The well-known Nigerian Grammy award-winning singer Temilade Openiyi, better known by her stage name Tems, has disclosed that it was difficult to leave her career in digital marketing to pursue her musical career.
In a recent interview with Billboard, the “Love Me Jeje” singer revealed that, despite her concerns about leaving her position, she had faith in divine guidance, particularly since she believed that digital marketing was not her calling.
Tems claimed that she didn’t release her first single, “Mr. Rabel,” until six months after leaving her job, but it did receive some success.
“I quit my job in digital marketing because it reached a point where I couldn’t take it any longer,” she stated. It truly dawned on me that it was either now or never. I was simply putting it off until I came to believe that God would provide for me wherever I went.
In January 2018, I resigned from my position, and six or seven months later, I released “Mr. Rabel.” Spiritually, I knew that digital marketing wasn’t for me and that I needed to get out of here immediately. It was truly a life-or-death situation.
It seemed like you had to make a choice immediately because this could make or break your future. I decided to resign, and it was successful.
After appearing on Wizkid’s 2020 worldwide hit song “Essence,” which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Tems rose to fame.
Future song “Wait 4 U,” which featured her and Drake, made her the first African artist to debut N0.1 on the Billboard HOT 100 chat in 2022.
The following year, the song was also awarded a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap. Tems’ song “Love Me Jeje” won her another Grammy in February 2025 for Best African Music Performance.
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