ATL Jacob, the producer behind Future’s “Wait for U,” asserted that Tems refused to clear the significant sample. In response, Tems stated that he is “TELLING LIES.”

Tems, her manager, and the producer of Future’s “Wait for U” featuring Tems and Drake engaged in a heated exchange on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the producer’s allegations that the singer initially declined to clear the track’s prominent sample from her song “Higher.”

In a clip from The Baller Alert Show shared by Tems’ longtime manager Muyiwa Awoniyi on X, producer ATL Jacob stated that initially, Tems declined to clear the use of “Higher” in the song. He mentioned that Future convinced Drake to encourage Tems to approve it. Jacob also claimed that during their first meeting at last year’s Grammys, where “Wait for U” won a Best Melodic Rap Performance award, he sensed that Tems was “irritated” with the song. Despite expressing interest in collaboration, Jacob did not provide details about Tems’ response to his proposal.

“I didn’t know that it was still going to count as a sample ‘cause I never really sampled,” Jacob said on the show, calling his sample of “Higher” a “YouTube song,” and differentiating it from Kodak Black’s popular “Super Gremlin” that he produced, which samples “Errror” by German rock band How to Loot Brazil. Similarly, during a VladTV interview in November 2022, Jacob said that when Future asked him who was singing in sample, he told the rapper “That’s Tems but that’s from a YouTube video man, you good.” In another interview last January, the producer said “I knew it was going to be a headache to clear.”

ATL JACOB/ BALLER ALERT SHOW

Upon reposting the Baller Alert clip on X in the early hours of January 17, Awoniyi commented, “Every single word uttered here is untrue. You even fabricated scenarios that never occurred. It is surprising how someone can be so bold yet so inaccurate. Highly disappointing, do better.”

Hours later, Jacob conveyed his own message: “I shared my perspective on creating a HIT song after being INSPIRED by the sampled song. Someone reacting so negatively to a topic that meant no harm SHOWS A LOT. Out of all the positive things I’ve said about you @temsbaby over the years, is this the only reaction I get?”

Awoniyi restated his assertion that the producer was lying, stating, “We cleared the record immediately. Got no call from Drake and lastly had no such convo at the Grammys. Tems won’t reply to you. But I have your time.”

However, Tems eventually commented on Jacob’s X post, saying, “I LOVE THIS STORY,” in a repost. “Look at the phrasing. Magnificent.”


Awoniyi and Jacob maintained their disagreement on the platform, with the producer hinting that he never “spoke negatively” about Tems. The singer responded sharply, stating, “It’s not about saying anything negative. STOP TELLING LIES.“ Her manager reiterated that none of the described interactions—from the refusal to clear the record to the Drake call to the Grammy conversation—ever occurred. “This is literally recorded in HD,” Awoniyi wrote to Jacob. “What exactly is wrong with you???”

Tems recently confronted rumors circulating about her, notably addressing one about Future in a cover story for The Cut. In the fall, online rumors claimed that Tems was pregnant with Future’s child. She clarified, stating

I was apparently pregnant by a man that I’ve never spoken to or heard his voice directly. I’ve never spoken to Future. Not even on the phone. I’ve never met him. But, suddenly, I’m pregnant?”

Tems via Cut magazine