Connect with us

Entertainment

Why I Chose R&B Despite Advice To Go Into Afrobeats — Tems

Published

on

Grammy-winning singer, Temilade Opeyemi, popularly known as Tems, has revealed that she got advised to go into Afrobeats because her kind of music ‘doesn’t fit in Nigeria’.

The music star, however, stated that she was ‘prepared to die’ for R&B because it was the only way she felt her message could be let out.

Tems said this in an interview with superstar rapper, Kendrick Lamar on Interview Magazine.

Advertisement

She said, “I was prepared to die. I believed in myself so much that I didn’t really care if I never became anything or anyone. I just wanted to get a message out. I wanted to get my frequency out. And I was like, ‘Even if ten people hear this, it’s fine.’ But also along the way, I used to listen to a lot of Nigerian music and I wasn’t getting a lot of spiritual—I love Celine Dion, so, I love that intense feeling of, I’m about to jump off a cliff.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gun Battle In Gabon As Soldiers Seize Power

“That’s how I want my music to feel all the time, and Afrobeats wasn’t necessarily giving me that type of stimulation. Everyone I asked for advice was like, ‘The only way you can do this is Afrobeats. It’s not that your music is bad, it’s just that it doesn’t fit in Nigeria. Nigerians don’t like this’.”

Advertisement

“And that’s not a lie, and it’s not a bad thing. But I felt in my heart that that’s okay. I’m okay with no one liking it, I just want to make this music. I want to make music that makes me pull my heart out, and if I can’t do that, I don’t want anything. I would rather do that and be broke than compromise.

Tems also stated that she cared less about money and was more particular about chasing a frequency.

READ ALSO: Grammy 2022: Full List Of Winners

Advertisement

I didn’t really care about the money. It’s not that money is bad. Money is very good. But for me, even right now, I’m chasing a frequency. There’s artists I’ve loved all my life, that when they reach a certain stage, the music loses that frequency, it loses that touch they had. And I always wondered why. Why do I have to lose that touch? I don’t actually care where I end up. If I’m under a bridge and I have a way to make music, I’m going to be good.

“That’s what led me to meet the people that connected to that music. There was no indication that I would’ve ended up here. Nobody could have told me I would be sitting here in London speaking to you, Kendrick Lamar. “

Tems has enjoyed a winning streak ever since her collaboration with Wizkid, “Essence” became an international hit in 2021.

Advertisement

The song earned Tems her first feature on the Billboard Hot 100 at number nine.

Entertainment

I’ve Been Blacklisted In Music Industry For 13 Years – Seun Kuti

Published

on

By

Grammy-nominated Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti has claimed that he has been blacklisted in the Nigerian music industry for about 13 years due to his style of music.

He explained that because his late father Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and his contemporaries used their music as a form of protest against bad governance, the government invested heavily in vain artists while targeting conscious musicians.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, Kuti said government’s interference has significantly affected the quality and impact of modern Nigerian music.

Advertisement

He, however, said being blacklisted in Nigeria doesn’t affect him much, stressing that the country is just a fraction of his fanbase.

READ ALSO:

He said, “The impact of Fela and his contemporaries who spoke truth to power sacred the government. They made the government realised the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities.

Advertisement

“When I am in Nigeria, I don’t fear to say whatever I want to say. That is a lot of people are saying that I should be cancelled. I have been cancelled for about 13 years now after I performed conscious music at former Lagos State Governor Ambode’s event. Even before then, my music was heavily restricted.

“I have been cancelled for long. People think I am not cancelled because I am doing well. Nigeria has cancelled me long time but Nigeria is just like a really small percentage of my market. So, being cancelled doesn’t really affect me.”

He added that artists who are scared of being blacklisted are only scared because Nigeria makes up the bulk of their fanbase.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

My Beef With Wizkid Is For Life – Seun Kuti

Published

on

By

Maverick singer Seun Kuti has ruled out reconciliation with Afrobeats star, Wizkid, declaring that their rift is lifelong.

DAILY POST recalls that Seun Kuti and Wizkid fell apart after the latter claimed he was greater than Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in response to the former’s directive to fans to stop comparing the Ojuelegba crooner to the late music legend.

READ ALSO:How My Elder Sister Opposed Selling Fela’s Catalogue – Femi Kuti

Advertisement

When asked in a recent podcast if he has settled his beef with Wizkid, Seun Kuti said he can’t reconcile with the Starboy boss because he disrespected his late dad.

The host asked: “Have you and Wizkid settled your Beef?”

Kuti replied: “It is on for life. I don’t have anything to say about him but it is on for life. You don’t say things about my dad and then it is fine. There is no coming back from that.”

Advertisement

 

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Why I Stopped Attending Church Service – Funke Akindele

Published

on

By

Famous Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, has opened up on why she lost interest in attending church service.

The actress who made the revelation in a Snapchat video on Sunday, stated that she stopped going to church because attention often shifted to her rather than the service.

While explaining that she’s always the one they take pictures of, the actress said she now joins church service online.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight

Akindele said “Anytime I go to church, I am always the one they take pictures of. So I will join online.”

Recall that in 2022, Akindele openly identified herself with the Celestial Church of Christ.

Advertisement

“Every time I have challenges I go to the Celestial church quietly at night for solutions. But I have to stop hiding and publicly identify with the church”, she said.

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version