“It Felt Really Like Life Or Death”- Tems Opens Up On Quitting Job To Pursue Music

• Tems, transitioned from digital marketing to a successful music career.
• In a Billboard interview, she shared her journey and the pivotal moment in 2018 that changed her life.
• Tems described her decision to leave her corporate job as a spiritual move driven by faith.

Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems, has shared the powerful story behind her transition from working in digital marketing to becoming a globally celebrated artist.

In a recent interview with Billboard, the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer opened up about the moment in 2018 that marked a turning point in her life. She described her decision to leave her corporate job as a deeply spiritual move inspired by faith.

“It got to a point where I couldn’t take it anymore. It was really dawning on me like, it’s now or never,” Tems said. “I was just putting it off until I developed faith that God will see me through wherever I go.”

She explained that she officially resigned from her digital marketing role in January 2018. After nearly half a year of waiting, she released her debut single Mr Rebel, which began attracting attention and laid the foundation for her music career.

“Spiritually, I was aware that digital marketing wasn’t my path… It felt really like life or death. It was like this can make or break your destiny,” she added.

Tems’ bold choice soon proved worthwhile. In 2020, she gained international recognition for her feature on Wizkid’s hit track Essence, which climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Two years later, she made history as the first African artist to debut at No. 1 on that chart with Wait For U—a collaboration with Future and Drake. The track earned a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance.

Most recently, she won another Grammy in 2025 for Best African Music Performance with her soulful single Love Me Jeje, solidifying her position as a force in global music.