“Born In The Wild” Celebrates Tems’ Journey From Wilderness to Stardom and Self Worth—With Tidbits of Love In-Between

If we’ve learned anything from Temilade Openiyi’s – better known as “Tems” – incredible journey since 2020, it’s that talent pays tribute to neither time nor place. Its permeable nature almost always prevails, something Tems acknowledges at various stages throughout her debut album.

“Born In The Wild” is Tems’ response to the three-year wait for a full-length discography from Nigeria’s ultimate songstress. As a prolific songwriter who, for the uninformed, penned Black Panther’s soundtrack, “Lift Me Up,” “rush” is a distant word in her vocabulary.

Despite being born and bred in Lagos, the heartbeat of Afrobeats, the genre has failed to amuse Tems as it did her peers and it’s quite evident to first-timers on “Born In The Wild.” However, nods to both her canon and native genres, R&B and Afrobeats, and a congregation of sub-genres (Jazz, Dancehall, and Hip-hop) are never in doubt here. These genres and her impeccable penmanship are her allies in this project of love and career catharsis.

In between a Grammy Award, an Academy Award nomination, and features with Drake, Future, and Beyonce, Tems has been under intense pressure to conform. Her reply? An 18-track “F*ck You” mixed with “Love Me’s,” “I don’t want You’s,” and declarations of “I’m HER.”

Tems returns to where it all began on the title track “Born In The Wild” with lyrics like “I grew up in the wilderness/ Didn’t know much about openness” which can reasonably be interpreted to mean her home country, Nigeria. The track’s folk ballad façade makes for an emotional entry into the first of 54 minutes of the singer in her element.

In “Burning,” the weight of stardom bears down an introspective Tems who reveals insecurities with soft drums, cymbals, and her now globally famous vocals.

She displays her growth and cool-headedness in “Wickedest” (a title very Nigerian), a slight sample of Magic System’s “Premier Gaou.” She flexes her self-confidence with the lyrics, “Yeah, I’m the one that got the scene bangin’/And I go hard, that’s why they keep talkin’, yeah/Three years and I’m only just gettin’ started/One song, and I got the people excited-ited.” External pressure has nothing on the singer, and she is determined to stay focused.

More reimaging awaits on “Love Me Jeje,” the groovy spin on the 1994 classic of the same name by Seyi Sodimu. The tune is a lively break from the previous seven-odd minutes of fighting internal and external battles. Jazz and Afrobeats marry in this nearly three-minute track that shows the singer’s tender side.

Tems is prepared to come out of sonic asylum and light up the world on “Ready,” which is quite surprising considering she’s been doing just fine, or rather, extraordinarily ever since her break-out. Amidst a mixture of Jazz and Pop rhythm, she sings, “Yeah I’m ready for the game and I’m bound to win.”

She takes a more aggressive stance on “Gangsta” where she sings “Coming ready with my guns and bullets/Cause your body is gonna shake, shake, shake.”  Tems swing-ily mimics Diana King’s “L-L-L Lies,” abandoning her gentle nature to deliver a subtle warning: “Mess with me at your own peril.”

Somewhat amusingly, the singer’s gangster persona proves no match for love in “Boy O Boy” where she makes good on her already-established disdain for toxic relationships. This Piano-led R&B solo is the song we’ve been longing for since the beginning of the album, but which we suspected was stashed somewhere down the line.

The singer’s battle with toxicity trickles down to “Forever” where long-term producer GuiltyBeatz—who produced most of the tracks—and French duo Dame Dame use Jazz and more R&B to spice it up. Such disdain gives way to hope and faith in the BET Award-nominated “Me & U” which finds a more comfortable home tucked in the bosom of this album’s narrative than it did as a standalone track back in 2023.

The facet of emotions is toned down in the reggae-inspired “Turn Me Up” and the 50 Cent “Candy Shop” inspired “T-Unit.”  More importantly, it speaks to the singer’s incredible versatility and reignites fears that she will give Doja Cat a run for her money if she ever graces melodious rap with her full and undivided attention.

Ghanaian producer GuiltyBeatz proves why he’s been Tems confidant on the penultimate track, “You In My Face.” Traditional Folk music with squeeze drops of Jazz showcases Tems’ longing for a lost lover with vocals so powerful they could bring him back.

The singer-producer duo closes shop with a rallying cry on “Hold On” that crowns the journey of a singer born in the wild but now domesticated by confidence and its sibling, success.

Few guests participate in Tems’ “I’m HER” moment (Asake and J. Cole), and they both justify their inclusions with performances that complement the heroine in her story.

Asake surely gets it right on “Get It Right,” an Amapiano sampling that unites the streets and the dancefloor, while North Carolina-bred rapper, J.Cole takes some time off brooding over his Kendrick Lamar beef to assist Tems in rekindling her faith in love on “Free Fall.”

“Born In The Wild” is a triumphant debut that showcases Tems’ journey of self-discovery and resilience. While some may argue that the album is heavily preoccupied with her personal battles, as highlighted by the interludes “Special Battle” and “Voices In My Head,” which pierce voices of support from her mother and managers, these moments of introspection are integral to the narrative Tems weaves.

Granted, the album’s departure from the quintessential Nigerian sound and the volume of what Tems sings may prejudice some tracks and deter a small subset of listeners. However, skilled producers such as Sarz, London, Spax, DameDame, and Guilty Beatz, along with Tems’ magic pen overshadow such doubts.

With “Born In The Wild,” Tems stays true to her unique style and reputation, making the three-year wait for her debut album undeniably worth it and further affirming her place as one of the world’s most talented songstresses.