Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born July 16, 1990) is a Nigerian recording artist and composer from Lagos, Nigeria, better known by his stage name Wizkid. Wizkid’s life centered around music when he was young, as he used to sing at church. At the age of eleven, music became an obsession, while drawing inspiration from artists such as Bob Marley. Through his newfound talent, Naeto C spotted him and helped in developing his skills.

WizKid release his first studio album, Superstar, on June 12, 2011, with the single “Holla at your boy,” propelling him into the spotlight. He sought collaborations with recognized artists such as Ojb Jezreel, Naeto C, and Banky W on the album. WizKid followed up his sophomore album, Ayo, in September 2014. It depicted more of his Nigerian roots, with music critics generally giving the album mediocre reviews.

On April 5, 2016, WizKid was featured on Drake’s hit single, “One Dance” which took off thanks to its dancehall and afrobeat sound. After the unfavorable reception of his second studio album Ayo, WizKid released Sounds from the Other Side as his third studio album on July 14, 2017, which proved the majority of the critics wrong. The album’s hit single “Come Closer,” boosted the Nigerian star to stardom and garnered him a sizable fan base.

On October 29, 2020, WizKid released his fourth studio album, Made in Lagos. The album’s tracks showcased his versatility while exhibiting his Yoruba nature. Made in Lagos was a great success due to songs like “Essence,” which featured fellow Nigerian singer Tems. The album became the first African album to debut at #1 on the World Album chart.

WizKid celebrated the success of his fourth studio album with a deluxe edition on August 27, 2021, which featured cameos from BNXN fka Buju and Justin Bieber for the remix of the 2019 blockbuster track “Essence.”