Wizkid’s Rise from Lagos Streets to Global Afrobeats Icon
From early church choirs to Grammy‑winning collaborations, the Nigerian singer‑songwriter has built a multi‑album catalogue, a thriving label and a string of high‑profile endorsements.
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Early life and musical foundations
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun was born on 16 July 1990 in the Ojuelegba neighbourhood of Surulere, Lagos. Growing up in an inter‑faith household with twelve sisters, he was encouraged by his mother to join the church choir and was given his first instruments at a young age. By eleven he was already recording music and, together with a few church friends, formed the group the Glorious Five, which released a collaborative album before disbanding. He performed under the moniker Lil Prinz until 2006 and later spent a year under the guidance of producer OJB Jezreel, who temporarily halted his recording activities. At fifteen, he received mentorship from Naeto C, a relationship he later described as pivotal to his development. After brief stints at Lagos State University and Lead City University, both of which he left without completing a degree, Balogun focused full‑time on his music, laying the groundwork for what would become a prolific career.
Signing with Empire Mates Entertainment and the debut album
In 2009 Balogun signed a record deal with Banky W’s label Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). His first major release under the label was the single “Holla at Your Boy”, issued on 2 January 2010; the track earned a nomination for Best Pop Single and helped him win the Next Rated award at The Headies in 2011, together with a Hyundai Sonata prize. Subsequent singles “Tease Me/Bad Guys” (April 2010) and “Don’t Dull” (December 2010) built further momentum. The debut studio album, Superstar, arrived on 12 June 2011, blending English and Yoruba lyrics with Afro‑hip‑hop, R&B, dancehall and reggae influences. Production credits included E‑Kelly, Shizzi and Masterkraft, while guest appearances featured Banky W, Skales, D’Prince and Wande Coal. A launch party at the Eko Hotel’s Expo Hall showcased a roster of Nigerian stars. Superstar was later named Best Album of the Year at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and received an Album of the Year nomination at The Headies 2012, cementing Wizkid’s status as a leading voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement.
International collaborations and chart breakthroughs
Wizkid’s profile expanded beyond Nigeria through a series of high‑profile collaborations. In 2015 the remix of his Lagos‑inspired anthem “Ojuelegba” featured Drake and Skepta, signalling his first foray into the UK and North‑American markets. The following year he appeared on Drake’s “One Dance”, a track that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for ten non‑consecutive weeks and reached number one in fourteen other territories. The success of “One Dance” made Wizkid the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the Guinness World Records and earned him a place on Billboard’s Twitter Last 24 Hours chart. In 2019 he contributed to Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” on The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, a performance that secured a Grammy Award for Best Music Video and added Soul Train, NAACP Image and BET accolades to his résumé. These collaborations not only broadened his audience but also demonstrated the commercial viability of Afrobeats on the global stage.
Album evolution: Ayo, Sounds from the Other Side and Made in Lagos
After leaving E.M.E, Wizkid released his second studio album, Ayo, on 17 September 2014. The record, originally titled Chosen, featured six singles—including “Jaiye Jaiye” with Femi Kuti—and guest spots from Tyga, Akon and Wale, while production was handled by Sarz, Shizzi, Uhuru and others. The album’s delayed rollout was widely reported, yet it solidified his reputation for genre‑blending experimentation. In July 2017 he unveiled Sounds from the Other Side, his first release under a multi‑album deal with RCA Records. The Caribbean‑infused project incorporated afrobeats, EDM, R&B and house, and included collaborations with Drake, Major Lazer, Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign. It entered the US Billboard 200 at number 107 and the Canadian Albums Chart at number 58. The 2020 album Made in Lagos marked a return to a more stripped‑back sound, with the single “Essence” (featuring Tems) becoming the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and later reaching the top ten after a remix with Justin Bieber. Made in Lagos also topped the Billboard World Albums chart and earned a Rest of Africa nomination at the South African Music Awards, underscoring Wizkid’s sustained relevance across continents.
Business ventures: Starboy Entertainment and endorsement deals
Parallel to his recording career, Balogun founded the label Starboy Entertainment in March 2013. The imprint’s early roster included Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz and, in August 2013, L.A.X as its first signed act. By 2016 the label had expanded its in‑house team to include DJ Tunez, and later added Efya, R2Bees and Mr Eazi, with management overseen by Jada P. Starboy has served as a platform for emerging Nigerian talent while also releasing Wizkid‑centred projects such as the Soundman Vol. 1 EP (December 2019). Endorsement partnerships have complemented his business activities. In 2012 he signed a one‑year, US$350,000 deal with Pepsi, which was renewed for two further years and included a commercial shoot in Beirut alongside Tiwa Savage. A subsequent one‑year agreement with MTN Nigeria was announced in May 2013, and later that year he became the face of Guinness for the Guinness World of More concert. In June 2015 he left MTN for a ₦128 million contract with GLO, reinforcing his status as one of Africa’s most marketable artists. Notably, in February 2014 he became the first Nigerian musician to surpass one million followers on Twitter, a milestone that highlighted his digital influence.
Recent releases and legacy
Wizkid’s output has remained prolific into the mid‑2020s. In October 2024 he issued “Piece of My Heart” with Brent Faiyaz, the lead single for his sixth studio album Morayo, which arrived on 22 November 2024. The album, featuring artists such as Asake, Anaïs Cardot and Jazmine Sullivan, broke the record for the biggest streaming debut for an African album on Spotify. Earlier, the 2021 remix of “Essence” with Justin Bieber reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance. Subsequent projects—including the 2022 album More Love, Less Ego, the Rolling Loud Toronto headline slot, and a collaborative EP with Asake in January 2026—have continued to garner award nominations and chart placements in the UK and beyond. By October 2026 he became the first African artist to exceed 12 billion streams on Spotify across all credited appearances. Alongside his musical achievements, Wizkid’s personal narrative—marked by the loss of his mother, “Mama Wizkid”, in August 2023 and his role as a father of five—has resonated with fans worldwide, cementing his legacy as a pioneering figure in the globalisation of Afrobeats.