"Me & U"
A young girl looking at the sky
Single by Tems
Released5 October 2023 (2023-10-05)
Recorded2021
GenreAfrobeats[1]
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)GuiltyBeatz
Tems singles chronology
"Free Mind"
(2022)		 "Me & U"
(2023)		 "Not An Angel"
(2023)
Music video
"Me & U" on YouTube

"Me & U" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems, released on 5 October 2023, through RCA Records.[2][3] Written and produced by both GuiltyBeatz and Tems, It marks her first solo body of work since her extended play If Orange Was a Place (2021).[4][5]

Background

In 2021, Tems released her second EP If Orange Was a Place. In 2022, Her song "Free Mind" from her debut EP For Broken Ears impacted Rythmic contemporary radio as a single and charted across the United States. She also achieved success with her collaborations with Future's "Wait for U",Beyoncé's "Move" and Rihanna as a songwriter on "Lift Me Up".[6][4]

Originally recorded in 2021, "Me & U" interpolates Tems's unreleased song "Only Me" featuring Canadian rapper Drake, which was leaked online earlier in 2023.[7][8] The song marks Tems's first solo output since If Orange Was a Place, excluding her cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack which was released in 2022.[9]

Tems released the song on 5 October 2023 alongside an accompanying music video directed by Tems and shot in Malta.[3][2]

Composition

According to Billboard "Me & U" is a fusion of "pop ballad and a clubby Afrobeats banger."[10] The song arose from a freestyle Tems recorded shortly after shooting the music video for "Essence" in 2021.[11] After a promotional image was compared to an illustration of Yoruba goddess Yemoja, Tems noted that it's art symbolises Jesus teaching her to walk on water.[9][10]

Speaking In a press release, Tems spoke about the meaning, saying: "'Me & U' is about discovering the real me, building a genuine relationship with the Creator, and gaining a true perception of self."[12]

Critical reception

"Me & U" received positive critical reception.[7][8] Consequence noted that it "proves Tems can hold it down on her own, existing somewhere between a traditional pop ballad and a clubby Afrobeats banger.[12]

Billboard wrote that it is a "self-reflection observed through her relationship with God."[10] Shawn Grant writing for The Source states that "with "Me & U" Tems continues to leave her mark on the global music scene, demonstrating her multifaceted talents as both an artist and visionary".[13]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Me & U"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] 22
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[15] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 34
UK Afrobeats (OCC)[17] 1
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[18] 12
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[19] 92
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[20] 3
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21] 10
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[22] 12
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[23] 5
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[24] 27
US Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[25] 24

Release history

Release history and formats for "Me & U"
Region Date Format Label
Various 5 October 2023

References

  1. ↑ Rolling Stone Staff (1 December 2023). "The 100 Best Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. Tems builds this sweet jam on supple Afrobeats with the simplest of words...
  2. 1 2 Conteh, Mankaprr (5 October 2023). "Tems' Faith Is Front and Center in Self-Directed Video for 'Me & U'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Tems Self-Directs Video for New Song "Me & U"". Pitchfork. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Tems returns from two-year hiatus with "Me & U" video". Revolt.tv. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Tems Shares New Hypnotic Single "Me & U"". HotNewHipHop. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Tems Returns with New Track "Me & U" Alongside a Tems-Directed Visual". RCA Records. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Drake's "8AM In Charlotte," Tyla's "Water" & Other Singles To Have On Rotation Now - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, Wellness". www.xonecole.com. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Arin Ray, Tems, Samm Henshaw, And More New R&B For This Next Phase". Yahoo Entertainment. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Tems returns with the brand new single, "Me & U"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Mamo, Heran; Rys, Dan (31 October 2023). "Afrobeats Fresh Picks: Tems, June Freedom, Muzi, Rema, Mr. Eazi & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Adebiyi, Adeayo (23 October 2023). "Tems shares that her 'Me & U' single was created from a freestyle". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Tems Shares New Single "Me & U"". 5 October 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Grant, Shawn (6 October 2023). "Tems Drops Captivating New Single "Me & U" Alongside Mesmerizing Visual". Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: November 17th, 2023 - November 23rd, 2023". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Hot R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "World Digital Song Sales: Week of November 18, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  24. ↑ devops (24 January 2013). "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  25. ↑ devops (2 January 2013). "Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
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