Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, is a Grammy-winning Nigerian singer who switched from the popular afrobeats music to R&B while knowing that she would suffer severe repercussions.
Tems claimed that she had such a strong sense of self-worth that she didn’t care if she never achieved “anything or anyone” in the R&B world.
The ‘Essence’ singer claimed she “just wanted to get a message out.”
In an interview with American rapper Kendrick Lamar that was included in the most recent issue of Interview Magazine, she revealed this.
Tems declared, “I was ready to pass away. I had such a strong sense of self-worth that I didn’t really care if I never achieved anything or met anyone. I merely wanted to convey my message. I desired to broadcast my frequency. And I thought, “It’s fine even if ten people hear this.” I love Celine Dion, so I enjoy that strong feeling of being on the verge of jumping over a cliff. However, along the road, I also used to listen to a lot of Nigerian music and I wasn’t receiving much spirituality. I want my music to always make me feel that way, and Afrobeats wasn’t always stimulating me in that way.
Everyone who she allegedly sought counsel from at the time advised her to pursue afrobeats, telling her, “Afrobeats is the only way you can do this.” Your music isn’t horrible; it just doesn’t match with Nigerian culture. Nigerians disapprove of this.
The Oscar-nominated singer claimed that even though money was not her ultimate goal, she would not give up. She continued by saying she was “chasing a frequency.”
