Rihanna And Nigerian Singer Tems Collaborate On New Song For “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Grammy Award Winning artist Rihanna and Grammy-Nominated Nigerian music artist Tems collaborated on a song for the sequel to the film Black Panther. The ballad is dedicated to Chadwick Boseman who played the lead actor in the film as well as in the overall Marvel franchise. Boseman passed away in 2020 from complications with colon cancer. In honor of his contribution and legacy to the wildly successful film and franchise, the song, “Lift Me Up” was commissioned. Co-written by Tems, Rihanna, Ludwig Göransson, who also produced the track, and Ryan Coogler, the Director of Black Panther and its sequel, the song is included on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

A press release quoted Tems, saying the following:

“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life,” she explained. “I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me, so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

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Ryan Coogler told Hollywood Reporter, below, “When we realized what this film was going to be about, we were looking for artists who can embody it thematically.” He continued, “we were taking a different musical approach with the film. Ludwig Göransson, who’s our composer, and myself, we were looking to make the film and have actual songs that were incorporated into the score throughout the movie.” He added, “Rihanna was at the top of that list.” “We knew she was at a point in her life as well where she was focusing on different things — you know, focusing on business, motherhood, which is a big theme in our film — so we were holding out hope that maybe it could work out and, boy, did it.”