The rhythmic progression and constant evolution of the Afrobeat genre of music is no fallacy. Tems solidifies this assertion with an incredible performance in her latest album, “Born in The Wild,” a collection that she says is a story of transformation from a cocoon to a butterfly.
The album is significant as it encapsulates a myriad of emotions across its 18 tracks, allowing listeners to bask in the soul-uplifting moment brought about by her unflinching vocals, melodies and rhythms clothed in a mixed body of musical genres.
Tems’ “Born in the Wild” album significantly allows listeners to unravel loose threads of spirituality while offering red-hot Afrobeat gems and percussive ’00s rap throwbacks chiefly in the 15th track, “Me & U,” in the 14th track, “Turn Me Up” and in the 16th track, ‘T-Unit” where she compounds her rap flow on late standout with a playful nod to 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop”.
In the 10th track, “Boy O Boy”, the singer and producer spotlight her teenage love for British pop singer Kate Nash and the media pressure she has faced while reminding herself of her own power and reflecting on the early days of her success in “wickedest,” the 4th track on the row.
It is perhaps, a surprise to many, the fast pace with which the Nigerian music star originally known as Temilade Openiyi transitioned into a global icon. Well, to those who have kept abreast, the singer’s earliest self-produced hit single, “Try Me” served as a springboard leading to the discovery of a global gem some four years ago while she was still studying Economics in South Africa.
The past four years have thus proven the singer’s worth in the aesthetics and authority of her vocal strength, which has had no match and has neither been successfully cloned by any. Little wonder her encounters with British Star Adele, Canadian rapper Drake, Rihanna, Future, Beyonce and Wizkid all birthed resounding collaborations earning the singer a Grammy alongside other notable nominations and music awards.
She symbolizes her creative prowess and taste for “beyond average” in her collaborations with Nigerian afrobeat star, Asake in the 6th track, “Getting it Right” while securing J cole’s catchy lines and going light with R&B and Latin inflections on “Free Fall”.
The album also reflects the voices of her mother and siblings in track 2, “Special Baby”- an interlude that highlights how the singer has had to deal with people’s opinions over the trajectory of her career and how she becomes a force to reckon with, not just in the global scene, but also in her family who are ultimately proud of her for how much she has achieved.
The solitude of her vocals in “Burning” (track 3) screams innuendo as the title suggests a horrific experience while the lyrics present a pleasant atmosphere of emotional attachment that could thrive in nearly every situation. This gives a soothing compliment to all other tracks on the project including “Love me jeje”which was released prior to the album release.
Ultimately, with “Born in the Wild” released on June 7 under the aegis of RCA and Since 93 record labels to which she is signed, Tems solidifies her place as one of the most innovative voices in contemporary music. The album is a bold, beautiful exploration of personal and cultural themes, delivered with the grace and power that fans have come to expect. It is a must-listen for anyone looking to be transported by music that speaks to the soul.
