The GRAMMY Award-winning, Oscar nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Tems, is having an unforgettable year. Just a few days after kicking off NPR’s Black Music Month with an amazing Tiny Desk Performance, the Nigerian superstar debuts her highly anticipated debut album, Born In The Wild.
Tems’ new project contains 18 tracks, including the previously released “Love Me JeJe.” The album also features guest appearances from Asake and J. Cole. “Born In The Wild is a story of transformation, from a cocoon to a butterfly,” she said in a statement. “It speaks on surviving mental wilderness and coming to a place where one can thrive. It’s about finally accepting oneself and embodying the woman I was born to be. It shows the different dimensions of who I am, from a cub to a lioness.”
In addition to today’s release, the “Essence” singer will also embark on her first ever headlining world tour this summer, the BORN IN THE WILD WORLD TOUR. The global outing kicks off on Wednesday, June 12 in London at Eventim Apollo, with stops across Europe and North America before heading to Africa and wrapping up in Australia at The Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on November 15.
Along with Born In The Wild, take a look at today’s list of new music below.
Kaytranada – ‘Timeless’
Last year, Kaytranada joined forces with Aminé for the collaborative album KAYTRAMINÉ. Now, the rapper, singer, and producer is back with Timeless, his first solo LP in five years. The album features Childish Gambino, PinkPantheress, Tinashe, Anderson .Paak, Dawn Richard, Don Toliver, and more. Listen to it HERE.
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Doechii – “MPH”
Doechii has been heating up in recent months. Now, the TDE signee is dropping a new single titled “MPH.” Stream the track HERE.
Smino – “Polynesian”
Fresh off of his phenomenal performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, rapper Smino gifts the masses with a new song, “Polynesian.” Check out the record HERE.
‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ Soundtrack
To celebrate the release of the fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise, Epic drops the Bad Boys: Ride Or Die soundtrack. The 10-track compilation features Will Smith, JID, Shenseea, Flo Milli, and more. Hear it HERE.
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Mickey Guyton – “Make It Me”
Today, four-time, Grammy®-nominated artist Mickey Guyton unveiled her new song, “Make It Me,” which can be streamed via Universal Music Group Nashville HERE.
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.