Wizkid | LYRIXKYRIX PLACE!

WIZKID

Birth name: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun

Born: 16 July 1990 (age 25) Lagos, Nigeria

Genres : Afrobeats afropop reggae

Occupation(s): Recording artist songwriter performer

Years active: 2001–present

Labels: Currently Starboy Entertainment, Konvict Muzik, Disturbing London. Formerly

Empire Mates Entertainment

Associated acts: Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz, L.A.X, Banky W. Skales, Shaydee, Niyola, Wale, Wande Coal, Ice Prince, R2Bees, M.I, Jesse Jagz.

He started his musical career at age 11, releasing a collaborative album with Glorious Five entitled Lil Prinz (2001). In 2009, he signed a record deal with Banky W.’s imprint Empire Mates Entertainment. He rose to prominence in 2010 with the release of the song “Holla at Your Boy” from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011).

Wizkid’s self-titled second studio album, Ayo (2014). In addition to his solo work, Wizkid has collaborated with several artists and was featured on the hits. His work and contribution to the Nigerian Music Industry has earned him several achievements, including a BET Award, a MOBO Award, three The Headies Awards, two Channel O Music Video Awards, four Nigeria Entertainment Awards, a Ghana Music Award, two Dynamix All Youth Awards, two City People Entertainment Awards, and a Future Award. In addition, he has been nominated three times at the MTV Europe Music Awards as well as four times at the World Music Awards. He was ranked 5th on Forbes and Channel O’s 2013 list of the Top 10 Richest/Bankable African Artists. In February 2014, Wizkid became the first ever Nigerian musician to have over 1 million followers on Twitter.

Wizkid was born on 16 July 1990 in Surulere, a residential and commercial area of Lagos. He comes from a large family and is the youngest of six children. In a 2012 interview with Tim Westwood, he said that his father has three wives.

During an interview with Adesope of Factory 78 TV, Wizkid described his life in a nutshell. He said he formed a group called the Glorious Five with a couple of his church friends. The group dropped an album prior to dismembering. Wizkid later met OJB Jezreel, a record producer who prevented him from recording for a year. While visiting Jezreel’s studio frequently, he watched 2 Face Idibia record Grass 2 Grace and watched Sound Sultan record Jagbajantis. A year later, Wizkid started recording. His first song featured OJB Jezreel. The song was met with great reception throughout Surulere. Wizkid cited Naeto C as one of the people who mentored and coached him while he was 15 years old. Wizkid also told Factory 78 TV that his parents weren’t receptive of his music from the onset. In order to gain his father’s trust, he had to work hard and spent lots of time in the studio. Wizkid has a great relationship with Banky W. He told Factory 78 TV that he and Banky became friends prior to starting a professional relationship. He co-wrote Banky W’s “Omoge You Too Much”, a song off the The W Experience album. In 2006, he collaborated with Naeto C and Ikechukwu. In 2009, Wizkid became a household name within Nigeria’s musical landscape; he was featured on M.I’s “Fast Money, Fast Cars” and Kel’s “Turn by Turn”.