“How many days in a month are you thinking of me?”
That’s how Tems opens “Lagos Love,” and the directness sets the tone for everything that follows. No fluff, no metaphors, just a straight question that cuts through romantic nonsense.
This track positions the Nigerian singer at the intersection of afropop sophistication and emotional transparency.
The production from ThisizLondon and AoD builds a soundscape that feels like a late-night Lagos drive, warm guitar strums and rhythmic drums creating an intimate foundation. It’s afropop at its most relaxed, letting Tems’ vocals float effortlessly on top.
The afropop sensibilities shine through the track’s buoyant percussion, while R&B inflections colour Tems’ vocal delivery with rich emotional texture.
Lyrically, the directness cuts through romantic pretence, demanding clarity from a potential lover.
She interrogates intentions with lines that challenge superficial attraction, “Do you just want attention? Is it a connection? Or is it a lesson?,” revealing an artist who values authenticity above all else.
The repetitive hook “I lo-lo-love you, I lo-lo-love me” gets stuck in your head immediately. “I lo-lo-love you, I lo-lo-love me.” Tems refuses to play coy. She’s done with guessing games.
Some might call it simple, but that’s the point. Self-love sits right alongside romantic love here, equal weight on both. She’s not losing herself for anyone.
There’s a firmness running through “Lagos Love” that keeps it from sliding into typical love song territory.
“We’ll do it my way, anything that I say / ‘Cause I know it’s worth it.” She’s not asking permission. The vulnerability exists, but it comes with clear boundaries.
Tems’ voice moves between soft and assertive without jarring shifts, she just glides between the two modes naturally.
The whole thing feels like an actual conversation rather than a performance, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.
From her Love Is A Kingdom EP, “Lagos Love” shows Tems writing about romance without the usual surrender narrative. She wants connection, but not at the cost of clarity.
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