Wizkd Biography

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), known professionally as Wizkid (sometimes stylized as WizKid), Wizzy, Big Wiz, Machala or Starboy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.[3] The recipient of several international music nominations and awards,[4] he began recording music at the age of 11 and managed to release a collaborative album with the fantastic Five, a gaggle he and a few of his church friends formed. Wizkid signed a record affect Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009.

He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011). "Tease Me/Bad Guys", "Don't Dull", "Love My Baby", "Pakurumo", and "Oluwa Lo Ni" were also released as singles from the Superstar album. Ayo, his self-titled second studio album, was released in September 2014. it had been supported by six singles: "Jaiye Jaiye", "On Top Your Matter", "One Question", "Joy", "Bombay", and "Show You the Money". Wizkid left E.M.E after his contract expired.

In 2016, Wizkid achieved international recognition following his collaboration with Drake on the hit single "One Dance", which reached favorite in 15 countries, including the US Billboard Hot 100, the UK, Canada and Australia. He signed a multi-album affect RCA Records in March 2017. His third studio album, Sounds from the opposite Side, was released in July 2017. It is his major label debut and was primarily a Caribbean-influenced record. SFTOS was supported by five singles: "Daddy Yo", "Sweet Love", "Come Closer" featuring Drake, "African Bad Gyal" and "Naughty Ride". Wizkid became the primary Afrobeats artist to seem within the 2018 Guinness World Records for his contribution to "One Dance".[4]

In 2019, he was featured on Beyoncé's project The Lion King: The Gift on the collaboration "Brown Skin Girl", which won him a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.[5] His fourth album, Made in Lagos, was released in October 2020, to wide commercial success and acclaim.[6] The album includes the only "Essence", which became the primary Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]

By February 2021, Wizkid was the most-streamed Nigerian artist of all time on Spotify, with over 3.4 billion streams across all credits.[8] On the 24th of August Wizkid's Made in Lagos rose to no 1 on Billboard World Album Chart.[9] On the 27 of August 2021, Wizkid released the deluxe edition of his Made in Lagos album.