The buzz
sounding Wizkid is not mere hype: there’s no bigger act on the continent
than him right now. A combination of his boyish charm and his ability
to deliver hits after hits has ensured that his being signed to an
international record company is not a dud.
His first
body of work on SONY RCA just came out to much applause. Any listener
would agree that it is earned. Otherwise successful artistes have
tweaked their sound to sound like his (no bigger example than Drake) and
he has shone more light on the continent of Africa with his music.
With the
release of Sounds From The Other Side, it is a fitting time for explore
the man Wizkid and give context to his continuous rise.
Below is the encyclopedia of Wizkid;
A - Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
How fitting
it is that a Wizkid encyclopaedia starts with the man’s government
name? Born 16 July 1990 in Lagos, he would grow up to be one of the most
iconic music stars of his generation.
B - Banky W
Without a
doubt, Banky is the most important figure of Wizkid’s career. When he
returned to Nigeria to start a record label, Wizkid was the first act
signed (along with Skales) and that opportunity helped the teenage star
show the world what he had to offer. Beyond the music, the two seemed to
be brothers that really got along. There were rumours of infighting
before Wizkid departed EME after his second album AYO but it’s been
nothing but love from both parties since then.
C
Come Closer
The second
duet with Canadian rapper Drake after the global success of One Dance
became Wizkid’s fastest video to hit the 20 million mark on YouTube. It
defied critics of the artiste when he was a no show for the visuals to
One Dance and Drake was unavailable for this one’s. Had leaked earlier
in the year and was Wizkid’s first official single under SONY/RCA.
D - Davido
Pop star
and Wizkid’s arch nemesis. Except for the slight difference in age and
birth location, the two could very well pass for siblings. They’ve had
similar success- and live similar lifestyles. However as it sometimes
happens, these two do not like each other; and that’s putting it
lightly. They shot barbs at each other on wax and on social media. The
most recent being the Yankee passport/frog voice subs on Twitter.
Drake
Canadian
rapper who rode on Ojuelegba’s success to create an Africa flavoured
album that turned out to be his most successful yet. He can thank Wizkid
for that. The influence of the other’s music has been evident in the
two of them. After jumping on Ojuelegba, Drake has gone on to be on Come
Closer, returning the favour Wizkid did not for him on One Dance.
E - EME
Empire
Mates Entertainment, Wizkid’s home for nearly six years. Owned by Banky W
and the Demuren brothers, the record label was successful with its
marquee signing even if the other guy Skales was dissatisfied at a
point. For now only Banky W continues to be the main player since his
two biggest stars left, leaving Niyola and Shaydee to step out of the
shadows.
F - Fela
Afrobeat
god. Music genius. Social crusader and thorn in the flesh of Nigerian
government before his 1997 death. Fela is obviously Wizkid’s biggest
influence right now. He references Fela in several interviews, dances
like him and got the man tattooed on his arm.
G - Godwin Tom
The manger
that worked Wizkid after he fired Osagie. Appeared unsure of what his
job was at at time and publicly dissed Wizkid fans who mailed him.
Eventually he would throw in the towel and tweet ‘Fuck this shit, I’m
done.’
H - Holla At Your Boy
This track
introduced Wizkid to the world. The lead single off his debut album, it
made Wizzy the heartthrob of all teenyboppers in Nigeria and cleared the
way for the boy to shine. Banky should be proud.
The award
show where Wizkid was first crowned Next Rated and where he would be
crowned Artiste of the Year in 2016. It was the first solid recognition
of Wizkid’s talent and continues to be the holy grail for many Nigerian
artistes. As a matter of fact, many of them get really upset when they
don’t win.
Homecoming Tour
The failed
concert series that Wizkid promised fans in 2016. After a great year and
almost zero appearance on the Nigerian circuit in almost two years,
fans were eager to end the year with a massive concert. Few days to the
concert however, Wizkid announced a cancellation ‘on doctors’ orders. He
apologized profusely and promised to be back. In July 2017 he once a
again declared that he would hold a four-stadium tour in Nigeria. We
wait.
I - International
Like Fela
and Majek Fashek, Wizkid has become a truly international act. Argue
with Drake and Chris Brown and Future and all the other acts that he’s
been on stage with.
J - Justine Skye
One of the
several beautiful women that our boy has been seen with. Neither of them
acknowledge or deny their relationship but they’ve hardly been seen
together after a rumoured break up.
K - Konvict Music
Owned by
Akon (who should be given honourary Nigerian citizenship to be honest).
In 2011, it was reported that Wizkid was signing to Akon’s label for a
more global appeal. All that was seen from that ‘deal’ were a few
selfies and EME later denied that their star was signed anywhere else.
But it shows that they boy was destined for bigger things if as far back
as 2011, superstars like Akon were already famzing him.
L - Legendury Beatz
Production
team made up of brothers Uzezi and Okemuite Oniko. They started their
production credits with Weird MC and soon moved to Brymo and then EME
for whoM they produced their compilation album. There chemistry with
Wizkid will turn out to be powerful as they were signed to his imprint
Starboy. They produced Ojuelegba.
M - Mummy
Well he
might be the biggest African star in the world right now but the man has
always been a mummy’s boy. Just as he was riding a wave in the
beginning of his career, he brought her on stage at an awards show and
did the Mother and Son dance. What’s more? He wrote a whole song for her
on AYO.
N - Nigeria
Also known
as Naija. The land of paradoxes. One day you’re jumping bus in Surulere
and the next you’re crashing Porsches in Lekki. The land of 180 million
brave-hearts where Wizkid is from. The country that is capable of
killing your dreams and making them come true at the same time. The
country is the people; resilient, strong and proud who defy the odds
daily. Wizkid is proof.
O - OJB
Stop
everything right now. If this man hadn’t opened his door to a nine year
old boy who wanted to be around music and musicians, we wouldn’t be
talking about the name Wizkid today. OJB was far ahead of his days and
was a talented producer, songwriters, singer- he rapped a bit too.
Wizkid was always in his studio and that’s where he first had dreams of
being big. It happened for him. Rest in peace Jigga.
Ojuelegba
The song
that practically shot Wizkid to the world. Named after a Lagos hotspot-
an ever pulsating hub where everything happens. For Wizkid it was an
allegory, one that told his story better than mere words could have
done. It caught Drake’s attention and the rest is history. Oh, he can
thank Fela for the inspiration too. It generously sampled from the 1975
record Confusion.
Osagie
Nee
Osarenkhoe. The third part of the three prong boost that Wizkid got in
the beginning. He might have been given a platform by EME and he could
have been one of the boy’s around OJB: but Osagie made it click. She
managed him from 2009 to 2012, called in favours to get him on a number
of tracks and introduced him to Banky W. They would fall out later on
but Osagie’s work with Wizkid is indelible.
P - Porsche
The first
piece of extravagance our boy will indulge in. In 2013 he treated
himself to a Porsche Panamera. Just about a month later, he crashed it
in an accident while returning from a show. Like a true rock star, he
replaced it with another one within a fortnight.
Producers
Wizkid has
always been blessed with good producers that are able to key into his
vision. From his early days with Samklef, Masterkraft, Sarz, Shizzi to
meeting Maleek Berry and doing great stuff with Legendury Beatz,
producers have formed a very key part of Wizkid’s artistry.
Q - Questions
Questions
have always followed Wizkid, either as Banky’s protege or in his
personal life. Can he do this? Can he cross over? Can he still retain
his identity… So much that they boy himself sang about it on ‘Talk’ and
Oje’. He’s answering all those questions though, the only way he knows:
by succeeding.
R - RCA
The
subsidiary through which Wizkid is signed to SONY Music. RCA Records has
signed some of the biggest entertainers in the world throughout its 115
year history. Today its home to artistes like Usher, Miley Cyrus, Chris
Brown, Zayn Malik and a host of others. Wizkid certainly is in good
hands.
S - Surulere
The ‘hood
that raised him. Surulere in the 90’s was the place to be. Rappers,
singers, ballers: it had it all. It was hard for a kid born in that era
not to have dreams of becoming any of those. That’s where Wizkid was
born into. That’s the culture that raised him.
Starboy
a. The nickname Wizkid gave himself. I mean it’s obvious what he is, no?
b. The record label borne out of that name. Founded as he neared his exit from EME. Self explanatory, no?
T - Tinie Tempah
Arguably
the first international connect Wizkid got. A friendship started between
the two young men and Tinnie who was already a big shot in the UK
extended his goodwill to Wizkid. A management deal by Tinne’s label
Disturbing London helped Wizkid crack that UK market early on.
U - University
Wizkid made
an attempt to attend two but the pull of the music was too strong. At
Lagos State University, he no try at all- a leak of his only semester
there recent got out and he allegedly had 44 carryovers. (How is that
even possible?) He spent a bit more time at Lead City University in
Ibadan and somehow did two sessions before abandoning the whole thing.
While there, he collaborated with an Ibadan based rapper Jayru on a
track called Familiarity.
V - Versus Davido/Linda Ikeji/Dammy Krane
Wizkid
doesn’t seem to be afraid of getting into people’s faces and under their
skin. He’s had a few beefs, most notably with Davido- his archrival in
the music industry. The two have never been the best of friends and the
international exposure both artistes currently have has only heightened
the rivalry. With blogger Linda Ikeji, it’s come from a place of
irritation. She wrote somethings Wizkid didn’t like, then he insulted
her on social media bla bla. It was settled by the commissioner of
police. Dammy Krane wasn’t as lucky though: he had a bottle smashed on
his head at Quilox. Who knew Wizkid had some gangsta in him?!
W - Wizzy
His other
nickname; not to be confused with Lil Wayne’s Wizzy. But as both of them
have names that suggest that their children, Wizzy is a ‘grown up
moniker’.
Weed
Maybe when
he was 19/20, Wizkid tried to hide his love for the herb but not
anymore. He’s been more open with his weed smoking. On his birthday on
July 16, the only photo he posted on his Instagram was of him smoking
that good shit with the caption ‘From today, I give no fucks.’ Again,
nobody’s complaining Wizzy… nobody.
Women
Any self
respecting pop star knows how to land the finest women and Wizkid hasn’t
done too badly. The chemistry he shared with teen video ‘vixen’ on the
set of Holla At Your Boy didn’t end there: he and Sophie soon went
official. And then he’s been with Tania Omotayo, he had time to make two
babies with Sola Ogudu and Binta Diallo. He was rumoured to have been
involved with Tonto Dikeh at one time- then he dated American R&B
star Justine Skye. What can he say, women love Wizkid.
X - X-rated
Like any
other youngster, Wizzy sometimes could be foul mouthed. His beef with
Linda Ikeji contained a few choice words. Few weeks to his album release
too, he tweeted a few colourful things he’d like to do to some girls.
But it’s Wizkid, so it’s cute. Nobody’s complaining.
Y - Yaga
The
catchphrase that took the world by story. Not clear now on which song he
first called that out, but it matters little- anywhere you hear Yaga,
prepare to dance.
Z - Zara Larsson
One of the
lucky artistes who have had Wizzy bless them with his gift. Zara is a
Swedish singer who’s well known across Europe. Her debut album in 2013
was certified triple platinum in Sweden. Signed to her Epic Records, her
first international album featured Wizkid. Epic is owned by SONY Music-
which owns RCA where Wizkid is signed. Get it?
Source
TheNetng
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