Track Review: Tems, ‘Me & U’

From the massive global success “Essence” and “Wait for U” to her acclaimed contributions to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack and her own projects, Tems has garnered an astounding amount of hype and anticipation for her forthcoming debut LP.

For the album’s lead single, Tems pivots from the murky introspective of her Afro-R&B foundation and the uptempo lane of her blockbuster collaborations. Instead, the Grammy winner opts for a gorgeous amalgam of Afrobeats and Christian music, with a healthy dash of soul influences to round out the whole affair. With an arrangement led by plaintive guitar strums, Tems transports herself to a soundscape adjacent to that of For Broken Ears.

“Me & U” also finds Tems shifting from relationship-minded songwriting fare in favor of what is essentially a song celebrating her relationship with God. “Give me one break, I need faith / Faith to believe you / Faith to receive you / Give me something, I'm lacking / I don't need nothing / You are my everything,” she croons. Lyrically and structurally, “Me & U” functions as a worship song; the extended repetition of simple phrases carries new emphases and meaning with each recitation.

Obviously, following songs like “Crazy Tings” and “Wait for U” with a track that angles itself more towards contemporary Christian music than hip-hop is a gutsy move — and if by some stroke of fate, people open up their ears and minds, this could very well become a pivotal crossover moment between the secular and the sacred in the realm of contemporary popular music. What’s more likely, however, is that this ends up setting the groundwork for a more instantly catchy and commercial single.

Score: 74