The hit song “Essence”, by Wizkid ft. Tems, has been nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Global Music Category” for new vocal or instrumental global music recordings, 2022.
The song is the lead single from Wizkid’s 4th studio album, Made in Lagos, which was released on 30th October 2020 by Starboy Entertainment and RCA Records.
The album broke several African streaming records within its debut week, becoming the first African album to appear on the Spotify Global Album chart, featuring in the top 10.
The 14-track project engages Black singers and rappers from across the diaspora. Along with the Nigerian singer Tems, Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Skepta (who is British Nigerian), the UK’s Ella Mai (who is of Jamaican and Irish descent), Jamaica’s Damian Marley, Black American RnB singer H.E.R, Nigeria’s Terri, Projexx from Jamaica and Tay Iwar from Nigeria, can be heard on the album.
Tems is a 26-year-old singer from Lagos, Nigeria who sings within the RnB, Afrobeats and Alté music genres. This will be her first ever Grammy nomination.
Along with a major collaboration with Wizkid, she’s also known for featuring on Drake’s US Billboard 200 number one album, Certified Lover Boy, on the song “Foundations.”
New work from Tems is hotly anticipated, with her studio album debut on the horizon. This follows on from two EPs, September 2020’s For Broken Ears and September 2021’s If Orange Was a Place.
Other nominations within the category are “Mohabbat” by Arooj Aftab, “Do Yourself” by Angelique Kidjo & Burna Boy, “Pà Pá Pà” by Femi Kuti, and “Blewu” by Yo-Yo Ma & Angelique Kidjo.