Tems Becomes First African Female Artist to Hit 1 Billion Spotify Streams With ‘Wait For U’

Tems has become the first African female artist to hit one billion streams on Spotify with Future‘s “WAIT FOR U,” also featuring Drake, Spotify has confirmed.

“WAIT FOR U” samples Tems’ “Higher” from her 2020 EP For Broken Ears and was featured on Future’s 2022 Billboard 200-topping album I NEVER LIKED YOU. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Tems’ first chart-topper on the all-genre songs tally, as well as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic Airplay. It was also nominated for best melodic rap performance and best rap song at the 2023 Grammy Awards, winning the former and becoming Tems’ first Grammy win. She earned her second Grammy this year when her hit single “Love Me JeJe” won best African music performance.

Tems has been collecting more W’s this year, and we’re not even two full months into 2025. It was announced last week that the Nigerian singer-songwriter (real name Temilade Openiyi) joined San Diego Football Club’s ownership group as a club partner through her company The Leading Vibe. And she’ll be headlining Billboard Presents THE STAGE at SXSW London on June 5 at the Troxy in Shoreditch, London.

“WAIT FOR U” is Drake’s 21st entry in Spotify’s Billions Club, nine years after his Hot 100 No. 1 smash “One Dance,” featuring Wizkid and Kyla, became the first song to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams. It also marks Future’s fourth entry.

In September 2023, Rema‘s “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez on the remix, became the first African artist-led track to reach this milestone.