Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems, has set a new record for the longest-charting solo song by an African artist on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her hit single, “What You Need,” has now spent 30 weeks on the chart, surpassing the previous record held by South African pop star Tyla’s “Water” and Afrobeats singer CKay’s “Love Nwantiti,” both of which spent 29 weeks on the chart.
“What You Need” is currently charting at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. The song previously peaked at number 29, marking Tems’ highest peak on the chart as a solo lead artist. It also reached number one on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Adult R&B Airplay charts, further cementing its dominance across multiple formats.
The record adds to Tems’ growing list of achievements on the global music stage. She first entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist in July 2022 with “Free Mind,” which debuted at number 90 and later peaked at number 46. That song also set a record as the longest-running number one by a female artist on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, spending 17 weeks at the top.
With “What You Need” now holding the title for the longest-charting solo African song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, Tems has surpassed the marks set by Tyla and CKay, two of the most commercially successful African artists in recent years. The achievement underscores her consistent presence on the US charts and her growing influence in global music.
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