Tems has reached a new commercial peak in the United States, as Future’s “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems, was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 16. The certification marks Tems’ first Diamond plaque in the US and makes her the first female Nigerian artist to reach that tier.
The RIAA’s Diamond award recognizes sales and streaming equivalence of 10 million units or more. “Wait for U” was certified 11 times Platinum, confirming it has surpassed 11 million units sold in the country, making it Tems’ highest certified release to date.
Released on April 29, 2022, the song has climbed steadily through the RIAA’s certification tiers since debuting at Gold and Platinum status two months later. It advanced through double, triple, and multi Platinum certifications before crossing the Diamond threshold this year. The track, built around a sample of Tems’ 2020 single “Higher,” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
The Diamond certification adds to a run of RIAA recognitions for Tems this year, which included plaques for “Found” featuring Brent Faiyaz, “Me & U,” “Higher,” and “Free Mind.” Her collaboration with Wizkid, “Essence,” was certified five times Platinum in June 2025, strengthening its position as one of the most successful Afrobeats records in US history. Beyoncé’s “Move,” featuring Grace Jones and Tems, also received RIAA certification in December 2024.
Tems continues to build one of the most decorated catalogues among Nigerian artists in the US market, with multiple Grammy wins alongside Oscar and Golden Globe nominations to her name. The Diamond certification for “Wait for U” stands as her most significant commercial milestone yet.