Wizkid has become one of the most popular Afrobeats artists in the world, from his rather humble beginnings to prominence, the evidence is there to show the growth in his sounds and here, we’ll do Machala justice by exploring that development.
Superstar (2011)
‘Superstar’ got the gears turning in Wizkid’s career. The album was a huge success, with records like ‘Holla at Your Boy’ becoming classics. The album featured collaborations with Banky W, Skales and D’Prince, and it helped to establish Wizkid as a rising star in the Nigerian music scene. The album’s sound was heavily influenced by the Afrobeat genre, with a fusion of different styles like R&B, reggae, and hip-hop.
Ayo (2014)
Now he had all eyes on him, so what better way to keep the people going than dropping ‘Ayo’? Wizkid showed his range and influence by getting names like Tyga, Wale, and Akon in this piece. The album was pivotal in getting us soul touchers like ‘Ojuelegba’. The album showcased Wizkid’s versatility as an artist adding elements like dancehall, and hip-hop sounds to his repertoire.
Sounds from the Other Side (2017)
Wizkid wasn’t done experimenting and EDM was an addition to this project with a tinge of reggae. Wizkid showed he could make music that appealed to a global audience while staying true to his African roots, giving secondary school parties wahala with songs like ‘Daddy Yo’, and lovers – sultry vibes with ‘Come Closer’.
Made in Lagos (2020)
Machala struck gold with this one, bagging a Grammy from the critically acclaimed ‘Essence’. Made in Lagos portrayed a more mature and introspective side of Wizkid’s music with themes built around love, loss, and self-reflection.
More Love, Less Ego (2022)
With the standards of Nigerian music already raised so high in recent years, this album brought about much controversy as Wizkid FC refuted the claims that it was really a flat and lazy piece from Machala. The level of expectations for the album was so high leading up to its release that it begs the question of whether anything he put out would be enough. Still, the album isn’t void of its highlights like ‘2 Sugar’ and ‘Bad To Me’.
Wizkid’s growth as an artist holds a paramount role in the development of the Afrobeats culture. His ability to experiment with different sounds and produce quality music is one of the reasons he is at the pinnacle of African music. With each album, he solidified his status as a global superstar and still continues to push the boundaries of Afrobeats; probably why Wizkid FC won’t let us rest every time he drops.
Summing up a day in Solomon's life would include: anime, manga, marvel breakdowns, writing and workout. If he's not doing any of these, he's either listening to indie pop or fan-boying Dominic Fike.
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