Connect with us

Entertainment

“Navigating the Music Business Wasn’t Easy” – Tems Speaks on Her Early Career

Published

on

Photo source: Google

Nigerian music sensation Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems, has opened up about the challenges she faced at the start of her music career.

The Grammy-winning artist, who gained international recognition with her feature on the hit song Essence, revealed that she was quite inexperienced during her early days in the industry.

In an interview with Glamour Magazine Germany, Tems reflected on how her initial approach to the music world was rooted solely in her passion for art.

She admitted that, while her intentions were pure, her understanding of the business side of music was limited.

“Honestly, I was incredibly naive when I first started,” she said.

Advertisement

“I just wanted to create good music and share my art with the world. But I soon realized that navigating the music industry required more than just talent.

It took me time to understand how to manage the business aspects in a way that wouldn’t compromise my well-being.”

Tems’ journey hasn’t been one she walked alone.

She acknowledged the crucial role her management team and her family have played in keeping her centered.

Her mother, who has been a strong influence in her life, and her brother, whom she shares a close bond with, have offered unwavering support.

Advertisement

“My family, especially my mother and brother, are my foundation,” she explained.

“They, along with my management, help me stay grounded through everything.”

Born in Lagos in 1995, Tems grew up with a deep love for music.

Her breakthrough came in 2020 with the release of Damages and her collaboration on Wizkid’s Essence, which propelled her to global fame.

The song earned her a Grammy nomination and solidified her place on the international music scene.

Advertisement

Since then, she has worked with top global artists, including Drake and Future.


 

Entertainment

Ayra Starr Says She’s the First African to Take a Bathroom Selfie at the Met Gala

Published

on

Photo source: Google

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr recently opened up to Billboard, sharing the stories behind some of her most memorable photos. One moment that stood out was her now-viral bathroom selfie with American pop star Coco Jones and R&B singer Tems at the 2025 Met Gala.

With a playful tone, Ayra joked that she holds the title of being the first African to take a bathroom selfie at the prestigious fashion event, even though Tems, who’s also African, was right beside her in the shot.

“First African to take a bathroom selfie at the Met Gala, period!” she said, laughing. Ayra made her Met Gala debut on May 5, 2025, when the iconic event was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.


 

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Police Raid HYBE Over Alleged Stock Fraud Involving Chairman Bang Si‑hyuk

Published

on

Photo source: Google

HYBE, the powerhouse behind global K-pop acts like BTS, TXT, Seventeen, found itself at the center of controversy on July 24 after Seoul police officers stormed the company’s headquarters in Yongsan. This surprise raid was part of an investigation into allegations that the agency’s chairman, Bang Si‑hyuk, was involved in stock fraud tied to HYBE’s initial public offering.

Authorities from the Seoul Metropolitan Police’s financial crimes unit began searching the building in the early hours, seizing documents and digital records they believe could be key evidence. The investigation stems from a complaint filed by the Financial Supervisory Service, accusing Bang of misleading investors and making unfair gains before HYBE went public in 2020.

Back in 2019, Bang reportedly told early investors that HYBE had no intention of listing on the stock exchange. Trusting his word, many sold off their shares. But shortly after, HYBE pushed ahead with an IPO in 2020, and Bang is said to have walked away with hundreds of billions of won in profit, money those early investors never saw.

Investigators believe Bang used a private investment vehicle, possibly with the help of former employees, to secretly benefit from the listing while keeping others in the dark. Additionally, the alleged scheme could amount to a serious breach of South Korea’s financial laws.

This case has been quietly building for months.

In May, South Korea’s financial regulators handed over their findings to prosecutors. By July 17, police had obtained search warrants. On July 24, they moved in and launched the raid. Just days earlier, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office granted the FSS full authority to dig deeper into the matter, giving the case even more weight.

Advertisement

In a short statement, HYBE said it is fully cooperating with the authorities and maintains that it has done nothing illegal. In addition, the company emphasized that its IPO process followed all necessary procedures and that it will continue to work with investigators to resolve the issue.


 

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Wizkid Becomes the First African Artist to Reach 9 Billion Streams on Spotify

Published

on

Photo source: Google

Nigerian music star Ayodeji Balogun, known worldwide as Wizkid, has just hit a major milestone, surpassing 9 billion streams on Spotify across all credits. This makes him the first African artist ever to achieve this on the platform.

Leading the pack is his global hit One Dance with Drake and Kyla, which alone has racked up a staggering 3.7 billion streams. The song is one of the top 10 most streamed songs in Spotify’s history and also holds the Guinness World Record as the first track to cross 1 billion streams on the app.

Among his solo catalog, Essence featuring Tems stands out as his most streamed lead single, pulling in over 303 million streams to date.


 

Continue Reading

Trending