Tems: From Bottles Thrown Onstage to Grammy Winner

The crowd didn't just boo her. They threw plastic bottles at the young singer trying to make her dream come true.

R&B star Temilade Openiyi, known worldwide as Tems, recently shared the painful early rejection she faced before becoming a Grammy-winning artist. In an interview with Big Boy TV, she recalled performing at her school as an up-and-coming musician, expecting applause but receiving the opposite.

"I thought I was going to receive a standing ovation," Tems said. "But I got booed."

The Nigerian singer could have given up that day or changed her sound to match what audiences expected. Instead, she doubled down on her originality while her peers stuck to covers and familiar sounds.

Tems admits this decision to stay true to herself might have caused some of the early rejections. People didn't understand her unique style yet, and it cost her opportunities and ego-bruising moments like that school performance.

Why This Inspires

Looking back now, Tems says she's grateful she never compromised her artistic vision despite the pressure. That stubbornness to remain authentic is exactly what made her stand out in a crowded music industry.

The same voice that was once drowned out by boos now fills stadiums around the world. Tems has become the first African female artist with seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy for her contribution to "Wait For U" with Future and Drake.

Her journey proves that early rejection doesn't predict final results. The people who threw bottles couldn't see what she would become, but Tems could see it for herself.

Every artist who stayed true to their vision faced similar moments. The difference is they kept going when the crowd turned against them.

Today, Tems performs for audiences who celebrate exactly what makes her different, proving that the right people will eventually find and appreciate your authentic voice.