Essence (2020) — Wizkid feat. Tems
The Afrobeats love song that broke through globally — the first Nigerian record to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
Released on October 29, 2020 as part of Wizkid's Made in Lagos album, Essence featuring Tems became a defining song of the global Afrobeats explosion. The lush, romantic duet between Wizkid and Tems showcased a perfect vocal pairing.
Essence peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021 — making it the first Nigerian song to ever chart in the top 10. A remix featuring Justin Bieber gave it additional reach. The song was nominated for Best Global Music Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
For Tems, Essence was the moment her star truly went global. The track's success transformed her from a rising Nigerian star into one of the most in-demand voices in international music — leading to her later work with Beyoncé on Lift Me Up and Rihanna's Black Panther soundtrack contributions.
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