Wizkid and Tems Made a Slow-Burn Afrobeats Classic

That opening guitar loop hits first. Warm, clean, unhurried. Then the kick lands soft but steady, and you already know this one moves different. Wizkid and Tems built "Essence" on restraint, not flash. No huge drop, no screaming synth. Just space, groove, and two voices locked in.

It came out on October 30, 2020, tucked into the Made in Lagos album. Nobody predicted it would become the first Nigerian song on the Billboard Hot 100. But the beat told you something was coming.

The Sound

"Essence" sits around 107 BPM. That tempo splits the difference between a slow wind and a full dance. The drum pattern leans on a soft kick and crisp shakers. The percussion rolls loose and human, not grid-locked. That swing is pure Afrobeats DNA.

The production keeps things sparse. A gentle guitar riff loops through the whole track. Pads sit low in the mix, adding warmth without clutter. There is real dynamic space here. Every element breathes.

Wizkid rides the pocket with a light, melodic delivery. Tems answers him with that smoky alto. Their voices trade lines like a conversation, not a battle. The mix puts them front and center. No vocal stacks overwhelm the groove.

What makes it work is what is missing. No busy hi-hats. No bass overload. The low end stays round and soft. That leaves room for the melody to do the heavy lifting. Smart engineering.

About Wizkid

Wizkid came up in Lagos and built his sound around melody first. His early hits leaned on dancehall and pop hooks. By the time Made in Lagos dropped, he had shifted into something smoother.

He picks beats that feel warm and organic. His writing stays simple and catchy. He lets the groove carry the emotion instead of forcing it. That ear for production turned him into a global name.

Collaborations with Drake, Beyonce, and Chris Brown followed. But "Essence" showed a different side. Slower. Softer. More confident in the quiet.

Dancefloor Verdict

This is a peak-time cool-down weapon. Drop it after a run of high-energy house or amapiano and watch the room shift. Bodies slow down but they do not stop. Hips keep moving.

On a good system, the shakers and guitar sit right at ear level. The sub stays gentle, so it never rattles the room. It is a track that rewards a clean rig. Muddy sound kills this one.

Sunset sets love it. Beach parties love it. Late-night rooftop sessions were built for it. You can mix it out of almost anything with a soft transition. No hard cut needed.

And when Tems comes in on her verse, the floor always reacts. That is the moment. Every DJ knows it.