Trending in Wizkid’s World
Latest Album
S2
Released Dec 21, 2023
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Quick Facts
Born
1990
1990
From
Nigeria
Nigeria
Journey
Wizkid’s music journey began at a very early age. As a child, he was part of a church choir, and by about age 11, he formed a group called Glorious Five with church friends, under the stage name “Lil Prinz.” Together, they made a collaborative album before disbanding.
In 2009, he signed with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E.), a major step that helped him gain formal entry into the Nigerian music industry. His debut studio album, Superstar, was released in 2011. Hits from that album, such as “Holla at Your Boy,” “Tease Me/Bad Guys,” and “Don’t Dull,” made him a rising star in Nigeria.
He followed up in 2014 with his second album, Ayo, which included the song “Ojuelegba,” a track that earned special praise for its storytelling and relatability. In 2016, Wizkid featured on Drake’s “One Dance,” which became a global number-one hit and significantly raised his international profile.
Further albums included Sounds from the Other Side (2017) and Made in Lagos (2020). The latter includes the song “Essence” featuring Tems, which became a major international hit and helped solidify Wizkid’s status beyond Nigeria. More recently, albums such as More Love, Less Ego (2022) and Morayo (2024) have continued to build on his success, showcasing both artistic maturity and a broader global reach.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun was born on July 16, 1990, in Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. He grew up in a large family with many siblings. He is said to have twelve female siblings and to be in an interfaith home: his father practices Islam, his mother is a Pentecostal Christian.
He attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School. At some point, he entered Lagos State University (LASU), but later dropped out, and also attended Lead City University in Ibadan for some sessions before leaving to devote himself fully to music.
While his early hits in Nigeria gave him recognition, the song that many point to as his breakthrough is “Holla at Your Boy” from Superstar, which introduced him to mainstream Nigerian audiences.
His feature on Drake’s "One Dance" in 2016 is also a landmark moment it made him part of a worldwide chart-topping hit and exposed him to a much broader global audience.
Wizkid’s genre is largely Afrobeats / Afropop, but his music also incorporates elements of reggae, R&B, pop, and dancehall. His style blends local Nigerian rhythms and languages with melodies and production that resonate internationally.
Wizkid is currently recognized as the most-awarded African artist, with a staggering 158 awards to his name. Among these are one Grammy Award, four BET Awards, six MOBO Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two iHeartRadio Awards, and one MTV Video.
In 2022, at the 15th edition of the Headies Awards held in Atlanta, USA, Wizkid had one of his biggest nights. He won five awards, including Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best R&B Single (all for “Essence” featuring Tems), as well as Afrobeats Album of the Year and Album of the Year for Made in Lagos. Those wins also pushed him to become the most decorated artist in the history of the Headies, in terms of total number of wins.
Another notable achievement for Wizkid concerns streaming and world records: he surpassed nine billion streams across all credits on Spotify, becoming the first African artist to do so. His most-streamed song as a lead artist is “Essence” featuring Tems. Additionally, his feature on Drake’s “One Dance” has itself become one of the most-streamed songs globally.
Beyond his music, Wizkid has established a significant brand and business presence. In 2013, he founded Starboy Entertainment to release his music and mentor other artists and producers. He has also secured major endorsement deals with global brands like Pepsi, Nike, Ciroc, and Dolce & Gabbana, which have expanded his influence into the fashion and corporate sectors, boosting his income.
