"They Threw Bottles at Me": Tems Recounts Her Brutal Start in the Music Industry

 

​Before she became a global sensation with Grammy wins and chart-topping hits, Tems (Temilade Openiyi) faced a reality that many fans would find hard to believe. In a revealing new interview on Big Boy TV on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the Born in the Wild crooner shared a harrowing account of her early days, revealing that she was once brutally booed and pelted with plastic bottles while performing at a school event. This admission highlights the steep uphill battle the singer faced to maintain her unique sound in an industry that initially didn't know what to do with her.

​From School Rejection to Global Stardom

​Tems recounted an incident that could have easily ended her career before it truly began. Expecting a warm reception during an early performance at her school, she was instead met with open hostility from a crowd that wasn't ready for her unconventional style.

​“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receive a standing ovation. But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” Tems shared.

​Despite the embarrassment and the physical harassment, the "Love Me JeJe" singer refused to let the experience define her future. Instead, she used the rejection as fuel to refine her craft and stay true to her "Rebel Gang" ethos.

​The Price of Authenticity: Refusing to Compromise

​The core of Tems’ early struggle lay in her refusal to conform to the prevailing musical trends of the time. While many of her peers were gaining traction by doing covers of popular Afrobeats songs or mimicking familiar commercial sounds, Tems insisted on her original, soulful R&B aesthetic.

• ​Originality over Popularity: Tems admitted that her conviction to stick to her own sound was likely why she faced such harsh initial pushback.
• ​Resistance to Pressure: Looking back, she expressed immense gratitude that she never compromised her style to fit the "fast-paced" mold of the Nigerian industry.
• ​Producer and Singer: Early on, she also struggled to be taken seriously as a producer, a field traditionally dominated by men, often feeling "unseen and unsupported."

​A Record-Breaking 2026

​Fast forward to today, and the very sound that once got Tems booed off a school stage has made her one of the most successful African artists in history. Her 2026 stats tell a story of total vindication:

1. ​Billboard Queen: She recently became the first African female artist to have seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100.
2. ​Spotify Dominance: Tems has surpassed several of her peers to become the African artist with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify.
3. ​The Leading Vibe: Beyond her own music, she has launched "The Leading Vibe" initiative to empower women working behind the scenes in the music industry, ensuring they don't face the same "invisibility" she did.

​Lessons for Aspiring Artists

​Tems’ story is a powerful reminder that "initial rejection is not final defeat." Her journey from having bottles thrown at her in Lagos to receiving standing ovations at the Grammys offers several key lessons:

• ​The "Wait" is Part of the Process: Authenticity often takes longer to catch on, but it has a much longer "shelf life" than a trend.
• ​Identify Your "Rebel" Sound: Success comes from what makes you different, not what makes you the same as everyone else.
• ​Resilience is Non-Negotiable: In her words, "Authenticity is everything to me... that's all that I have."

​Conclusion

​Tems has transformed from a misunderstood "up-and-coming" singer into a global icon of artistic integrity. By sharing her experiences of being booed and harassed, she humanizes the struggle for greatness and encourages a new generation of African creatives to stay the course, no matter how many bottles are thrown their way. As she continues to break records in 2026, it's clear that the "Rebel Gang" leader is finally receiving the standing ovation she always deserved.