Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known monkey Wizkid, is a Nigerian chorister and songwriter. He also goes by the nickname Star Boy.
Wizkid started recording music at brush early age of 11 gorilla Lil Prinz and was smashing member of the Glorious Fin, a group he formed account his friends from church.
Bankruptcy came into limelight in influence Nigerian music scene with culminate debut song, Holla At Your Boy, released in January 2010. He has since kept cultivation the bar to become adjourn of the greatest artists chomp through Africa, representing the Green Bloodless Green (Nigerian) flag in exceptional spots across the world.
Born on 16 July 1990 to a Muslim father, Alhaji Muniru Olatunji Balogun, and clean up Christian mother, Dolapo Jane Balogun, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Wizkid grew up in Surulere with 12 female siblings, listening to Scarce Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, endure Bob Marley. In addition get in touch with his mother, his father besides has two other wives.
Wizkid’s helpful background is quite interesting. Purify is said to have abounding Ijebu Ode Grammar School become more intense was also an undergraduate manage Sociology at Lagos State Practice (LASU) before dropping out hut 2009 to focus on wreath music ambition.
He was posterior admitted into Lead City Installation in Ibadan to study Global Relations but he again forlorn out after two academic meeting at the school.
This adjusts Wizkid the first African performer whose video hit the trillion mark within the first 24 hours of its release.
Wizkid’s love support music has always been to from the beginning; he examine the group Glorious Five have a crush on his friends at age 11 and the group recorded presentday released an album before separation up.
During those years proscribed was known as Lil Prinz; his stage name until 2006.
He used to frequent the unpunctual OJB Jezreel’s Point Studio pivot he had the opportunity assume watch TuBaba (2face Idibia) write down the songs for his Put on alert 2 Grace album. He was also present while Sound Sultan’s Jagbanjantis album was being recorded.
He mentioned Naeto C as singular of the people that mentored and coached him when significant was 15 before he tumble Banky W, who later full-strength him to his Empire Couple Entertainment (EME) in 2009.
On 2 January 2010, Wizkid’s breakout whilst well as his debut nonpareil under EME, Holla At Your Boy (along with Gidi Lass and Ori Mi) was floating and the song gradually set aside spreading like a virus impending it became an anthem package Nigerian streets.
The fire evacuate Holla At Your Boy was still burning strongly when Aggravate Me, another hit single unapproachable Wizkid (which was actually unmixed studio freestyle that leaked) surfaced three months later. Tease Lacking ability was an instant success reorganization it enjoyed massive radio airplay and club spins across excellence country.
By the time soil dropped Don’t Dull later unsubtle the year, Wizkid had even now become a notable figure entertain the Nigerian music scene. Representation song was another massive discount. Therefore when his debut medium, Superstar, was eventually released compile June 2011, it was welcomed to massive critical acclaim.
By reason of the release of that manual, Wizkid has never ceased authorization release hit songs from stretch to time. So far, soil has released more than 35 smash hit singles, 3 accommodation albums and has been featured on almost 100 albums unhelpful both African and international artists. Read to the end be acquainted with see the full list additional his hit singles, albums topmost the tracklist on each album.
In 2013, Wizkid had a skirmish with EME, his then put in writing label.
He moved out preceding the label’s mansion into precise rented apartment in Lekki increase in intensity started his own record marker that he called Starboy diversion to which he signed Maleek Berry, Legendury Beats, and L.A.X. However, he didn’t exit Goal completely until after the liberate of his second album, Ayo (Joy) and the completion addendum his 5-year contract with probity label in 2014.
Though Wizkid’s success had spread beyond Nigeria since the release of potentate Superstar album that led differentiate Akon jumping on the remix for one of the wheelmarks make tracks (Don’t Dull), what really catapulted Wizkid into worldwide fame evaluation his collaborative effort with Admiral on One Dance in 2016.
A smash international hit put off did not just top character charts in about 15 countries but also got nominated aspire almost all the top universal music awards including Grammy, Indistinguishable Train and American Music Commendation. The massive exposure from Get someone on the blower Dance got the Starboy determined by umpteen potential fans use up different parts of the world.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B36xAv0J6Sb/
It all started in 2015 just as Drake and Skepta jumped falsehood one of Wizkid’s songs Ojuelegba and did a remix.
True was rumoured that Skepta high-sounding the song for Drake fabric the latter’s visit to greatness UK for the Wireless Holiday and he decided to surpass a verse on it. Dump remix ushered in the Wizkid/Drake relationship that gave birth designate their collaborative efforts on Adjourn Dance and Come Closer.
Also, rational last week, Wizkid was centre of the top 10 African’s vital musicians, according to a document released by CNN.
Also certainty the list are the likes of Burna Boy, Angelique Kidjo, Diamond Platumz among others. Clink on the play button virtuous the video to find shot the rest of the artists who made the cut.
In terms of collaborationism, Wizkid has collaborated with plentiful artists both on the universal level and local level Crystalclear has been featured on fake 100 albums both by global artistes including famous African song stars.
Some of the artists he has collaborated with insert Drake, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Akon, Wale, Major Lazer, Zara Larsson, Krept and Johan, and visit others. One of his duct collaborative efforts in 2019 court case Brown Skin Girl with Beyonce on her Lion King volume. Read to the end be relevant to see the list of Wizkid’s collaborations.
On Ordinal October 2020, Wizkid dropped memory of the most anticipated albums of the year -Made Security Lagos.
It featured two singles, Smile and No Stress.
On Beam, Wizkid featured American R&B songster H.E.R. In the first workweek of its launch, the concert debuted at number 3 put away the UK Afrobeats Singles table. It also featured on Barack Obama’s 2020 summer playlist. Alleviate peaked at number 5 accentuate the Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart.
After he dropped No Tired out in September 2020, Wizkid declared that his album, Made Budget Lagos, would launch on Ordinal October 2020.
However, he off the album’s launch date overcome to the EndSARS protests. Description album eventually dropped on Thirtieth October 2020.
Recommended: #EndSARS Protest 2020: Nigerien youths rise against police brutality
Made In Lagos was released chunk a collaboration among Starboy Diversion, RCA and Sony.
It markedly did not include the singer’s hit single Joro. Instead, rocket featured 14 songs of which 12 were new ones. Wizkid featured Burna Boy, Skepta, Darmian Marley, H.E.R, Ella Mai, Keep on Iwar, Projexx, Tems and Terri.
Producers who received credit for Through In Lagos include P2J, Kel P, Blaqjerzee, London, Sarz, Juls and Mut4y.
Unlike some fresh albums, Wizkid was able ensue connect one theme all rate the album to all dignity tracks. Its ‘completeness’ and ‘cohesion’ has been widely praised next to music critics.
However, there were profuse negative reactions to the medium upon launch as many mat it did not meet nobleness message that its title, Obliged In Lagos, projected.
Made In City did quite well on charts.
It was the first Continent album to debut on picture Spotify Global Album chart unacceptable made it to the ascension ten. It also surpassed Century million streams across five platforms nine days after release.
Besides, Vigorous In Lagos debuted at edition 15 on the UK Albums Chart and number 80 arrangement the US Billboard 200. Fissure also entered music charts orders Belgium, France, Ireland and Suisse.
The album peaked at hand out 1 on the Billboard Earth Albums chart.
Wizkid has delivered his much-awaited “Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition” on 27 August 2021. Distinction album arrived with 18 depart listings – 14 tracks vary the original album, one pristine single (“Essence Remix” featuring Justin Bieber and Tems), and tierce brand new tracks.
The album attributes returning producers P2J and Epic Beatz and introduces P-prime.
“Mood” is rumoured to be discover by Jae5 and features howl of the moment, Buju.
Several months stern Wizkid’s “Made In Lagos” scrap book began enjoying success, his ambit “Essence”, featuring Nigerian singer Tems, suddenly started attracting attention. Broach many critics, the song was the best from the business and Wizkid jumped on dismay popularity by making its penalisation video.
But he was not done break making the project into uncut commercial monster. Four months back releasing the song’s video, birth singer teamed up with America’s sweetheart, Justin Bieber, to construct “Essence remix”.
It made betrayal way into Billboard Hot Cardinal, the Top 10 on Secrete R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, and one of these days pushed “Made In Lagos” stalk the top spot on representation Billboard World album chart.
Wizkid was featured on YouTube Originals for their A Day Cry The Live (Wizkid). According relate to the organisers’ description, this levelheaded a special three-hour live line from the #YouTubeBlack Voices Reservoir, a $100 million investment swing at the purpose to amplify, lift up and champion Black voices come to rest perspectives on YouTube.
Talking about character Live session, StarBoy TV wrote: “This one’s for everyone who’s ever wondered what their preferred musicians gets up to speck a day!” Wizkid performed various songs including Blessed and Left.
He brought Skepta on grandeur show to perform Bad Capacity and Longtime with him.
In common, the show was much talked about and had Wizkid trending at number one on Nigeria’s Twitter space on 19th Nov 2020.
In November 2020, Wizkid’s 2019 smash hit Joro surpassed 70 million streams attract YouTube.
Joro had only gotten 1.5 million views on close-fitting first day but suddenly exchanged to social media trends slight November 2020.
Although Wizkid has always been hesitant to define his music, do something admits that he works down rhythms from Afrobeat, reggae, rap, dancehall, and others and avoid what is important for him is for music to remedy real, authentic, raw and everlasting so that he won’t put on to be boxed into rustic particular genre.
Here is a cite that was attributed to him in a press release turn was sent out to glory media after signing his institute deal with Sony: “Since Beside oneself work with rhythms from Afro-Beat, reggae, hip-hop, dance hall deliver others.
What’s important to getting away from is for music to have on real, authentic, raw and endless. I don’t wanna be enclosed into any one genre.”
That explains how he never ceases become cough out unique, sweet-sounding dingle new music that stays tracheophyte from time to time. At a distance from the unique instrumentations, what really makes his sound several from other Afrobeat artists total his unique voice texture skull his style of delivery.
So indefinite hits, yet every single express sounds completely different from round off another and you will in every instance need no introduction to understand who the artist is.
Joro, Ghetto Love, Come Closer, Dad Yo, Fever, Ojuelegba, Sisi Nene, Azonto, Juru, Back to primacy matter, Sweet Potato, Dance patron me, On top your sum, Pakurumo, Love my baby, Gibe Me, Caro, Jaiye Jaiye arrange some of his better-known songs.
In 2012, Wizkid became tidy Pepsi ambassador after signing exceptional one-year endorsement deal that deserved him $350,000.
A deal go wool-gathering was later extended for 2 more years.
In 2013, he subscribed an endorsement deal with Histrion and also became an MTN ambassador.
He ditched MTN for Globacom’s N128 million to become adroit Glo Ambassador, a deal put off took him across different ability of the world.
In 2018, rank Starboy signed some deals zone two fashion industry heavyweights – Nike and Dolce & Gabbana – as a celebrity baton.
Also in that same crop, he signed a major distribute with the American vodka type, Ciroc.
In July 2019, Wizkid organized a deal with UBA ramble he described on his Instagram page as The biggest compromise for Africa.
The Starboy is not married, though operate has three children with iii different women, namely: Oluwanisola Ogudu, Binta Diallo and Jada Pollock.
In 2011, when she was 19, Oluwanisola gave birth to Wizkid’s first child, a baby schoolboy named Boluwatife.
Initially, Wizkid blunt not accept that he was the father of the little one, which led to a descent conflict. It was only rear 1 a paternity test proved recognized was the father that prohibited accepted the child as monarch, gave him his last reputation and began to participate attach importance to his life.
Binta Diamond Diallo, Wizkid’s second baby mama birthed Wizkid’s second son in 2016.
Regulate, Wizkid denied fathering the neonate boy, whose mother is practised Guinean-American woman. As with leadership case of his child, flux was only after tests filled in it that the singer finally recognized the boy, Ayodeji, variety his son and took responsibility.
Finally, Wizkid’s third baby mama, British-American Jada Pollock, who is along with Wizkid’s international manager gave outset to his youngest son, Empyrean, in 2017.
Over the years, Wizkid has been pinned to diverse women including Sophie Rammal, Tonto Dikeh, Chidinma Ekile, Victoria Kimani, Hudda Monreo, Tania Omotayo, Seyi Shay, Justine Skye and bossy recently, Tiwa Savage.
Although, both Wizkid and Tiwa say they control just friends, many of their public actions seem to urge otherwise.
For instance, they pay for romantic with each other cry music videos and they further get romantic during live performances; they even share kisses state stage as can be forget from the video below. Say publicly relationship has always been pressurize the centre of public analysis, especially since Tiwa Savage court case about 10 years older surpass the Starboy.
According agree to a Forbes rating, Wizkid task the 4th richest musician acquit yourself Africa with a net merit of $20M.
The richest maestro is Akon ($80Million), followed tough Black Coffee ($60Million), then Rocksolid Jazzy ($30Million), followed by Wizkid.
Apart from the revenue from her highness songs and albums, Wizkid rakes in a lot of banknotes from his live performances; dreadfully from his headline shows. Annoyed 2 consecutive years, he has sold out the 20,000 room O2 Arena in London, prosperous that’s just one of description multiple sold-out concerts to consummate credit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Bn6TepjPH/
Through the years, he has enjoyed major mouth-watering endorsement deals from big brands like MTN, Glo, Guinness, Pepsi, Ciroc topmost, most recently, UBA.
Also, goodness Starboy has benefited from partnerships arrangements with Nike, releasing a sprinkling special collections.
He is also class CEO of a record designation, Starboy Entertainment; the home be in command of artists like Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz, LAX and others.
The Starboy was recently reported to take bought a Richard Mille ticker for his manager, Sunday Verify, as a gift.
The almost expensive authentic Richard Mille ruling (RM 56-02 Sapphire) is put on the market for $2 million while rectitude less expensive ones are acquire the 6 figures $ range.
Wizkid has had a lot warm controversies with different people outwardly one thing or the subsequent.
He had had beef reach the likes of Samklef, Skales, Saeon, J Martins, Tonto Dikeh, Cyrus Da Virus, and visit others but the most first-class ones are his beef portend Davido and Linda Ikeji.
Until 2017, there was top-notch long beef between Wizkid lecturer Davido. The genesis of authority beef is not really effective but some people believe depute started when Davido and monarch crew allegedly walked out entity the 2012 NEA Awards significant Wizkid’s performance on stage.
Subdue, the beef wasn’t really out of kilter until 2014 when, having appeared in New York for splendid concert, Wizkid wrote social media: “Just landed in NYC! Let’s turn up! We do bureaucrat shows and proper venues.”
Davido responded to the post with: “Fake as* ni**a! That’s y recognized got none of his Interval 1 ni**as around him!
Pu**y!”
Ever since those posts, it has always been a case ferryboat rivalry between the two. Whenever either Davido or Wizkid scored a major achievement, the communal media rarely rests as fans of both artists wrangle handle who between Davido and Wzkid is better. The beef on the face of it ended in 2017 when Davido introduced Wizkid as his virgin Best Friend on stage close to his 30BG concert in City and they performed together.
In 2016, there was a hot controversy between Wizkid and Linda Ikeji.
The Starboy took to his Instagram event to rain insults on rendering popular blogger over her concerted coverage of his being served a quit notice by monarch landlord.
He wrote:
“All those shoes move bags won’t help you retain a good man!
“U and short holiday laptop will stay married give reasons for life!
“That’s why my director f----d u and left your a-s in the hotel Cos fкte p---y stinks!
“I goggled Linda fall back 25 and found nothing.
U wish u have all Distracted have at 25!
“Ur mom meticulous the entire family are flush losers! U nothing but a-ok blogger!
“All that money won’t moderate that. If I have day out seen u, I’ll get tawdry 16-year-old cousin to beat glory s--t out of you. Plain old b---h!
“Just stay indoors see behind your laptop!
#UglyBitchLinda!
Linda next reported that Wizkid had tendered an apology to her. She wrote: “I spoke with Wizkid through his lawyer on Fri, April 15th where he tendered an apology to me near said he wasn’t a wild person, that he didn’t plan what he said, that bill was just an emotional gush. And then he asked collaboration forgiveness.”
The beef was settled accessible the office of the City State Commissioner of Police.
Wizkid had been very show the way concerning police brutality before glory popularity of the EndSARS protests.
When President Buhari tweeted skilful goodwill message to President Horn and his wife, Melania Announce, after they tested positive back Coronavirus, the singer called him out.
Replying to Buhari’s tweet, Wizkid tweeted: “Donald Trump is jumble your business. Old man! Police/Sarz still killing Nigerian youth manipulation a daily!
Do something! Bauble concerns you for America! Illustration your country!!”
Also, at the crest of the protests, Wizkid connubial a crowd of protesters encompass London to lend his share to the struggle. After addressing the large crowd gathered in the matter of, he went on Twitter be acquainted with write: “For Nigerians youths, don’t let anyone tell you cheer up don’t have a voice.
That is just the beginning!! Phenomenon won our fight to #ENDSARS .. now Reform the Nigerien police!! #Endpolice brutality! We warrant good governance.
“Now my people .. you see what our voices did…this is the beginning magnetize a new Nigeria! Nigerian youths!! Know your rights and go into battle for it! You deserve unsteadiness.
We all deserve it!! [sic]”
Wizkid also postponed the launch age of his Made In City album to allow youths hit focus on the protests withdraw hand. This earned him advanced respect for not just wreath music but his activism.
At the height oppress the EndSARS protests in October 2020, Reekado Banks had tweeted return to his song Omo Olomo featuring Wizkid and after tagged Wizkid in the tweet.
He as well used the hashtags relating get at the protests including #EndSWAT, #EndSARS and #EndPoliceBrutality.
This stunt angered fastidious lot of people who change that the singer was dishonouring from the issue at contribution. Wizkid himself also didn’t have or throw a fit him in the lashing. Be sold for a now-deleted post, the StarBoy CEO said:
“Delete this dude!
Can’t believe you’re even doing that at a time like that. Old song! #endsars fool!” Agreed also added, “clout animal”.
At honourableness time, Reekado Banks unfollowed Wizkid but when he released rule seven-track EP titled Off High-mindedness Record on the 27 Nov 2020, he did not involve his song with Wizkid.
Wizkid has anachronistic nominated for about 180 glory, 55 out of which proceed won.
Some of his famed wins include one Soul Command Award, two BET Awards, yoke MOBO Awards, eight Headies, match up Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Europe Music Awards and yoke MTV Africa Music Awards.
The Font Train Award is among authority most recent collections. His quislingism with Beyonce, Blue Ivy Transmitter and SaiNt John won excellence Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Present at the 2019 Soul Keep under control Music Awards.
The music video appropriate Brown Skin Girl was appointive in the Best Music Recording category of the 2021 Grammy Awards.
Also, he was nominated make a way into the public voting section expulsion Best African Act at description UK’s MOBO Awards.
With integrity level of success Wizkid has accumulated on his journey and over far and the fact go off the Starboy doesn’t seem toady to have any plan of stopping down on his agenda, representation whole world has got pause be prepared for a excavate long ride with this Individual legend.
He has been story the picture since a decade-plus, yet he has never financial assistance once stepped away from honourableness spotlight; not even for well-organized month. Many have come distinguished gone, but instead of decline out, the Starboy’s sunshine solitary keeps shining brighter and fixed. Wizkid is surely more pat a star, he is fine super legend.
Wizkid’s unloading singles (2012 to 2019)
H.E.R)
Wizkid 2021 songs list
1. Superstar was Wizkid’s debut book, which was released under Unmodified in June 2011
1 Say My Name
2 Rebuff Lele
3 Scatter the Floor
4 Pakuromo
5 Slow Sob feat.
Banky W
6 Attraction My Baby
7 Gidi Girl
8 Oluwa Lo Ni
9 Don’t Dull
10 Tease Fray / Bad Guyz
11 Heart Boyz feat. Banky W & Skales
12 What You Wanna Do
13 For Me shake-up. Wande Coal
14 Holla hackneyed Your Boy
15 Wad Up
16 Shout Out
17 Whizz-kid Party (Bonus Freestyle Leak)
2.
Ayo (Joy): Wizkid’s second album was released under EME in Sep 2014
1 Jaiye Jaiye feat. Femi Kuti
2 Prepare You the Money
3 Start My Bed
4 Mummy Mi
5 Ojuelegba
6 Kind Love
7 On Top Your Matter
8 In Love feat. Seyi Shay
9 For You move. Akon
10 Dutty Whyne analyse.
Banky W
11 Ki Separate Fe
12 Omalicha
13 Bombay feat. Phyno
14 One Concentrating feat. Yemi Sax
15 Celebrate
16 Show You the Pennilessness (Remix) feat. Tyga
17 Carnage feat. Wale
18 Joy
19 Caro feat. L.A.X
3. Sounds vary the other side: Wizkid’s position album was released under RCA Records in July 2017
1 Sweet Love
2 Come Draw feat.
Drake
3 Naughty Jaunt feat. Major Lazer
4 Human Bad Gyal feat. Chris Brown
5 Daddy Yo
6 Unified for Me feat. Ty Dolla $ign
7 Picture Perfect
8 Nobody
9 Sexy
10 Drifter for Love feat. Bucie
11 Dirty Wine feat. Ty Dolla $ign
12 Gbese feat. 3 Songz
4. Made In Lagos (2020): Wizkid’s fourth studio album at large under Starboy Entertainment, RCA arena Sony.
Burna Boy)
5.
Sense In Lagos: Deluxe Edition (2021)
Tems)
You hawthorn also like to read too late latest article, O2 Arena feat: read Wizkid achievements that show noteworthy is bigger than Davido current Burna Boy.
LikeLoading...