Wizkid

Singer/songwriter Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid, ranks among Nigeria’s most prominent R&B crossover artists through partnerships with Drake, Skepta, Chris Brown, and additional collaborators. Regional breakthrough arrived for him in 2011 via the widely embraced single “Holla at Your Boy,” which featured on his first album, Superstar. Global recognition followed in 2016 once the Drake collaboration “One Dance” topped charts across 15 countries, prompting a multi-album agreement with RCA that delivered the Caribbean-infused major-label debut Sounds from the Other Side in 2017. Acclaimed successor Made in Lagos appeared in 2021 and included the globally charting hit single “Essence.” One year afterward came the fifth album, More Love, Less Ego, before Morayo surfaced in 2024.

Balogun entered the music industry at age 11. His earliest recording, Lil Prinz, took shape in 2001 alongside Glorious Five, the collective formed with Balogun and his church peers. Full-time pursuit of music began in 2006 through initial team-ups with Nigerian pop figures such as OJB Jezreel, Naeto C, and Banky W. By 2011 he prepared his first solo studio album; Superstar emerged on Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) to widespread critical and audience praise throughout Africa, elevating Wizkid to household prominence within Nigeria.

Following repeated postponements and label disputes, the sophomore studio album Ayo reached stores in 2014. That project hosted numerous featured artists, among them Femi Kuti, and showcased Balogun’s worldwide breakout single “Ojuelegba.” The track solidified his standing as a leading Nigerian pop artist and later received a remix from Drake and Skepta that expanded his reach internationally; in exchange, he contributed to Drake’s 2016 blockbuster “One Dance.” March 2017 brought a major-label contract with RCA and Sony International, which issued his third album, Sounds from the Other Side, later the same year. Advance singles included “Sweet Love” and the Drake-assisted “Come Closer.”

October 2018 saw Wizkid release the paired singles “Master Groove” and “Fever” in celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day. The next year he joined Beyoncé and Saint Jhn on the Lion King: The Gift selection “Brown Skin Girl” while also issuing his own track “Joro.” Starboy Entertainment put out the EP Soundman, Vol. 1 in 2019. After participating in the protests that ended Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Wizkid delivered his fourth album, Made in Lagos, in October 2020. Guest spots from H.E.R., Damian Marley, Burna Boy, and others populated the Grammy-nominated project, which earned critical and commercial recognition, appeared on multiple year-end lists, and peaked at number 15 on the U.K. album charts. Fifth single “Essence,” featuring Tems and itself Grammy-nominated, achieved worldwide success by reaching number 17 in the U.K. and becoming the first Nigerian song to enter the Billboard Hot 100; a Justin Bieber remix followed the track’s breakthrough. Wizkid opened 2022 with “Bad to Me,” the lead single from his fifth album, the P2J-produced More Love, Less Ego. Guests such as Ayra Starr, Shenseea, and Don Toliver appeared on the November release, which registered chart performance across Europe and reached number 59 on the Billboard 200. Morayo arrived in 2024 featuring Jazmine Sullivan, Asake, and Brent Faiyaz.