Nigerian singer Tems has finally dropped her first full-length album, Born In The Wild. The 18-song LP is a big deal for Tems, who’s been building a solid global fanbase since her breakout in 2021.

Born in the Wild is a sonically and thematically rich album where the artist explores love, finding herself, and her Nigerian roots. The sound is fresh, mixing her signature distinct R&B with other styles to create something more generally appealing. Fellow Nigerian artist Asake joins her on “Get It Right,” while American hip-hop star J. Cole lends his talents to “Free Fall.”

Tems has consistently emphasized artistic authenticity throughout her rise to prominence and she stays true to this on the album. Born In The Wild demonstrates this fundamental principle while giving a peek of a subtle yet impactful deviation. Tems’ lyrics are raw and honest, as always. On a few tracks, the propulsive energy of Afrobeats fuses softly with soulful R&B and pop influences.

When “Try Me” blew up, Tems’ music began hitting the right notes with everyone, striking a chord with the local crowd. Then came her 2020 EP For Broken Ears which drew her away from the fringes and put her on the pulse of Nigeria’s music scene. Her big moment materialized via her excellent work on Wizkid’s “Essence”, a track that opened more ears to her music and introduced her to a massive international audience. She scored another win with her sophomore EP If Orange Was A Place, which reached No. 7 on World Albums charts three years ago. 

The singer already achieved what many artists could only dream of: collaborations with some of the biggest talents — Rihanna, Beyoncé, Drake; performances at some of the biggest festivals — Coachella, Global Citizen, Essence Fest, and some of the biggest awards including a Grammy, all without an album. Hence, anticipation for her debut album was quite fervent. She led with singles like the recent “Love Me JeJe” and the 2023 BET-nominated “Me & U” to further amplify the excitement.

Born In The Wild capitalizes on this momentum, offering a full-fledged artistic statement that builds upon the promise Tems has shown throughout her career.

This momentum translates perfectly into the launch of her massive “Born In The Wild World Tour”, kicking off next week. Uniting with Naomi Sharon and Lekan, the 31-date tour begins at London’s Eventim Apollo on June 12th. It will crisscross Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia before concluding with a three-date Australian leg in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney come November.

Listen to Born in the Wild here: