The rebel queen has finally released her debut album for the rebel gang all around the world to enjoy. Temilade Openiyi popularly known as Tems, one of Africa’s fastest rising songwriter and producer star delivered a banger album on the 7th of June 2024.
Post 2020 has given the Rebel Queen so much to be grateful for. From mutltiple nominations and wins in numerous music awars, some incuding; BET Awards, iHeart Radio Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards and even the height of all music awards, the Grammy,and she did it all with no album but two great EPS.
It was no surprise to us that Tems would be a star, stepping out of her from 9-5 to work and into the music industry when she released Mr. Rebel in 2018, her debut track announcing her to Nigerians and soon the world, the song also got her nominated her nominated for the Headies Awards in 2019, She would continue her sterling form with the drop of two Extended Playlists, FOR BROKEN EARS and ORANGE IS A PLACE. Two timeless work of arts. And the budding star would further go ahead to join Wizkid in his song Essence. She was here to stay. These brought her to international recognition and features with multiple A-listed acts and projects like; features with Justin Biber, Future, Drake, Rihanna, the Wakanda Forever album and recently Tyla.
The Rebel Queen is known for her pen game and music production not to talk her impeccable fashion sense which she did bring in this amazing album. She recently teamed up with the creative director of MejiMeji clothing brand Tolu Oye in pushing her album merch. The Rebel Queen X MejiMeji gave us one incredible piece from shirts to hats. It’s really incredible.
The debut album BORN IN THE WILD; is more of a walk-in time of her life in music and her lover. Tems tells us about her recent struggles and love life with two interludes, one featuring her mom and another featuring her managers Muyiwa and Tec(one half of famous rap duo Show Dem Camp. In one of her interludes titled “special baby” the artist highlights how much she has struggled through her years of making music for herself and putting it out for we to listen. While the other interlude “voices in my head” featuring her managers and friends highlights her struggles and frustration in making this album. Despite all these, she still delivered eighteen beautiful tracks.
I think for Tems music is not just a means of income but a way for her to be free and I’m not talking about that trendy BE FREE I mean like in a Let go kind of way. Most of the tracks were produced by her to tell us how personal this album felt to her. The rebel queen’s samples and remixes were something Nigerians needed in these troubling times. From seyi sodinmu’d “love me jeje” (an anthem from the past to an international anthem for love) to “premier Gaou” by magic system on her track “wickedest” and let’s not forget Lies by Diana King on her track “Gangsta”. The way Tems calmed the storm in this track is makes you want to choose this version to the original. Lol Jk. The album walks us through a bit of her love life and work life.
Boy o Boy wants to make you say out your mind in an unfiltered way to that your crush that can’t see you or that crazy boy that doesn’t get you or your feelings. So, this is my advice; SEND HIM THIS TRACK. IF HE DOESN’T GET IT, BOY BYE. How did Forever make you feel? For me (scoff) idk, that dude sounded toxic. Then you have Burning walks us through her career. The track looks like a fierce one, but we trust Tems to make it feel calm as the words Burning sounds soothing in her mouth. You in my face produced by Guiltybeartz has an incredible beat to it. It makes you want to throw all caution to the wind and just chill. You need this track more than I do, trust me. We just had to trust London to give us party jam with Turn me up. It is almost as if she divides the album with the second interlude, because the vibe on T-Unit was just amazing. It just goes to show you how Tems has developed a deeper understanding of her music as well as her elements and still showing us there’s more and please Temilade we want that more. Overall it’s an exceptional album!
We can’t even highlight how amazing it is that she produced 5 tracks out of the album. From an amazing album roll-out to a more amazing album. Tems you would forever be great! They say “you’d never forget your first’’. Well Tems, we’d never forget this. Thank you ❤️ Right now, my favourites are “Free fall ft. J. Cole,Turn me up, Get it right and Burning, You in my face” but that’s just mine. What’s yours?