Wizkid Biography: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born July 16, 1990) is a Nigerian singer and songwriter better known as Wizkid. Here, we examine Wizkid’s meteoric rise in the music industry.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Wizkid’s early life and education
Wizkid was born in the Lagos suburb of Surulere. Wizkid was born on July 16, 1990.
Wizkid was raised by a Muslim father and a Christian mother.
Wizkid went to Ijebu Ode Grammar School and was influenced by King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, and Bob Marley.
Wizkid, an Afrobeat singer, has always expressed his admiration for Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti.
Wizkid revealed his father married three wives in an interview with UK journalist Tim Westwood.
According to Wizkid, he began his music career by forming a group with his church friends called the Glorious Five.
How Wizkid’s rise to fame
In 2009, Wizkid was signed to the Nigerian record label Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). Wizkid’s first hit single, ‘Holla at Your Boy,’ was released in 2011.
Wizkid won the Next Rated award at The Headies 2011 with the above song. Wizkid went on to release his debut album, Superstar, in 2011, which became a national hit at the time.
Wizkid followed up with another hit album, Ayo, in September 2014.
Wizkid’s albums and songs
Wizkid has recorded four studio albums, which are listed below:
Superstar
Wizkid began work on his debut studio album, “Super Star,” in 2009. On June 12, 2011, E.M.E. released the Superstar album.
At the time, E.M.E. was managed by Banky W and Tunde Demuren.
The superstar album was the second best-selling album on the music download website NotJustOK.
Wizkid’s Superstar album was named Best Album of the Year at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Ayo
Ayo, which means Joy in Yoruba, was named after Wizkid after his first name, Ayodeji.
On September 17, 2014, Ayo was released by two record labels: Starboy Entertainment (founded by Wizkid) and Empire Mates Entertainment.
Other people’s voices (SFTOS)
Sounds from the other side (STFOS), Wizkid’s third studio album, was released on July 14, 2017.
Starboy Entertainment, R.C.A. Records, and Sony Music International all released SFTOS.
Foreign artists on the album included Chris Brown, Bucie, Drake, and Ty Dolla $ign. et cetera
SFTOS peaked at 107 on the Billboard 200 and 58 on the Canadian Album Charts.
Made in Lagos
Wizkid’s fourth studio album, Made in Lagos (M.I.L. ), will be released on October 30, 2020, by Starboy Entertainment and R.C.A. Records.
M.I.L. was the number one album on Native Mag and Vogue’s 20 Best Albums of 2020 by the end of 2020.
Wizkid’s record labels
As previously stated, Wizkid signed with E.M.E. in 2009.
Wizkid left E.M.E after his five-year contract with the label expired. Wizkid established the Star Boy Entertainment record label on March 5, 2013.
S/N |
Award |
Company |
Year |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Promising Artist of the Year |
Dynamix All Youth Award |
2010 |
2 |
Best new male artist |
City People Entertainment Award |
2011 |
3 |
Best New Artist of the Year |
Nigeria Entertainment Awards |
2011 |
4 |
Artist of the Year |
Dynamix All Youth Awards |
2011 |
5 |
Best African Act |
Music of black origin |
2011 |
6 |
Best Pop/R$B Artist of the Year |
Nigeria Entertainment Awards |
2012 |
7 |
Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year |
The Headies |
2012 |
8 |
Artist of the Year |
The Headies |
2012 |
9 |
Best International Act Africa |
BET Awards |
2012 |
10 |
Hottest Single of the Year (Ojuelegba) |
Nigeria Entertainment Award |
2015 |
11 |
Video of the Year (Ojuelegba) |
African Muzik Magazine Awards |
2015 |
12 |
Song of the Year (Ojuelegba) |
African Muzik Magazine Awards |
2015 |
Endorsements
Wizkid signed a one-year endorsement deal with Pepsi in 2012, reportedly worth $350,000. He went to Lebanon with Tiwa Savage for a Pepsi commercial shoot.
Wizkid signed a one-year contract with MTN Nigeria, according to Premium Times on May 28, 2013. Wizkid’s Pepsi contract was also extended for another two years, according to the newspaper.
Wizkid signed an endorsement deal with Guinness in November 2013 for the Guinness World of More concert, which was held at the Eko Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos. Pulse Nigeria reported in June 2015 that Wizkid had left MTN and signed a $128 million contract with GLO.
Wizkid’s net worth
According to Forbes’ list of the most extravagant African performers, Wizkid’s net worth in 2020 is estimated to be $16 million.