made In Lagos Deluxe,” he wrote on Twitter.
Press play on the remix to “Essence” in the video above.
Made In Lagos is out now via Starboy Entertainment/RCA. Get it here.
Wizkid And Tems Value The ‘Essence’ Of Intimacy In Their Vibrant New Video
Last fall, Wizkid released his fourth album, Made In Lagos and it quickly grew to be a favorite out of the projects released during the 2020 portion of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the global circumstances may have prevented its enjoyment to the fullest, as a good listen in the summer sun would’ve made the experience even better. However, with the summer just around the corner again, Made In Lagos could finally receive that moment and the Nigerian afro-fusion star reminds fans of the album’s beauty with a vibrant visual for “Essence.”
Backed by an excellent contribution from Nigerian singer Tems, the two head over to the motherland for the new video. The singers flaunt the brightest of colors as they sing about the intimacy and close connection they seek between themselves and their partners. Wizkid rides around the neighborhood with a pair of women beside, both who seem infatuated with the singer, while Tems takes to the comfort of her home to sing her captivating verse.
The visual arrives after Wizkid earned his first-every Grammy Award as a result of he is contribution to Beyonce’s “Brown Skin Girl” track, an effort that also gave Saint John and Blue Ivy their first Grammy wins. The “Essence” video is also the fourth from the Made In Lagos, with “Smile,” “No Stress,” and “Ginger” being the other videos to receive the visual treatment.
Watch the “Essence” in the video above.