Let’s take a moment to go through the world’s most greatest and defining chart – Billboard Hot 100, where the name Wizkid is at the top, sitting comfortably beside the pop Juggernaut that Drake is. The song ‘One dance’ has made history for everyone involved. Drake has his first lead single number 1 song, Wizkid hit his highest career position, and Kyla, has had her career resuscitated.
For Wizkid, this marks another milestone in a tremendous week which has had him launch the Pan-African arm of his Starboy Entertainment in Ghana. The singer has R2bees, Mr Eazi, and Efya signed on to the label, from where they can work on more international music and grow their collective brands.
During the last month, the singer experienced the start of this all, getting the collaboration with Drake, bodying Linda Ikeji, recording new music with Efya, performing at Essence Festival, and putting in work on his album.
It is that album which is scheduled to drop this year that has Wizkid working round the clock. The third studio LP of the singer will be a defining one for him. Wizkid opened up his account in Nigeria with the super “Superstar” LP which announced him into the game, and made him cement his position as a star. That position got consolidated with his sophomore “Ayo” (Joy). That album, although filled with pop hit songs all through, received mixed reviews, with expectations already high for the star. This was before his sojourn into international waters, and his success which stemmed from ‘Ojuelegba’.
These days he is playing at an untouchable level, and the new album is expected to reflect that. Wizkid understands this, hence he is working to impress himself, and the fans. Collaborations on the album have come in fast and thick. Angelique Kidjo, Ty Dolla Sign, Nico & Vinz, Tinie Tempah, Chris Brown, and many others have recorded material with the singer. But it is still a concern how many of these will fit into the final cut.
This year, he has worked heavily with African acts and producers. There has been a roster of African acts and producers who have contributed to the project. Sarz, Uhuru, DJ Maphorisa, Mi Casa, Efya, R2bees, Mr Eazi and many others are on it. South African music lord, Oskido, recently listened to the album, and came up with the following conclusion: “It was a pleasure listening to Wizkid ‘s forthcoming album last night ….what a masterpiece! Beautiful collabos. It is definitely gonna open many doors for African artistes internationally……This album will achieved what no other African album has achieved before,” said the South African music maestro.
With the amount of work thrown into creating this project, this might just be Wizkid’s magnum opus. The singer is looking for a body of work to surpass the brilliance of “Superstar”, and still have enough diversity and star power to penetrate more markets. Wizkid is on the brink of something special, with a chance to indelibly etch his name into African music history. This album, if done right will be a potent tool for that.
