Many people think that Wizkid is one of the most important artists working in modern African music. He has released a lot of different albums over the years, and each one marks an important part of his career. His musical career starts with the album Superstar, which became a big hit in 2011, and ends with Morayo, which is set to come out in November 2024 and is very much awaited. There are a lot of things that go into ranking Wizkid’s records, such as how popular they were when they came out, how they changed the sound of Afrobeats, and how they affected the genre as a whole. Take a close look at his albums and how his job has changed over time.
Wizkid’s first record, Superstar, was an instant hit with music fans all over the world. When it came out in 2011, it set the stage for the genre’s growth around the world. With hits like “Holla at Your Boy,” “Tease Me,” and “Don’t Dull,” Superstar was a welcome change in Nigerian music. It was the first time Wizkid’s signature mix of Afrobeat rhythms and foreign pop sounds was heard. This style would come to define all of his future work. This record made Wizkid famous all over Nigeria, and it was also the start of Afrobeats’ popularity around the world. Even though it came out more than ten years ago, Superstar is still a classic. Fans love its youthful energy, catchy tunes, and unforgettable hooks.
Wizkid’s second record, Ayo (2014), made him even more well-known in the African music scene. This record came out three years after Superstar and showed how his sound was still changing. Even though it wasn’t as well put together as his later work, Ayo had a lot of hits. “Ojuelegba,” which became a culture anthem, was the most famous. “Ojuelegba” not only showed Wizkid’s Afrobeat background, but it also spoke to people all over the world by telling the story of his struggles and successes. Many people think of this song as an important part of current Nigerian music. Even though Ayo didn’t have as much intellectual cohesion as some of his later works, it still had enough hits to keep him on the rise.
Wizkid’s 2017 album Sounds From The Other Side was a turning point in his career. The record, which had songs with big names like Drake, Chris Brown, and TY Dolla $ign, was a big step toward becoming famous around the world. The album was Wizkid’s effort to reach a larger, more varied audience. It mainly mixed Afrobeats with R&B and pop from around the world. Sounds From The Other Side was a big deal for Wizkid’s popularity around the world, even though it didn’t have the instant effect that some people thought it would in Nigeria. He became known as an artist who can work across cultural and musical lines when songs like “One Dance” with Drake became huge hits. In hindsight, this record was ahead of its time because it set the stage for Afrobeats to become popular all over the world.
The best thing about Wizkid’s work so far is his 2020 album Made in Lagos. People were looking forward to this project a lot, and it lived up to all expectations. Made in Lagos was a great mix of Afrobeats, R&B, reggae, and pop, with a mid-tempo bounce that made it sound unique. The most famous song on the record, “Essence” with Tems, went viral around the world, topping charts everywhere and getting nominated for a Grammy. Made in Lagos wasn’t just a hit in Nigeria; it also made Wizkid famous around the world and put him at the forefront of the Afrobeats trend. Wizkid’s musical maturity was clear in the album’s smooth, mellow vibe and the way it seamlessly blended different styles. Some say it’s one of the most acclaimed records in Nigerian music history, and it still has a big impact on the genre and on music around the world. In many ways, Made in Lagos marked the start of a new era for Wizkid, both as an artist and as an Afrobeats brand representative.
After Made in Lagos’s success, Wizkid’s sixth record, More Love, Less Ego (2022), came out to a lot of excitement. But people had different feelings about the record. It kept the Afrobeats sound with R&B elements that he had worked on in earlier records, but it wasn’t as innovative as Made in Lagos. Some people who heard More Love, Less Ego thought it was too similar to his other music and didn’t add much new to the sound that people already liked. The album had some great songs, like “Flower Pads” and “Frames,” but it didn’t have the same immediate effect as their other work. Wizkid’s More Love, Less Ego still showed that he could make slick and catchy songs, even though it didn’t push the limits of his sound as much as some had hoped.
His most recent work, like the Soundman Vol. 1 and Soundman Vol. 2 EPs, took his mix of Afrobeats, R&B, and pop even further. Most people see these EPs as personal works. Soundman Vol. 1 is a return to his African roots after Sounds From The Other Side. Working with musicians like Blaq Jerzee and Kel P, the EPs showed how he could combine sounds from around the world with his own unique Afrobeats sound. Soundman Vol. 1 and Soundman Vol. 2 were not as important as Wizkid’s full-length records, but they showed that he was still very creative, with a focus on making music that felt real and could be enjoyed by people all over the world.
Fans can’t wait for Wizkid’s new album Morayo to come out in November 2024 and see how he continues to shape the future of Afrobeats. Early singles like “Kese (Dance)” and “Piece of My Heart” with Brent Faiyaz have already started to get people excited, which could mean that Morayo is ready to take his business to the next level. The excitement around this project shows not only how popular Wizkid is, but also how Afrobeats is changing and becoming a bigger part of the world’s music scene.
Looking at Wizkid’s catalog, it’s clear that his musical journey is marked by both a dedication to his African roots and an unquenchable desire to push the limits of pop music around the world. From Superstar’s lively energy to Made in Lagos’s polished, genre-defying sound and his more recent work, Wizkid has always changed while staying true to himself. By putting out better Afrobeats music with each project, he has helped take the style around the world. It’s still unclear whether Morayo will go even further, but one thing is for sure: Wizkid has had a huge impact on the music scenes in Nigeria and around the world.
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