Dozens of young artists rack up hits in a given year, but few truly break through and create a lasting impact on the global music scene and popular culture. Tems is one of those artists. The Nigerian singer-songwriter used her rich blend of Afrobeats, soul and hip-hop to become one of the leading female artists in the global Afrobeats explosion of the early 2020s.
As a 2024 Billboard Women in Music Breakthrough Artist honoree, Tems joins an exclusive list of movers and shakers that includes Idina Menzel, Maren Morris, Camila Cabello, TWICE and Tori Kelly. To show why the Grammy winner is a true artist, Advertising sign Explains has compiled a brief overview of Tems' impressive success.
Tems made her Billboard Hot 100 debut in 2021 with “Essence,” a collaboration with fellow Afrobeats star Wizkid and Justin Bieber, which peaked at No. 9 on the chart. The following year, she translated that momentum into her first Hot 100 No. 1 single. Her other Hot 100 hits include “Fountains” (No. 26, featuring Drake), “Move” (No. 55, featuring Beyoncé and Grace Jones) and “Free Mind” (No. 46), a single from debut EP For broken earswhich reached No. 28 on the Independent Albums.
“Free Mind” and “Essence” are also Tems' two chart-toppers on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs, where she boasts 15 career entries. “Higher,” which was sampled on Future's “Wait for U,” reached No. 5 on the chart in 2022.
With a debut studio album due for release in 2024, Tems is poised to seize the coming year and further cement her breakthrough.
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