Tems’ Manager Reveals How Wait for U Came Together

Tems’ manager, Nigerian music executive Muyiwa Awoniyi, popularly known as Donawon, has revealed the untold story behind the Grammy-winning collaboration between Tems, Drake, and Future on the hit song Wait for U. In a recent interview, Donawon shared the behind-the-scenes details of how the highly successful track came together, marking another major milestone in Tems’ rapidly growing career.

Tems, who rose to global prominence with her breakout hit Essence, has since worked with major international artists such as Rihanna and Beyoncé. As her career skyrocketed, she found herself joining forces with American superstars Drake and Future on Wait for U. The song became a defining moment in her journey, earning her two Grammy nominations at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and, ultimately, her first Grammy win.

Donawon recounted the unexpected and serendipitous chain of events that led to the collaboration. At the time, Tems and her team were busy on a shoot with the global brand Coca-Cola. During this hectic period, Donawon received an urgent message from a colleague, urging him to check his email for something important. When he opened the message, he discovered that it was from Epic Records, the label behind Future. The email was a request for clearance to use a sample of Tems’ song Higher as the hook for Wait for U.

This marked the beginning of the collaboration, which would go on to be a major success. The track not only showcased Tems’ signature sound but also solidified her place on the global music stage. Donawon’s story highlights the unpredictable and sometimes unexpected nature of the music industry, as well as the power of connections and timing in making unforgettable music.