Wizkid and Tems appeared virtually on The Tonight Show to perform their joint single “Essence.” Performing in an empty arena, the pair offered a soulful rendition of the track, complete with sultry dance moves.
“Essence” is the hit single off Wizkid’s most recent album, Made in Lagos, which dropped in 2020. The musician told Rolling Stone there was no specific vision for the song. “I remember that day,” he recalled. “I had, like, six producers in the room. I was recording the last song on the album, and, yeah, Tems came in the room; we made that together. It was just easy, man.”
Made in Lagos also featured guest spots from Burna Boy, Skepta, Damian Marley, H.E.R., and Ella Mai. Over the summer, Justin Bieber hopped on a remix of “Essence.”
Tems, meanwhile, has been making her way into the spotlight. After appearing on “Essence,” she dueted with Drake on “Fountains,” a dreamy highlight of his Certified Lover Boy. The singer spoke to Rolling Stone about her recent success, noting, “God has given me this purpose, and it’s just happening. I didn’t choose my voice. I didn’t choose to love music. Every time I hear any type of music, I hear melodies in my head in thousands, and I’m just picking one. I didn’t make myself this way.”
Ken Carson has finally released Cartunez, the deluxe edition of Xperiment, and the project finds him making several bold moves. One of the biggest moments comes on “9 bitches,” his collaboration with ApolloRed1, where Carson appears to directly target Nine Vicious. The tension began after Nine Vicious criticized the Opium label and mentioned its cofounder, Opm Babi. Carson seemingly answers those remarks through the new track, firing back at the polarizing former YSL rapper. He calls out Nine Vicious by name and delivers several harsh lines aimed in his direction. Carson also brings people close to Nine Vicious into the conflict, making it obvious that he is ready for the situation to escalate if Nine decides to respond.
Release Date: August 27, 2026
Genre: Hip-Hop
Album: Cartunez
And I got nine bitches
N***a talk down on the O, we gon' put nine stitches
ARP on me bold, I've been ridin' with it
Pussy bitch, know you a ho, Nine Vicious