Nigerian-born artist Tems makes history again. With the Future collaboration “WAIT FOR YOU,” also featuring Canadian rapper Drake, she has become the first African female artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify.
Tems, who has been on a roll with record-breaking feats and milestones in the last three years, emerges as the third African act to surpass one billion streams, as confirmed by Spotify, tailing Wizkid’s “One Dance” collaboration with Drake and Rema’s hit song featuring Selena Gomez “Calm Down.” This comes as an additional win for “WAIT FOR YOU,” which garnered two nominations at the 2023 Grammy Awards for Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, earning Tems her first-ever Grammy award for the former.
The award-winning song samples Tems’ “Higher” off her debut EP For Broken Ears, released in 2020 and was featured on Future’s 2022 album “I NEVER LIKED YOU,” making it to the Billboard 200. The global song also surfaced on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Tems her first chart-topping song on the international charts, including the Hit R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic Airplay.
This year signifies a pivotal moment for Tems as she keeps amassing more wins two months into 2025. At the 67th Grammy Awards held February 3rd, 2025, Tems earned her second Grammy for Best African Performance for the hit song “Love Me, Jeje.” Last week, she announced her part-ownership in the San Diego Football Club through her company, The Leading Vibe.
While she made a stunning live rendition on the night of February 19th for Aston Martin’s unveiling of their 2025 Formula 1 season car, performing “Higher,” she’s also set to make a grand appearance on June 5 at the Troxy in London, where she’ll be headlining Billboard Presents THE STAGE at SXSW London.
“WAIT FOR YOU” is the second Nigerian-featured song to cross this milestone on Spotify, nine years after the Wizkid-featured smash hit by Drake became the first song to earn this feat.
