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Seyi Sodimu Reflects on Overcoming Rejection with His Hit Song “Love Me Jeje” Amid Tems Sampling Controversy
Veteran Nigerian singer Seyi Sodimu has shared an inspiring story about how he overcame rejection to successfully market his timeless hit song, “Love Me Jeje.”
Originally released in 2004, the track became a major success in Nigeria and remains a classic today. However, Sodimu revealed in an old interview clip that his journey to getting the song recognized was not easy.
According to the singer, his initial attempts to promote ‘Love Me Jeje‘ in Los Angeles were met with rejection. Industry insiders told him he “looked American but sounded African,” making it difficult for them to place the song within their market.
Rather than give up, Seyi Sodimu returned to Nigeria, where the song gradually gained momentum. Before he left for the U.S., Ray Power FM had already started playing it, and upon his return, it became a wedding favourite across the country.
Sodimu’s story of perseverance has resurfaced amid ongoing discussions about Tems’ sampling of “Love Me Jeje” on her award-winning track. While some fans have raised concerns about whether Tems properly credited Sodimu for the sample, his story serves as a powerful reminder of the struggles and triumphs that shape an artist’s journey in the music industry.
This is Afrobeats artiste Seyi Sodimu during the #Grammy weekend in Los Angeles in the year 2004, talking about how his evergreen song Love Me Jeje was rejected by major labels in America because he sounded “African”…
Who knew that 20yrs later, a song by another Nigerian… pic.twitter.com/3Nng6jQy31
— Ayo Shonaiya (@AyoShonaiya) February 3, 2025