Temilade Openinyi, better known as Tems, a Nigerian singer, has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Barbadian singer, Rihanna, for their collaboration on her new single, which she co-wrote.
For the first time since her 2016 album, Anti, Rihanna, 34, released her first new solo song, ‘Lift Me Up,’ for the film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ Tems, Rihanna, Ludwig Göransson, and the film’s director, Ryan Coogler, collaborated on the song. It is a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2016.
On Tuesday, 25th October, Marvel Studios shared a short clip on social media, confirming that Rihana will be on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Taking to her Instagram page, Tems. 27, noted that she is blessed to have co-written the song in honor of Chadwick Boseman and even more blessed to hear the baddest Rihannah voice it to perfection.
She wrote: “Blessed to have written this song in honour of Chadwick Boseman and even more blessed to hear the baddest @badgalriri voice it to perfection”.
Creebhills recalls that Tems has opened up on her past struggles. The “Try me” crooner had an emotional interview with British GQ where she opened up on dealing with abject poverty. She said she used to steal food just to survive.
According to her, during her broke days, she used to either steal food or go to her aunt’s house to get food. Tems added that she didn’t have any self-esteem and never thought she was pretty nor had a good voice.
She wrote: “There were times when I was not just broke; I was broke and hopeless. I used to steal food. I used to go to my aunty’s house just so she could give me food to take home.
I just felt like, what is the point of me existing right now? You have to remember those times. Because that person does not exist anymore.
I didn’t have any self-esteem. I didn’t think I was pretty. I didn’t even even think of my voice as anything. I just thought. There are so many people that can sing, I’m not a model, I don’t dance, but whatever chance I have, I’ll take it. Even if I end up singing under a bridge somewhere, I’ll be the best under-the-bridge singer ever”.
