Wizkid’s fourth album, Made In Lagos, produced one of Afrobeats’ biggest exported songs, ‘Essence’. The track, featuring Tems, has now surpassed four million units in sales in the United States, earning it an RIAA platinum plaque.
Released in 2020, ‘Essence’ gained significant international traction, particularly in the United States, where it reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 following a remix featuring Justin Bieber. The song was lauded by Kanye West, who dubbed it the greatest song in music history.
The success of ‘Essence’ extended to awards season, winning Collaboration of the Year at the 2021 BET Awards and earning a nomination for Best Global Song Performance at the 64th Grammys.
Additionally, ‘Essence’ propelled Tems into the spotlight, making her the first Nigerian female artist to debut a song on the Billboard Hot 100. She later achieved another milestone by becoming the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy, courtesy of her feature on Future’s ‘Wait For U’, which debuted at No. 1.