Nigerian music star Tems recently shared her admiration for American rap icon Lil Wayne, describing herself as a longtime fan of the hip-hop legend. In an interview on The Cruz Show, the Grammy-nominated singer opened up about her journey with rap music and how Lil Wayne’s music was an early influence.
Tems revealed that her love for rap started young, thanks to her older brother’s influence. “My brother introduced me to rap,” she said. “He listened to a lot of hip-hop, and that’s where my love for rap music really began.” Tems even admitted to pretending to be Lil Wayne when she was younger, citing “Mrs. Officer,” “Mr. Carter,” “Comfortable,” and “Hustler Musik” as some of her favorite tracks by him.
When asked if she has a “rap voice,” Tems humorously admitted she does, though she hesitated to demonstrate it, joking that her attempt might be a bit “cringy.”
While she hasn’t yet met Lil Wayne, Tems expressed excitement at the thought of connecting with him soon. Her admiration for hip-hop is clearly evident in her music. Her debut album, Born In The Wild, includes a rap track, “T Unit,” and features a collaboration with J. Cole on “Free Fall.”
Tems has also worked with some of hip-hop’s biggest names, including Future and Drake on the Grammy-winning hit “Wait For U,” and her vocals are featured on “Fountains” from Drake’s Certified Lover Boy.
You can watch her full interview on The Cruz Show for more insights on her musical influences and admiration for Lil Wayne.