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Wizkid (Nigerian Singer)

Discography, wizkid biography.

Wizkid a Nigerian Singer and songwriter , born as Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990, in Surulere, Lagos. He grew up in an interfaith household with twelve female siblings. He is one of the most commercially successful music artistes from Nigeria. He started his music career at a very early age despite opposition from his family.

Who is Wizkid?

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born July 16, 1990) is a Nigerian music superstar who is known professionally as Wizkid or Starboy . He is considered to be one of the top three Afrobeats artists from the African continent due to his influence in growing the music culture over the years up. Formerly known by the stage name, Lil Prince, Wizkid became a national sensation after the release of Holla At Your Boy , the lead single in his chart-topping debut album, Superstar. He is also addressed as Big Wiz or Machala .

He rose to the international limelight in 2016 after he lent his vocals to Drake‘s award-winning song, One Dance , which was a global hit. The singer and songwriter dropped his fourth studio album, Made In Lagos , in October 2020, and since it has been released into the public domain, the project has gone on to win several laurels and set different records. One of the album’s top singles, Essence , became the first Nigerian song to chart on Billboard Hot 100.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun  is a Nigerian music Megastar. He is known professional as Wizkid or Starboy , or Big Wiz . He came to the limelight after signing to Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009 and releasing his hit single, Holla At Your Boy .

The song which won him millions of fans set the pace for Wizkid to drop commercially successful albums in the past twelve years. His latest album, Made In Lagos , has won him international acclaim as it reached number one on the Billboard World Album Chart.

One of the album’s singles, Essence featuring Tems , has become the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, it was announced in February 2021 that Wizkid has attained the honor of being the most-streamed Nigerian artist on Spotify, amassing over 3.4 billion streams from all his works.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun , who became popularized professionally with Wizkid is a 32 years old Nigerian singer, rapper, and songwriter whose present in the Nigerian industry is classified as a blessing.

Wizkid Early Life

Wizkid was born to the family of Mr. Ibrahim Balogun (father) and Mrs. Jane Dolapo Balogun (mother) on the 16th Of July 1990. He was born into an inter-faith household, where his father practiced the Muslim religion while his mother adhered to the Christian faith. His parents christened him Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun .

A native of Ogun State in the South West region of Nigeria, he comes from a large household – as he has twelve siblings, who are all females. He was raised in a polygamous household in the Ojuelegba district of Surulere City in Lagos State. His father is married to three wives.

He spent his formative years in Lagos City, which exposed him to the rich Nigerian music culture and helped foster his passion for the discipline. As a young boy, he attended church regularly with his mother and other siblings and immersed himself in activities relating to the choir unit of his local church.

By the age of eleven, he had co-founded a music group named Glorious Five, and they released an album before disbanding to pursue solo careers. During this period, he went by the stage name, Lil Prinz. His interest in music was fostered by listening to music legends like Fela Anikulapo Kuti , Bob Marley , Lucky Dube , King Sunny Ade .

As he advanced into teenagehood, he began visiting the recording studio of iconic Nigerian producer OJB Jezreel and became acquainted with the older artiste. OJB Jezreel acted as a mentor for Wizkid , advising him to wait till a year before he began recording and that he should use the period to fine-tune his sound. His path also crossed with rapper, Naeto C at the age of fifteen, and the two developed a mentor-mentee relationship. The pivotal moment of Wizkid‘s career occurred when he was discovered by music executive, talent manager, and singer Banky W .

Wizkid was born into a polygamous family on the 16th Of July 1990. He hails from the Yoruba tribe and was named Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun by his parents. His father is a Muslim, while his mom adheres to the Christian faith and attends a Pentecostal church in Nigeria.

He was born and bred in the Ojuelegba district of Surulere. Although born in Lagos State, He is a native of Ogun State. He grew up as the only son among twelve siblings, who are all females. His father, Mr. Balogun, married three wives. Despite being a polygamous family, the Baloguns lived in peace and harmony. And this gave room for Wizkid to pursue his music dreams without having to deal with family issues.

Wizkid‘s foray into music started at the young age of eleven when he formed a music group, Glorious Five , with his friends. These friends were his church members. Together, the group released a collaborative album before disbanding. Wizkid‘s initial stage name was Lil Prinz, and he switched to his present moniker in 2006.

As Wizkid advanced in years, he began meeting some big names in the music industry. He first met an ace music producer, OJB Jezreel , who advised him not to record any music for a year but focus instead on improving his songwriting ability. During this period, he paid a regular visit to OJB Jezreel ‘s studio, which was located in his neighborhood, Ojuelegba . And this gave him the opportunity to watch artists like 2baba and Sound Sultan records songs.

He later came in contact with rapper, Naeto C , who he credits for being one of his mentors in the industry. Success finally fell on Wizkid‘s laps when his path crossed with Banky W , a singer, talent manager, and CEO of E.M.E Records . Banky W was taken to Wizkid immediately and began working with the younger artiste to refine his sound. As a result, Wizkid signed a record deal with E.M.E records in 2009.

Wizkid Education

Wizkid hailed from a financially comfortable family, which afforded him to be educated at top private schools in Surulere for his primary and secondary education.

He gained admission to Lagos State University but dropped out of the school in 2009. He later applied to Lead City University , Ibadan, and was offered admission, and managed to study for two academic sessions before withdrawing from the institution to face music squarely.

The Baloguns spared no expense in giving their son a quality education. Wizkid attended top private schools in Surulere for his primary and secondary school education.

After obtaining his West African School Certificate, he gained admission into Lagos State University . After that, however, he dropped out of the university.

Thereafter, he enrolled at Lead City University , Ibadan, to further his studies. But he left the institution after completing two sessions.

Wizkid Music Career

In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment which was owned and managed by Banky W . He first gave the world a taste of his exceptional songwriting skill when he co-wrote the single, Omoge You Too Much , one of the songs of Banky W‘s album – The W Experience. That same year he began recording his debut album titled Superstar and released the project’s lead single, Holla At Your Boy , on the 2nd Of January 2010. The song was an instant hit, helping to skyrocket his fame in the music space and winning him the coveted Next Rated Artist award at The Headies in 2011.

The album’s second single, Tease Me/Bad Guys, was released into the public domain on the 2nd Of April 2010. While the project’s third single, Don’t Dull, was released as a Christmas jam on the 6th Of December 2010. After two years of recording and compiling the project, Superstar – which is a fusion of Afrobeats, Dancehall, R&B, and Reggae sounds- was finally released on the 12th Of June 2011 at a launch party held at Eko Hotel and Suites. The album racked up numerous nominations, going on to win the Best Album Of The Year at the 2012 Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

After releasing his first flagship project, Wizkid embarked on a tour in London alongside his label mates, Skales , Shaydee , Banky W , and Niyola . He also worked with his label mates to record E.M.E‘s compilation album titled, Empire Mates State Of The Mind, which was released in 2012.

By 2012, Wizkid had begun recording his second studio album, Ayo, which was completed and released in 2014. The album was a commercial success, thanks to the inputs of creative minds like Femi Kuti , Seyi Shay , Phyno , Tyga , Akon , Wale , Sarz , Shizzi , Legendury Beatz , Dokta Frabz , Maleek Berry , and Spellz . Earlier in May 2013, the album’s lead single, Jaiye Jaiye , had been released. The song had Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti as a featured artist.

While in October 2013, he dropped On Top Your Matter , the album’s second single. The production credits for this single go to Del B. After the expiration of his contract with E.M.E, he left the record label to become an independent artist, founding his own record label.

At the start of the new year (January 2015), Wizkid released the song Ojuelegba , which speaks about the early days of his career and the hurdles he faced on the way to the top. After signing a record deal with RCA Records in March 2017, he dropped his highly anticipated third album, Sounds From The Other Side , in July 2017. The album contained notable works like African Bad Gyal featuring American singer, Chris Brown , Expensive Shit , Daddy Yo featuring Efya , Come Closer featuring Drake , and Sweet Love .

In 2016, Wizkid was guest featured on Drake‘s hit single, One Dance . The song helped him gain greater international exposure as it reached the number one position in Billboard Hot 100 chart, staying there for 10 non-consecutive weeks. The song also topped music charts in fifteen different countries. Due to his involvement with One Dance , he became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records.

Also, in 2018, leading international singers, Normani and Calvin Harris reached out to Wizkid to collaborate together. And the trio released the single, Checklist that year, which was a huge success. As the song rose to the number-one spot on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. In 2019, he had the honor of being invited to work on Beyoncé‘s album, The Lion King: The Gift. He was featured on the single, Brown Skin Girl alongside SAINt JHN , Blue Ivy Carter , which went on to win the Grammy Award For Best Music Video in 2021.

In October 2021, he released his fourth studio album, Made In Lagos , which was a commercial success internationally, as the album found its way to the number-one position on Billboard World Album Chart. One of the project’s singles, Essence , featuring fellow Nigerian singer, Tems , became the first Nigerian song to appear on Billboard Hot 100. The song also made it to the top ten spots after the remix with Justin Bieber . In February 2021, he was the most-streamed Nigerian artist of all time on Spotify, garnering over 3.4 billion streams across the songs on his discography.

After he was signed to E.M.E records, Wizkid began working on his debut album, Superstar. The album, which is a mix of Afrobeats, R&B, and Reggae sounds, saw Wizkid work with talented producers such as Masterkraft , Samklef , Shizzi , Jay Sleek , and Q-Beats .

He released the first and lead single of the project in January 2010. The song titled Holla At Your Boy thrust Wizkid into the national limelight and made him the favorite artiste of many young Nigerians. In addition, the song is credited for helping him win the Next Rated Artiste award at The Headies 2011.

Wizkid released the second single of the album, Tease Me/Bad Guys , in April 2020. Like his first work, this song was also a commercial success. And the single was followed by Don’t Dull , which became the club jam and party song during the December Festive season. Superstar was released to critical acclaim on the 12th Of June 2011, and its launch party was held at Eko Hotel and Suites. The album secured a nomination for Album Of The Year at The Headies 2012.

In 2012, Wizkid worked with his label mates, Shaydee , Niyola , Skales , and Banky W , on the collaborative album: Empire Mates State Of The Mind. Upon the album’s release, he and other E.M.E acts toured the United States, performing at over two dozen cities.

After two years of working hard in the studio, he released his sophomore album, Ayo, which also did great numbers commercially. The album’s lead single, Jaiye Jaiye , was released on the 2nd of May, 2013. He featured music icon, Femi Kuti on the song. The second single of the album, On Top Your Matter, was dropped on the 26th Of October 2013. Again, he collaborated with ace producer, Del B on the song.

After the expiration of his five-year contract with E.M.E records , he chose not to renew his contract and left the label. Instead, he decided to set up his own music outfit, which he called Starboy Entertainment. Prior to leaving E.M.E , there had been speculations that Wizkid was having issues with the management due to the terms of agreement of his contract. And this was the reason given for his leaving the E.M.E mansion into his own house in February 2013. On the formation of Starboy Entertainment , he signed recording artists, Legendury Beatz and Maleek Berry to the label.

In January 2015, Wizkid released Ojuelegba , which spoke about his struggles during the early years of his career. After being featured on Drake‘s single, One Dance, he became the first Nigerian artist to be listed on Billboard Twitter’s Last 24 Hours chart. By May, the song had reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart earning Wizkid more accolades. Furthermore, due to his contribution to One Dance, he became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records.

He signed a record deal with the international music label, RCA Records in March 2017. Four months after, he released his third studio album titled Sounds From The Other Side. The album saw Wizkid collaborate with big names like Drake , Chris Brown , Sarz , Spellz , Del B , Major Lazer , Ty Dolla Sign , Efya , and DJ Mustard . Before the album’s release, he had released three hit singles; Daddy Yo, Sweet Love, and Come Closer.

In 2019, he was contacted by American diva, Beyonce and invited to work with her on the album: The Lion King: The Gift. As a result, he lent his vocals to the chart-topping song, Brown Skin Girl. The song helped him win his first Grammy Award for Best Music Video. Also, it earned him nominations at the BET Awards, NACCP Image Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards.

On the 30th Of October 2020, Wizkid released his fourth studio album titled, Made In Lagos. In 2021, Essence, one of the album’s singles, became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has also amassed millions of streams, positioning him for many nominations. Due to the success of Essence, Justin Bieber reached out to Wizkid to work on a remix.

The Legendary Nigerian singer, Wizkid was formerly signed by Banky W to Empire Mate Entertainment (EME) in 2009 and rose to fame with “ Holla At Your Boy ,” a single off his Superstar Album. He left the label EME due to contract differences and started his own record label StarBoy .

Wizkid Personal Life

Wizkid is 31 years old at the moment. Despite being a father of three handsome sons – Boluwatife Balogun, Ayodeji Balogun, and Zion Balogun – he is believed to be single. However, rumor has it that the superstar is in a relationship with Jada Pollock , his manager, and the mother of his third son, Zion Balogun . Also, some blogs have fingered him to be dating Tems . Nevertheless, Wizkid dotes on his children, spending his free time with them whenever he isn’t making music in the studio or on tour.

Wizkid is a very successful artiste, both in terms of financial and music assets. He currently shuffles his time between his residences in Lagos and Accra. Asides from owning a fleet of luxurious cars, he also has choice properties across the world, with diverse business investments.

He is also a music executive as he had flagged off his own music imprint, Starboy Entertainment , in 2013, signing artists such as Maleek Berry and Legendury Beatz . Fast-rising singer, Starboy Terri is currently signed to the label.

He is an ambassador of Pepsi , signing his first deal with the multinational in 2012. He has also had brand partnership deals with companies like MTN Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and the United Bank Of Africa (UBA).

He is currently being managed by Mr. Sunday Are. And he is also known by other nicknames like Starboy, Machala, Big Wiz, and Big W.

Wizkid is often considered as one of Africa’s top three artists. The others being Burna Boy and Davido . He also has the most substantial fanbase in Nigeria, who identify themselves as Wizkid FC . Wizkid is also known by the nicknames, Starboy or Big Wiz or Big W.

The Lagos-born singer is 32 years old. Although he is yet to be married, he has three sons from different women. His first child, Boluwatife , was born in 2011. He was just 21 years old at the time. He dotes on his children a lot and spends his free time vacationing with them or taking them out to lovely places.

He is currently rumored to be dating his manager, Jada P , who happens to be the mother of his third son, Zion Balogun. He also has another manager named Sunday Are. In addition, he announced the signing of singer, Terri, in 2018.

The singer, who is known for his iconic fashion style, has choice properties across the world. Presently, he spends his time between his houses in Lagos and Ghana.

Wizkid is a father of three;

• Boluwatife Balogun mothered by Oluwanisola Ogudugu
• Ayodeji Balogun mothered by Binta Diallo
• Zion Balogun mothered by Jada Pollock

All three mentioned above are his baby mamas and ex-girlfriends except Jada Pollock. Wizkid has also dated Tonto Dikeh , Tiwa Savage , and Seyi Shay in the past.

Wizkid Net Worth

As one of Africa’s most significant artists and music executives, Wizkid is a very wealthy man. He earns a lot of royalties from his songs and makes money from organizing shows and performing at shows across the world.

Wizkid‘s net worth is estimated to be having a net worth of US$35,000,000.

Wizkid International Recognition

Wizkid ’s official international recognition came in 2016 when Drake collaborated with him on “One Dance,” a chart-topping single in several countries including the United States, for which he is credited to be the writer. He also went ahead to feature Drake in Come Closer .

Wizkid also got a collaboration on Chris Brown’s 2022 album called “Breezy.” A single on the album titled “Call Me Every Day” featured Wizkid on it.

• Made In Lagos (2020)
• Made In Lagos Deluxe (2021)
• Sounds From The Other Side (2017)
• Superstar (2011)
• Empire Mates State of Mind (with EME) (2012)
• Soundman Vol. 1 (2019)
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July 16, 2024

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Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter born on July 16, 1990. Wizkid’s career dates to 2001, when he started making music at 11. Today he is an adept musician with countless awards in his arsenal. You might know him from his number one Billboard World Album Chart for “Made in Lagos,” which features his globally popular single, ‘Essence,’ or maybe from ‘Brown Skin Girl,’ with Queen Bey herself. However, Wizkid has proven that stars are designed to burn, and he burns brighter every time. Join us in celebrating the icon’s birthday today!

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun

Wizkid, Big Wiz, Star Boy, Ayo

Birth date:

July 16, 1990

Zodiac Sign:

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

$30 million

Ayodeji's Social Media:

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, was born to a large interfaith family on July 16, 1990, in Surulere, Lagos. He is of African descent and a Cancer by design. Wizkid attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School and grew up listening to Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and King Sunny Ade, who were his earliest musical influences. After hanging around legendary musicians like 2 Face Idibia, Sound Sultan, Naeto C, and Banky W, he got signed to Empire Mates Entertainment in 2009.

On June 12, 2011, through this record label, Wizkid released his debut album “Superstar,” featuring ‘Holla at Your Boy’ as its lead single. 2011 was pivotal for Wizkid as he won the ‘Next Rated Award’ at the 2011 Headies and got nominated for ‘Best Pop Single’ for ‘Holla at Your Boy.’ His debut studio album was a success, and he toured in London in 2012. He released his second studio album, “Ayo,” in September 2014. The album featured Femi Kuti, Tinnie Tempah, and other acts. By January 2015, Wizkid released the video for his single ‘Ojuelegba,’ a song that highlighted his struggles. The same year, Drake and Skepta hopped on its remix. In 2016, Wizkid got on Drake’s ‘One Dance,’ and the song rose to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It held this position for 10 consecutive weeks and became an international smash hit. In 2017, he signed with R.C.A. Records and released his third studio album, “Sounds From the Other Side.” The album featured acts like Chris Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, Efya, Major Lazer, Trey Songz, etc. In 2018, he became the first Afrobeats artist to make it to the 2018 Guinness World Records for ‘One Dance.’ His single, ‘Soco,’ became the first Afrobeats song to be certified Gold in Canada. However, Wizkid was only warming up. In 2019, he appeared in Beyonce’s ‘Brown Skin Girl.’ He earned two Soul Train Music Awards, an N.A.A.C.P. Image Award, another BET Award, and his first Grammy for ‘Best Music Video’ for his contributions to the song.

He went on to produce more singles and released his fourth album, “Made in Lagos,” in October 2020. His single ‘Essence’ with Tems, from this album, became the first Nigerian song to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song got remixed with Justin Bieber in August 2021. ‘Made in Lagos’ was nominated for two Grammys at the 64th Annual Grammy Ceremony and has won multiple local and international awards. Wizkid is a highly-acclaimed artist. He has signed major brand deals with Pepsi, M.T.N, U.B.A., Guinness, GLO, and several others. With such an impressive discography and immeasurable success, Wizkid shares his life with his three sons and his partner, Jada Pollock, his former manager. The artist has never been married.

Career timeline

Wizkid signs with Empire Mates Entertainment.

Wizkid releases his debut studio album, “Superstar,” which wins the Headies’ ‘Next Rated Award,’ and wins ‘Album of the Year’ at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Wizkid’s feature on Drake’s ‘One Dance’ reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Wizkid signs a record deal with Sony/R.C.A> Records.

Wizkid’s contribution to Beyonce’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ wins the Grammy award for ‘Best Music Video.’

Why We Love Wizkid

He is a successful nigerian singer.

Wizkid became the first African to reach over one billion streams as a lead artist on Apple Music. He also made history by becoming the first musician from Nigeria with more than a million Twitter followers. {[He represents his hometown

He represents his hometown

As a member of the next generation of young Nigerian artists, Wizkid is constantly representing Lagos. He does this by entering into partnerships with the city's up-and-coming hitmakers like Tems and Tay Iwar or the launch of a record label to support local artists.

His an amazing dad

Wizkid is an amazing dad to his three children. In an interview, Wizkid said he dearly loves his three sons and that having his family keeps him grounded.”

5 Surprising Facts

He has 12 sisters.

Wizkid was born into a family of 15, and he has 12 sisters.

His father had three wives

Although his mother was Christian, Wizkid’s father practiced Islam and married three wives.

He was called Lil Prinz

Wizkid’s first stage name was Lil Prinz until 2006.

He dropped out of college, twice

Wizkid attended Lagos State University, dropped out, enrolled in Lead City University, and dropped out after two sessions.

He’s not very reliable

Wizkid has disappointed fans several times by pushing back the release dates for his albums.

Wizkid FAQ s

Does wizkid have a private jet.

Yes, has a private jet.

What is the name of Wizkid’s first son?

His eldest son is Boluwatife Balogun.

Does Wizkid own a house?

Yes and in fact he has properties worth millions of dollars.

Wizkid’s birthday dates

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Wizkid's biography, musical career and top hit songs

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born July 16, 1990), professionally known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Here, we look at Wizkid's rise in the music industry.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, AKA Wizkid, is a Nigerian-born singer, songwriter and producer.

Wizkid's early life and education

Wizkid was born in Surulere, Lagos. Wizkid was born on 16 July 1990.

Wizkid grew up in a home with a Muslim father and a Christian mother.

Wizkid attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School; he listened to King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti and Bob Marley. As an Afrobeat singer, Wizkid has never been shy about his admiration for the Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti.

Did you know?

Wizkid went by the stage name Lil Prinz until 2006

In an interview with Tim Westwood , a UK Journalist, Wizkid revealed his father married three wives.

According to Wizkid, he started his music career by forming a group, the Glorious Five, with his church friends.

Wizkid's rise to fame

Wizkid was adopted into the Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E), a Nigerian record label in 2009. Wizkid released his first hit single 'Holla at Your Boy' in 2011.

With the above song, Wizkid won the Next Rated award at The Headies 2011. Wizkid later released his debut album, Superstar, in 2011, which was a national hit album at the time.

Wizkid went ahead to release another hit album, Ayo, in September 2014.

In February 2014, Wizkid became the first-ever Nigerian musician to have over 1 million followers on Twitter. 

Wizkid's songs and albums

Wizkid has released and recorded 4 studio albums, which are listed below:

In 2009, Wizkid started recording his debut studio album, "Super Star." E.M.E. released the Superstar album on June 12, 2011.

E.M.E. was under the management of Banky W and Tunde Demuren at the time.

The superstar album became the second best-selling album on NotJustOK, a music download website.

Wizkid's Superstar album won the Best Album of the Year in the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2012.

Ayo, which means Joy in the Yoruba language, was named after Wizkid, following his first name, Ayodeji.

Ayo was released on September 17, 2014, under two record labels, Starboy Entertainment (founded by Wizkid) and Empire Mates Entertainment.

Sounds from the other side (SFTOS)

Wizkid recorded his third studio album, Sounds from the other side (STFOS), and released it on July 14, 2017.

SFTOS was released under three record labels Starboy Entertainment, R.C.A. Records, and Sony Music International.

The album featured foreign artists like Chris Brown, Bucie, Drake, and Ty Dolla Sign. e.t.c

SFTOS was ranked 107 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and 58 on Canadian Album Charts.

Made in Lagos

Made in Lagos (M.I.L.) is Wizkid's 4th album, released on October 30, 2020, under Starboy Entertainment and R.C.A. Records.

By the end of 2020, M.I.L. was the number 1 album on Native Mag and Vogue's 20 Best Albums of 2020.

Wizkid's record labels

As stated earlier, Wizkid signed up with E.M.E. in 2009.

Wizkid left the E.M.E after his five-year contract ended with the label. On March 5, 2013, Wizkid founded the Star Boy entertainment record label.

Wizkid's net worth

Clacified has a more detailed article that covered WIzkid's Net worth . You can read up about Wizkid's net worth and source of income. Use the above link.

One of Nigeria's biggest R&B crossover acts; he has worked with Drake, Skepta, and Chris Brown in the past.

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Table of Contents

Wizkid Basic Information

Wizkid biography.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known by his stage name Wizkid, was born in Nigeria on July 16, 1990. One of the largest and most well-known African musicians of all time, Wizkid is a well-known personality in the contemporary Afrobeats music scene. He started recording music at that age. In 2009, Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment and Wizkid agreed to a record deal (E.M.E). After the release of “Holla at Your Boy,” the main song from his debut studio album, Superstar, he later gained notoriety.

After his contract with E.M.E expired, Wizkid departed. Following his collaboration with Drake on the hit song “One Dance,” which topped the charts in 14 more nations in addition to the US Billboard Hot 100, Wizkid gained popularity on a global scale in 2016. Wizkid became the first Afrobeats artist to be listed in the Guinness World Records after the song smashed numerous records. He entered into a multi-album contract with RCA Records in March 2017.

He appeared on the song “Brown Skin Girl,” which also peaked at number one on the global digital song sales chart, and was included in Beyoncé ’s 2019 album The Lion King: The Gift. This performance earned him a Grammy Award for Best Music Video. His fourth album, Made in Lagos, which debuted at the top of the Billboard World Album Chart in October 2020, was a commercial and critical triumph. The album contains the Tems-featuring hit “Essence,” which is the first song from Nigeria to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Wizkid’s net worth as of November 2022 is about $20 Million. The majority of Wizkid’s income comes from his various sponsorship contracts. He has had a number of significant contracts throughout the course of his career with several major companies, including Pepsi, Guinness, MTN, and Glo . He has frequently collaborated with Nike and Puma, and is the brand ambassador for Ciroc Premium Vodka.

Alhaji Muniru Olatunji Balogun is Wizkid’s father, while his mother is Jane Dolapo Balogun. With three separate women who are his legal wives, Wizkid’s father was able to have thirteen children; they currently reside in Shitta, Surulere, Lagos. Alhaji Muniru Olatunji Balogun took care of his kids and gave them everything they needed in life. As a Muslim, it was initially challenging for him to approve Wizkid’s profession as an artist; but, he did so and gave him the blessing to follow his passion. Not much is known about Jane Dolapo, Wizkid’s mother besides her being a Christian.

There are 12 sisters total in Wizkid’s family, but only two of them are his biological sisters; the other 10 are his stepsisters. Yetunde Awoniyi is his older sister’s name. Up until Seun’s death on October 9, 2016, in a US hospital, she was happily married to Swun Rowland Awoniyi. Before giving up, he fought cancer for a while. Lade Balogun, his younger sister, is a recent graduate of one of Nigeria’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Wizkid is very fond of his little sister in particular and doesn’t take anything involving her for granted. Both sisters favor leading quiet, unassuming lives.

Ijebu Ode Grammar School in Ogun State was where Wizkid attended. After completion, he continued to Lagos State University, but he left early in 2009 and never finished. Later, he enrolled at Ibadan’s Lead City University, but he left after just two semesters.

Shola Ogudugu is the mother of Wizkid’s child. She is an entrepreneur and the company’s creative director. When the woman gave birth to Boluwatife Balogun in 2011, she was 19 years old. The couple disputed about child support, and a DNA test was used to establish the boy’s paternity. Before Starboy took the youngster in, Wizkid and Sola’s families fought for two years.

2016 saw the birth of Wizkid’s second son by Binta Diallo. To establish his paternity, the Guinean model with a base in America also underwent a DNA test. After facing a year of online harassment and abuse from Wizkid’s supporters, Binta Diamond Diallo shared the results of a DNA test on Instagram. Eventually, the singer realized that Ayodeji was his child.

In October 2017, Jada Pollock gave birth to Zion Balogun. The singer did not challenge her regarding the father of the child. Pollock is five years older than Wizkid, unlike the other two baby mothers. Between 2014 and 2017, they worked together while also dating. That affair gave rise to Zion.

39-year-old Jada Pollock was born on October 20, 1983. Although she is an entrepreneur, she is best recognized for her work as Wizkid’s manager, through whom she helped the artist make contact with a number of prominent figures in the field, namely Drake. In London , England, she completed her studies at the University of Westminster and St. Saviour’s & St. Olave’s School. She formerly held positions as a brand manager and image consultant for the upscale clothing company Gucci.

Didier Drogba, with whom Pollock launched a store in London, was one of the numerous football players she collaborated with. She was formerly Chris Brown’s manager, according to Buzz Nigeria, and she assisted in Pia Mia’s career start. Tinchy Stryder’s manager, according to PM News, was Pollock’s first position in talent management.

Wizkid hasn’t abandoned his love of vehicles in any way. Honda Accord I-VTEC, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes 2012 Compressor, BMW X6, Hyundai Sonata, Bentley, and Porsche Panamera are among the exotic cars he owns.

In 2013, Wizkid acquired a property in Lekki, Nigeria for an alleged 68 million naira .

In 2016, he bought a house in Los Angeles, California reportedly worth between $10M – $15M. The house is a Victorian-style three-story building.

In 2020, Wizkid bought a mansion in the UK worth £2.6M. He also has a swanky property in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria where he was born, which is reported to have cost him 36 million naira.

Booking Price

In a post released by Kenyan Journalist, Sinda, Wizkid charges a million dollars ($1M) for a show.

Wizkid - 9-5 (Jam Session) ft. The Cavemen.

Wizkid - Money & Love (Official Music Video)

Wizkid - Flower Pads (Official Lyric Video)

Wizkid - 2 Sugar (feat. Ayra Starr) (Official Video)

Wizkid - Flower Pads (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Balance (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Slip N Slide (feat. Skillibeng & Shenseaa) [Official Audio]

Wizkid - Pressure (Official Audio)

Wizkid - 2 Sugar (feat. Ayra Starr) (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Money & Love (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Frames (Who's Gonna Know) [Official Audio]

Wizkid - Special (feat. Don Toliver) [Official Audio]

Wizkid - Everyday (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Plenty Loving (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Wow (feat. Skepta & Naira Marley) [Official Audio]

Wizkid - Deep (Official Audio)

Wizkid - Money & Love (Visualizer)

Wizkid - Bad To Me (Official Video)

Wizkid - Bad To Me (Official Audio)

Wizkid - True Love (Official Video) ft. Tay Iwar, Projexx

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Who is Wizkid? Age, Biography and Awards of the Star Musician

Wizkid (born 16 July 1990), whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, is a Nigerian songwriter and singer and one of the most famous Nigerian artists, who is probably one of the youngest too. The 33-year-old singer is also one of the richest musicians in Nigeria and Africa.

Wizkid started his singing career at the age of 11 and became a force to reckon with in the music scene in no time. To crown his talent and contribution to the music scene, he has been honored with several national and international awards.

Starboy, as he is also called, started his career from scratch and built it to where he is today. Let’s take a tour of his rise to fame and the awards he has won so far. We will also compare him to his co-star Davido to see who is more successful and more liked.

Wizkid’s Biography and Profile Summary

• Full name:  Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
• Nickname:  Wizkid, Starboy, Lil Prinz, Wizzy, Big Wiz, Baba Nla, Daddy Yo, Eleniyan, Machala
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth:  16th July 1990
• Wizkid’s Age: 33 years old
• Ethnicity:  Yoruba
• Nationality:  Nigerian
• Zodiac Sign:  Cancer
• Sexual Orientation:  Heterosexual (straight)
• Religion:  Christian
• Education:  Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State
• Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Businessman
• Marital Status:  Single
• Wizkid’s Children: 3- Zion Ayo-Balogun, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Jnr., and Boluwatife Balogun
• Wizkid’s Parents: Alhaji Muniru Olatunji Balogun and Mrs. Jane Dolapo Balogun
• Siblings:  12, including Yetunte Awoniyi, Lade Balogun
• Wizkid’s Height in Inches:  5 feet, 4 inches
• Wizkid’s Height in Centimetres: 162.5cm
• Wizkid’s Weight: 65kg
• Wizkid’s Net worth: $30 million
• Famous for:  Holla At Your Boy, Azonto, Essence, Brown Skin Girl, Ojuelegba, Love My Baby, On Top Your Matter
• Wizkid’s Instagram:  wizkidayo
• Twitter:  @wizkidayo
• Facebook:  @Wizkid

How Old is Wizkid?

Wizkid is 33 years old in 2023. Starboy was born into a polygamous family on 16th July 1990. He is from an interfaith family where his father is a Muslim while his mother is a Christian. From his mother, he is the last child and has many sisters. The celebrity was born and raised in Surulere, Lagos State, where he lived with his family. There are conflicting opinions about his state of origin; while some say he is from Ogun State, others say Lagos. The truth about this has not been revealed by the star.

The 33-year-old Afropop king is among the youngest singers who reached their height of fame at a very young age. What many singers can only dream of, Wizkid achieved early in life. His song reflects the environment where he was born and brought up. One of his albums is titled Made in Lagos, which shows how much he cherishes the environment he grew up in.

He Dropped Out of School to Concentrate on His Music Career

The ace musician attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. For his university education, he first got admission into Lagos State University but dropped out. He later gained admission into Lead City University, Oyo State. However, he dropped out after two academic sessions to pursue his musical career.

It is important to note that Wizkid started singing at 11 in his church choir and continued while still a student. He interrupted his education for his music career. Big Wiz says that he is glad he did so and will be pleased to continue his education in the future because education is essential. He made his choice while still a teenager, which greatly favored him. At such a young age, he has made a name, money, and fame for himself. And he may decide to go back to school or not.

Wizkid Started Singing in His Church Choir

Coming from the kind of home he has, every child has the right to choose the religion they want. Because his mother is a Christian, she took her children to church. Wizzy joined the church choir as a young boy because of his love for music. When he was 11 years old, he formed a group with some of his church friends called Glorious Five, under which he released his first song, a collaborative album.

Wizkid Was Shot into the Spotlight in 2009

Before he finally adopted the stage name Wizkid, he went by other names such as Lil Prinz. When he was using the name Lil Prinz, Wizkid recorded an album with seven tracks. He recorded many other songs but couldn’t break through the music industry. It must have been disappointing, but he never gave up. With determination, Starboy got his big break and became famous.

He came into the limelight in the music industry in 2009. At the time, he collaborated with M.I. Abaga , who was already a big fish in the industry. They produced the award-winning song titled “Fast Money.” This song did not only get many nominations and awards, but it also received massive airplay in Nigeria and internationally. This song brought Wizkid to the spotlight and left the fans wanting more.

Having gained ground in the music scene, Wizkid released his first hit single, “Holla at Your Boy,” in 2010. This song earned him many awards and nominations, and from then, he has continued to be in the spotlight. With this, he released more songs which have contributed to his rise to fame and continual relevance in the industry. Some of the songs that contributed to his fame are “Tease Me/Bad Guys” (2010), “Don’t Dull” (2010), “Brown Skin Girl” (2019), “Holla At Your Boy” (2011), “Azonto” (2013), “Caro” (2014), “Love My Baby” (2011), etc. His albums Superstar, Ayo,  and others all added to his rise to fame.

List of Wizkid’s Songs and Albums

Wizkid has many songs and albums to his name. In less than 13 years in the music industry, he has released four albums, an EP, 33 music videos, 53 singles, including those he featured in, six cameo appearances, and 44 promotional singles. Here’s a list of some of his most famous songs and albums.

Who Has Wizkid Collaborated With?

Ever since his breakthrough in the music scene, Starboy’s music career has been on the rise, and he has been privileged to work with famous artists both locally and internationally. In the Nigerian music industry, Wizkid has collaborated with Naeto C , 2Face Idibia , Banky W , Don Jazzy , Wale, Olamide , Phyno , Femi Kuti , Seyi Shay , and many others. In the international scene, Wizkid has collaborated with artists like Drake, French Montana, Chris Brown, Kranium, Trey Songz, Skepta, Beyonce, and Ty Dolla $ign, among others.

In a more recent international collaboration, Wizkid was featured in Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl, which earned him so many national and international awards, including his first Grammy Award. With that song, he expanded his boundaries to include more international fans and partners. With the height he has attained in the music industry, it will be difficult for him to be out of the spotlight anytime soon.

Some of His Most Outstanding Achievements

In about 13 years of active contribution to the music industry, Starboy can boast of many achievements. He started at a young age and has achieved what many musicians like him can only dream of. Here’s a list of some of his notable achievements.

Starboy Has Received Several Awards and Recognition 

Here’s a list of some of the awards he has won so far.

• Best New Male Artist in the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards
• Musician of the Year (Male) in the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards
• HER Award in the 2020 BET Awards
• Best International Africa Act in the 2017 BET Awards
• Best International Act Africa in the 2012 BET Awards
• Most Gifted Duo/Group or Featuring award in the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards
• Most Gifted Video of the Year award in the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards
• Artist of the Year in the 2016 Ghana Music Awards
• African Artiste of the Year in the 2012 Ghana Music Awards
• Best African Act in the 2020 MOBO Awards
• Best International Act in the 2017 MOBO Awards
• Viewer’s Choice Awards and Artist of the Year in 2020 The Headies Awards
• Best R&B/Pop Album, Best Collabo, Viewer’s Choice Awards, and the Best Music Video in 2018 The Headies Awards
• Top R&B Collaboration, Top R&B Song, and Top Streaming Song in the 2016 Billboard Music Awards
• Hottest Single of the Year and Male Artist of the Year in the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
• Hottest Single of the Year in the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
• Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year and Best Album of the Year in the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
• Best African Act in the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards
• Best Worldwide Act in the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards
• Best Music Video (“Brown Skin Girl”) in the 2021 Grammy Awards
• Musician of the Year in the 2012 Future Awards
• Best Music Video (“Brown Skin Girl”) in the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards
• Canadian Single of the Year (“One Dance”) in the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Video Awards
• Digital Artist of the Year in the 2017 SoundCity MVP Awards
• Artist of the Year in the 2011 Dynamix All Youth Awards
• Promising Artiste of the Year in the 2010 Dynamix All Youth Awards
• Best Male Artist, Album of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Video, and Song of the Year in the 2021 African Entertainment Awards USA
• Song of the Year, Best West African Artiste, Artiste of the Year in the 2017 AFRIMA awards

Who Is More Successful Between  Wizkid and Davido?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Davidowizkidmedia (@davidowizkidmedia)

In the Nigerian and African music industry, Wizkid and Davido are ranked close to each other in terms of fame, achievements, and likes from fans. In terms of their age, Wizkid is two years older than Davido. Both started singing at a young age, but Wizkid came into the music industry before Davido. They have both contributed immensely to the music industry, and they are famous not only in Nigeria but in Africa and the world at large.

In terms of awards, Wizkid has received more awards than his counterpart Davido. In the 2017 BET award for the Best International Act (African category), both artists were nominated for the award, but Wizkid won the award. However, Davido won several other awards over Wizkid; nevertheless, Wizkid has more Awards. Wizkid has also won the Grammy Award, an edge he has over Davido.

Coming to their fans and how much they are liked, here’s a rundown on their social media followers.

• Wizkid has over 7.2 million Facebook followers, 13.8 million Instagram followers, and 9.1 million followers on Twitter.
• Davido has over 22.6 million Instagram followers, 7.2 million Facebook followers, and 10 million followers on Twitter.

With these statistics, it is clear that Davido has more followers on Instagram and Facebook, thereby making him one of the most followed African artists. While some show their love for the artists by identifying with them on their social media pages, we should know that some others will like to love them anonymously, while others who love them are not on social media.

Both artists are successful in their own rights. Aside from singing, both own record labels and other businesses that add more money to their already fat pockets. They are from different family backgrounds, one rich and the other poor, but they have achieved their present status through their efforts and determination. With this, we can say that Wizkid and Davido are both successful, and it may be difficult to establish who is more successful.

How Much Does Wizkid Charge Per Show?

Wizkid charges between $800K to $1 million per show. This makes him one of the most expensive Nigerian musicians to hire for a public performance. Others that fall in this category include Burna Boy – $1 million, Davido – $500K, Olamide – $500k, Rema – $200k, and Tiwa Savage – $1000K.

Mind you, asides the outright payment of his performance fees, you also have to book flights for Wizkid and his entourage as well as rent hote accommodations for them. You also have to pay daily performance charges running into hundreds of dollars.

Besides His Career, Wizkid Has 3 Children and Is Still Single

Wizkid is indeed the ladies’ man as he has been linked with so many ladies since his music career began. He was first rumored to be involved with Sophie Rammal and then Sola Ogudugu, with whom he has a child. He has also been linked with the following ladies: Tiwa Savage , Tonto Dikeh , Temilaade Opeyemi (Tems), Victoria Kimani, Hudah Monroe, Binta Diamond Diallo, Seyi Shay, Justine Skye, Chidinma Ekile , and Tania Omotayo.

However, the singer has never been engaged and has never been married. He currently has three children, all boys, from three different women. The children are Zion Ayo-Balogun, born in 2017 by Jada Pollock ; Boluwatife Balogun, born in 2011 by Shola Ogudu; and Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Jnr., born in 2016 by Binta Dallo. He features his sons in his music videos and spends quality time with them.

FAQs about Wizkid 

Who is wizkid.

Wizkid is a popular Nigeria afro-beats musician. He has dropped numerous hit tracks and has won many awards including a Grammy award.

How Tall is Wizkid?

Wizkid is 5 feet 4 inches or 1.63 m tall.The Nigerian musician is shorter than the average height of Nigerian men which is put at 5 feet 7 inches or 170 cm.

What is Wizkid’s Net Worth?

Wizkid’s net worth is $4 million. He acquired this from record sales, streaing revenue, endorsement deals, performance fees etc.

Is Wizkid Married?

Wizkid is not married but he is in a relationship with Jada Pollock, his music manager.

How May Children Does Wizkid Have?

Wizkid has four children, all sons, and they are Boluwatife Balogun (born 2011), Ayodeji (2016), Zion Balogun (2017), and unnamed fourth son (born 2022).

Who are Wizkid’s Baby Mamas?

Wizkid’s baby mama’s are Oluwanisola Ogudu (Boluwatife’s mother), Binta Diallo (Ayodeji’s mother), and Jada Pollock (mom of his 3rd and 4th sons), who is his current partner.

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