Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He began recording music at the age of 11 and managed to release a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. Wizkid signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009. He rose to prominence after releasing “Holla at Your Boy”, the lead single from his debut studio album Superstar (2011). “Tease Me/Bad Guys”, “Don’t Dull”, “Love My Baby”, “Pakurumo” and “Oluwa Lo Ni” were also released as singles from the Superstar album. Ayo, his self-titled second studio album, was released in September 2014. It was supported by six singles: “Jaiye Jaiye”, “On Top Your Matter”, “One Question”, “Joy”, “Bombay” and “Show You the Money”. Wizkid left E.M.E after his contract expired. Ever since his exit from E.M.E Wizkid seem to have found his mojo as it has been said that the successes chocked are beyond what he achieved while at his former label.
In 2016, Wizkid achieved international recognition following his collaboration with Drake on the global hit, “One Dance”, which reached number one in 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. He signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records in March 2017. His third studio album Sounds from the Other Side was released on 14 July 2017. It serves as his major-label debut and was primarily a Caribbean-influenced record. SFTOS was supported by five singles: “Daddy Yo”, “Sweet Love”, “Come Closer”, “African Bad Gyal” and “Naughty Ride”. Wizkid became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records for his contribution to “One Dance”. His fourth album, Made in Lagos, was released on the 30th of October 2020, to wide commercial success and acclaim. One of Africa’s biggest artistes, Wizkid is the most decorated African artist internationally, in light of that Wizkid’s album “Made In Lagos” was listed among British Vogue’s “12 Best Albums of 2020”.
Also on the list, is Beyoncé‘s “Black Is King“, Jay Electronica‘s “Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)”, Pa Salieu‘s “Send Them To Coventry” amongst others.
British Vogue wrote of Wizkid’s ‘Made In Lagos’ album:
Was there another record this year that was quite so addictive? For his fourth album, WizKid united musicians from across the Black diaspora – in Africa, the Caribbean, the UK, and the US – blending their work into a sumptuous stew that incorporated Afrobeats, R&B, reggae, and more. The resulting tracks never seem to wear no matter how many times you replay them. This is pop at its absolute finest, and in this golden age for global music, WizKid wants you to remember that it is African, Nigerian-born.
