The dispute on whether Wizkid, Nigeria’s arguably biggest Afrobeats export has been influential in terms with the Nigerian music business is one which has been the flutter on social media.
The Grammy star has been labelled with a misconstrued persona over the years, either called greedy or narcissistic, and in that light, Mp3bullet takes a look into how impactful Wizkid’s influence is in the Nigerian music business.
Admittedly, Wizkid stands out as a leading Afrobeats artiste whose music has already made a huge sway on the charts of many countries.
He has performed to sold-out crowds across Africa, Europe, and America and has over 40 hits, more than 70 music awards, and four albums. His fan base now numbers more than 30 million followers across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The idea of a selfless artiste as coined by many is to be a pillar or ladder other aspiring singers or talents spring up from.
Taking a look at some of Big Wiz’s counterparts in the industry, the measurement has been set!
Davido for instance has assisted a couple of youngsters like Dremo, Yonda, Mayorkun, Peruzzi and more into the mainstream.
Olamide, the YBNL boss has unveiled the likes of Lil Kesh, AG Baby, Naira Marley, Fireboy DML, the street buzz, Portable, and the raving Asake into limelight.
Don Jazzy in like manner has brought in a host of good singers to stardom, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Ayra Starr, and many more.
So you see, the questions posed at Wizkid is, where are his musical off springs? Are there people Wizkid has helped and how many other artistes have benefitted from his grace?
To say Wizkid has not helped anyone into the limelight will certainly not be true, but to the extent might be arguable.
- RELATED: Top 10 Nigerian artistes Wizkid has brought on stage at the O2 arena
- RELATED: Top 10 underrated Wizkid’s songs that Should have gotten more hype
The slow pacing career of his protege, Terri paved the critique a good number of people use in measuring Wizzy’s influence. Another point in contact is the idea that Mr Eazi was only able to attain stardom through Starboy Records, however was not managed and duly appreciated.
With this, the laid-out criticism that Wizkid does not appreciate the efforts fans or well-wishers throw out to him, neither does he care about the careers of his artistes, giving credit to his egocentric and narcissistic behaviour was birthed.
A most recent study is the buzzing song by a ‘FC’ titled, Machala – a song in honour of the singer. As much as the song did numbers on Apple Music and its still relevant till date, Wizkid is yet to openly show appreciation to the singer.
However, in all these, I would suggest that Wizkid has a unique way of impacting the music business in Nigeria and that’s through collaborations.
Collaborations
Olamide, who has been the bedrock of many singer’s stardom admitted to Wizkid’s influence in the songs he collaborated him with. Omo To Shan is honestly the song that got Olamide into the music conversation before he became who he is today. On numerous occasions, the singer has attributed his success to the great assistance of Wizkid’s collaborations coupled with others he benefitted from.
- RELATED: Top 10 Biggest Wizkid’s US collaborations of all time
- RELATED: Top 10 songs that made Wizkid’s career very huge
Tems, who is famous for her hook on Wizkid’s multiple charting tune, Essence would definitely give the credit to her global stardom to Wizkid.
The several awards, global recognitions and height in her career is certainly the handywork of a ‘Wizkid-collaboration’.
Duncan Mighty, this is one old legend whose season of fame was at it’s concluding part – of course, it took a Wizkid’s collaboration in 2018 with Fake Love to raise his career back. Everyone wanted to include Duncan Mighty after Big Wiz, and most people did. Duncan Mighty would have long since been forgotten if “Fake Love” had not sparked his comeback.
Tiwa Savage is another person who through Wizkid’s collaboration positioned herself in the hearts of many fans. Wizkid gave her the first hit in 2015 with the tune, ‘Bad‘.
Beyonce in like manner repositioned herself to a more continental audience through the help of Wizkid. Despite being a global force, Beyonce arguably couldn’t have reached the slums of Nigeria without a Wizkid sound. It took a Brown Skin Girl collabo to hear the slums in Lagos play and know a Beyonce song.
These are just a few whose careers or impacts into the music business has spawned into what it is today due to an affiliation with a Wizkid sound.
So, despite not being vocal about his mode of influence, the few singers Wizkid has helped can sure pass as a possession of great influence into the music business.
Remeber, it is not ‘how many’, but ‘how well’, and I believe Wizkid has shown how much of an influencer he is in the Nigerian music business.