Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known as Wizkid, is a renowned Nigerian singer and songwriter who has solidified his position as a key figure in the contemporary Afrobeats music genre. From a young age of 11, Wizkid ventured into music, culminating in the release of a joint album with the group Glorious Five that he co-founded with friends from his church. His career took a significant turn in 2009 when he signed a record deal with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). Wizkid garnered widespread attention with the release of his debut studio album ‘Superstar’ in 2011, particularly with the tracks ‘Holla at Your Boy’, ‘Tease Me/Bad Guys’, and ‘Don’t Dull’.
In 2014, Wizkid unveiled his self-titled second studio album ‘Ayo’, featuring hit singles like ‘Jaiye Jaiye’. His international breakthrough came in 2016 through the collaboration with Drake on the chart-topping track ‘One Dance’, setting records globally and earning a spot in the Guinness World Records. Transitioning to RCA Records in 2017, he dropped his third studio album ‘Sounds from the Other Side’, accompanied by hits such as ‘Come Closer’ with Drake. Wizkid’s musical prowess continued to shine as he contributed to successful tracks like ‘Checklist’ with Normani and Calvin Harris in 2018 and ‘Brown Skin Girl’ on Beyoncé’s ‘The Lion King: The Gift’, winning a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
With the release of his fourth album ‘Made in Lagos’ in 2020, Wizkid further solidified his place as a global music icon. The album received critical acclaim and commercial success, topping the Billboard World Album Chart. ‘Made in Lagos’ features the standout track ‘Essence’ with Tems, marking a significant achievement as the first Nigerian song to grace the Billboard Hot 100 and later achieving top-ten status with a remix featuring Justin Bieber. Building on his success, Wizkid dropped his fifth album ‘More Love, Less Ego’ on 11th November 2022, continuing to shape the landscape of contemporary music with his innovative sound and unparalleled artistry.