Tems Becomes Most Certified Female Nigerian Artist in the US

Nigerian singer, songwriter and music producer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems,  earned an RIAA platinum certification for her solo single ‘Found’  featuring Brent Faiyaz. The track achieved one million copies in the US, qualifying it for platinum status on November 12th  2024.

The track is featured on her second  EP ‘If Orange Was a Place’ released in 2021.

It gained commercial success following Tems’ rise to international fame with her standout performance on Wizkid’s global hit ‘Essence.’

‘Found’ has since amassed over 119 million streams on Spotify, solidifying its place as one of the most popular songs in her impressive discography.

Fans Reactions to Tems’ Certification

Fans and well-wishers all over the world are excited about her certification. They expressed their excitement on X. These are some of the reactions from fans on the platform.

Amelia from X, “This achievement is a testament to the song’s powerful message of self discovery and personal growth, congratulations to Temsbaby and Brent Faiyaz on their achievement.” 

Yash petal on X, “Congratulations to Tems and Brent Faiyaz ‘Found’ is a masterpiece.”

Frezo, “I want Tems to win so much in this lifetime, quality music deserves it all.”

And STAN, “Tems is winning silently.”

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Tems and Her Music Career

Temilade Openiyi was born on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria, and belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group. Her family moved to the UK during her infancy but returned to Nigeria after her parents separated when she was five years old. Tems initially lived in Ilupeju before relocating to Lekki and subsequently to Ajah.

For her secondary education, Openiyi attended Dowen College and later pursued her tertiary studies at Monash South Africa, where she earned a degree in Economics.

During her school years, she faced bullying due to her voice; however, her music teacher recognized her talent and encouraged her to learn the piano. She honed her singing skills alongside her brother, who often played the guitar to accompany her.

In 2018, Tems made the decision to leave her position in digital marketing to follow her passion for music. She started acquiring self-production skills through YouTube tutorials and on July 18, 2018, she launched her debut single, “Mr Rebel,” which she produced independently.

On August 7th, 2019, she released another single titled “Try Me.” In 2020, DJ Edu recognized her as one of the “Ten Artists to Watch” for that year. Since then she has been a success in the entertainment industry.

Tems has achieved numerous awards including Grammy’s and recently she has received a certification bringing her total to three platinum certifications for future’s track: ‘Wait For You’, ‘Free mind’ and Found.

She has recently achieved a Gold RIAA  Certifications for her song ‘Higher’ which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as on her EP ‘For Broken Ears’. This accomplishment makes her the first female from Nigeria  to have an RIAA Gold-Certified album. Tems has been nominated in numerous awards and won multiple awards including the Grammy’s.

Additionally, she joins Burna Boy, Rema, and Wizkid as the only Nigerian artists with certified RIAA projects, with Wizkid’s fourth album ‘Made in Lagos’  and Rema’s debut album ‘Raves and Roses’ also receiving an RIAA certification.

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Details of RIAA Gold Plaque

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is an organization that was established in 1952 for trade purposes that is  based in Washington D.C It represents the music recording industry across the United States.

The Gold & Platinum Award was created to honor artists and track music sales. Over time, these awards have become a standard of success for artists, marking key moments in their careers- from debut singles to greatest hits compilations.

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DONE BY: DAVID BANGURA