At a Glance:
- Tems’ “Love Me Jeje” goes RIAA Gold with 500,000+ U.S. sales, boosting global chart status.
- Spotify streams top 1 billion for Tems’ hit with Future, Drake; strengthens Afrobeats crossover appeal.
- Grammy wins, Met Gala presence elevate Tems as Africa’s top music export and global culture force.
Nigerian superstar musician, Temilade Openiyi, globally known as Tems, has scored another career-defining moment as her Grammy-winning single “Love Me Jeje” surpasses 500,000 units in U.S. sales, qualifying for a RIAA Gold certification.
According to data from Chart Data, the achievement further strengthens Tems’ standing as one of Nigeria’s most decorated music exports.
The milestone comes just three months after the Nigerian singer-songwriter added four new RIAA certifications to her growing catalog.
With this feat, Tems extends her lead among RIAA-certified African artists, fueling her global ascent and reshaping the narrative around African music on international charts.
Grammy win, Billion-stream milestone cement global appeal
“Love Me Jeje,” which earned Tems the Best African Music Performance award at the 67th Grammy Awards, marks her second Grammy win.
In addition to solo success, she continues to thrive through high-profile collaborations. Her hit song “Wait For U,” with Drake and Future, has now crossed 1 billion streams on Spotify, becoming one of the most streamed Afrobeats-influenced tracks globally.
At the 2023 Grammy Awards, ‘Wait for U’ won Best Melodic Rap Performance, making it Tems’ first Grammy win.
Tems’ U.S. footprint has been amplified through strategic partnerships with artists like Beyoncé, Drake, and Future.
Her debut album, Born in the Wild, features Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole, with whom she performed earlier this year at the Dreamville Festival.
Red carpet presence and awards season recognition
This year, Tems also made a splash on the global fashion stage, appearing at the 2025 Met Gala, further cementing her place as a cross-industry icon.
On the red carpet, she emphasized that African music extends beyond Afrobeats, signaling potential for other genres to achieve mainstream traction.
In addition to her RIAA accolades, Tems won Record of the Year at the 17th Headies Awards and received a nomination at the American Music Awards, showcasing her ability to consistently captivate both African and Western audiences.
