Me & U (Tems song)

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 Rhythmic 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".^[7][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.^[8][9] 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.^[10]

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

According to Billboard "Me & U" is a fusion of "pop ballad and a clubby Afrobeats banger."^[11] The song arose from a freestyle Tems recorded shortly after shooting the music video for "Essence" in 2021.^[12] 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.^[10][11]

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."^[13]

"Me & U" received positive critical reception.^[8][9] 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.^[13]

Billboard wrote that it is a "self-reflection observed through her relationship with God."^[11] 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".^[14]

"Me & U" charted across the United States peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, No. 5 on the World Digital Song Sales, No. 12 on the US Hot R&B Songs chart and in the United Kingdom peaked at No. 34 on the Official Singles Chart and reached No. 1 on UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.^[15] It also peaked at No. 22 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.

• Tems – vocals, songwriting
• GuiltyBeatz – songwriting, production
• Chris Gehringer – mixing, engineering
• Ikon – mixing, engineering
• Spax – mixing, engineering