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Young Star Champz Shares the UK Rap and Afro-Fusion Roots Behind Champion’s Arrival
At just 14 years old, rising Nigerian rapper Champz, the son of global icon Wizkid, is already carving out a bold identity of his own. And now, he’s finally letting fans in on the sounds and voices that shaped his breakout project, Champion’s Arrival.
During a candid chat with Glitch Africa, the young artist peeled back the curtain on his creative process, revealing that his debut EP is rooted in a blend of UK rap grit and Afro-fusion rhythm. He didn’t hesitate when asked who influenced the project most.
“These are the main inspirations for this EP,” he said, naming J Hus, Asko, Nines, and Clavish as the four artists whose styles guided his approach to flow, cadence, and storytelling.
Their fingerprints, he explained, sit heavily on the project’s sonic architecture, from its moody beats to its street-shaded narratives.
Rather than leaning toward his father’s Afrobeats dynasty, Champz is steering his craft toward Afro-swing and UK drill genres known for raw expression, minimalist production, and an unmistakable London edge. It’s a quiet declaration that he’s forging a lane that is distinctly his.
His appearance on Glitch Africa comes on the heels of a record-breaking moment that shot him into the spotlight: Champion’s Arrival hit Number 1 on Apple Music Nigeria just five hours after release, making waves across several countries and pulling in over a million streams within the first 24 hours.
With early milestones stacking up, a growing fan base cheering him on, and a clear artistic direction anchored in global rap influences, Champz is fast emerging as one of the most exciting young voices shaping the future of African and UK-inspired rap.
Champz on his biggest musical influences:
— “On this EP, I have J Hus, Asko, Nines & Clavish. Those are the main inspirations for this EP”
Via Glitch Africa 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1LA8dQNDKV
— 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦 📀 (@AlbumTalksHQ) December 8, 2025