The collaborative track One Dance, featuring Drake, propelled Wizkid to international prominence in 2016, reaching the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and charts in fourteen other countries. This achievement marked a pivotal moment for the Nigerian artist, establishing him as the first Afrobeats performer to enter the Guinness World Records for his contribution to the global music landscape.
Early Development and Breakthrough
Born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990 in the Ojuelegba suburb of Lagos, he began his musical journey at age 11. Initially recording under the alias Lil Prinz, he formed the group Glorious Five with church friends. By 2009, he signed a contract with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment label, which served as the primary vehicle for his professional rise. His debut studio album, Superstar, arrived in 2011, featuring hits like Holla at Your Boy and Don't Dull, cementing his status in the domestic pop scene.
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Following his departure from E.M.E., Wizkid shifted his focus toward broader markets. In 2017, he signed a multi-album agreement with RCA Records, releasing the project Sounds from the Other Side. His collaborative reach grew significantly in 2019 when he appeared on the track Brown Skin Girl for Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift, an effort that earned a Grammy Award for Best Music Video. This period represented a systematic consolidation of his sound across Afrobeats, R&B, and pop genres.
Chart Success and Recent Projects
His fourth album, Made in Lagos, released in October 2020, secured the top spot on the Billboard World Albums chart. The record included the single Essence, featuring Tems, which became the first Nigerian song to impact the Billboard Hot 100. This momentum continued with More Love, Less Ego in 2022 and his 2024 album Morayo, a project dedicated to his late mother that achieved the largest streaming debut for an African album on Spotify.
Fast facts
- Born: 16 July 1990, Lagos, Nigeria
- Occupations: Singer, songwriter, musician
- Education: Lagos State University
- Religion: Catholicism
- Debut Album: Superstar (2011)
- Guinness World Record: First Afrobeats artist to appear in the records
- Notable Accolade: MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act (2021)
- Languages: English, Nigerian Pidgin
Questions readers ask
What was Wizkid's first major international hit?
The 2016 single One Dance, a collaboration with Drake that topped charts in 15 countries.
Which album is dedicated to his late mother?
His sixth studio album, titled Morayo, released on 22 November 2024.
