Seyi Sodimu on Grammy 2025: Tems' Impactful Sampling of 'Love Me Jeje

Nigerian recording artist Seyi Sodimu, who is residing in the United States, has talked about the significant influence that Temilade "Tems" Openiyi, a singer and record producer, had on his life after sampling his 1997 hit song "Love Me, Jeje."

Tems, 29, previously won the 67th Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for her 2024 performance of "Love Me Jeje," a song from her Born in the Wild album, according to PREMIUM TIMES.

Sodimu clarified in a live Instagram session with Media and Entertainment Consultant Abass Tijani, who is based in the UK, that Tems' imaginative reworking of his timeless song gave his career fresh life and changed his outlook on music.

"In March 2024, my partners, Kola and Matthew Ohio, mentioned that people were looking for me," the "Money Man" hitmaker stated. Since I wasn't well-known, I said I wasn't difficult to find and inquired who looked for me. They said that I was being contacted by Tems' management. At the time, I was in Nigeria for a performance. We recently performed Night of Queens in December as part of an annual show in Nigeria that is produced by our company, Life Wire.

"Wale Davies and Muyiwa Awoniyi, Tems' managers, were really pleasant when I chatted with them. They informed me that we would need to clear it because, if I knew Tems, she was going to remake my song "Love Me Jeje" and her album was due out shortly. I inquired as to what they intended to accomplish. I read the music they supplied me in rough format, and when I saw the words, I was astounded. The song has changed my life ever since it was released. Afrobeats' strong foundation has allowed it to reach its current status.

Furthermore, Sodimu said that he was surprised and delighted that Tems had sampled his music.

Additionally, he disclosed that he put the song on his Instagram profile because he thought it was greater than him; little did he know that it would eventually resurrect his fame after being rejected by record firms.

When Tems management approached me, I was ecstatic and replied, 'Done deal.'... Tell me how we will collaborate on the song. In less than a week, we engaged attorneys, negotiated, and closed the purchase. I consented when they later insisted that I appear in the video. After that, I got to know Tems, and she's a really sweet woman.

She told me how her mother used to play my song "Love Me Jeje" when she was growing up and how Shaffy Bello and my music had influenced her. She claimed that we served as inspiration for her songs and that she wanted to gift me flowers by including me in the music video so that people would be aware of the song's beginnings. The video included me. “I told her that this song (Love Me Jeje) would be one of her biggest hits, and she (Tems) knows what she’s doing,” Sodimu continued.

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He claimed that ever since Tems launched the song, from its nomination to its eventual Grammy triumph, his phone has been ringing nonstop.

He added that he has received a lot of congratulations, saying that Tems' Grammy triumph for his remake highlighted.

When she released the song, I was in Nigeria. She was brilliant, and it was a masterpiece. On her album "Born in the Wild," the song did remarkably well. People called to congratulate me when it was nominated for a Grammy, and my phone kept ringing. This tune took everything from zero to hundreds, which astounded me.

People think that it's my time because my phone has been ringing constantly. However, Tems is the reason it's not my time. She has a remarkable gift, and God almost changed my life through her.

Born in Afrika, Seyi's debut album, was released in 1998 as a result of his African musical inspiration.

The popular song "Love Me, Jeje, Love Me Tender" was on the CD. Shakara Entertainment was in charge of its release.

In the initial weeks of its release, this album sold over 30,000 copies and peaked at the top of the Nigerian charts on Ray Power 100 FM.

In Nigeria, the album also brought him nominations and accolades. On many of his songs, his daughter, who is also a songwriter, provides backing vocals.