The names, Burna Boy and Tems, have become synonymous with Nigerian pioneers of music responsible for shipping our beautiful music infused with a variety of genres to the massive world. Burna Boy is having a busy year. He recently put out a new album titled I Told Them. Tems on the other hand is gearing up for the release of her debut album. It comes as no surprise both stars are included in The Hollywood Reporter‘s 25 Platinum Players in Music.
On Burna’s Inclusion, writer, Mesfin Fekadu relates: “Burna Boy is at the forefront [of Afrobeats] and continues to break ground for the genre.” Burna Boy kick-startedl a new phase in his performative career this year—stadium tours. He shut down the Paris Lá Defense (40K) and London Stadium (80K) before 2023 Q3 ran out. Mindful of the fact that Burna Boy has an impending global hit—City Boys—at hand, it makes sense he got recognised.
Tems’ inclusion will come as a surprise for many reasons. The singer-songwriter producer’s last solo release came during the dying days of Q3 2021. Her most recent song is courtesy of the Black Panther soundtrack. “her serene vocals stand out the most,” writes The Hollywood Reporter. Coupled with Tems’ intentional attendance of public events like The Oscars and Met Gala 2023, she sure made her mark and still is in 2023.
Other stars on the list include Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, Metro Boomin, and Taylor Swift.