His birth name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun but he is widely known by his stage name #Wizkid. But he prefers to be called the “Star boy” taken from the name of his record label “Star Boy Entertainment”
Indeed, the name “Star Boy” is clearly working for him. He is not only a talented local superstar but also an international one. He is one of the few musicians in the country that his star is glimmering not only in Nigeria, Africa, and America but in all the continents in the world.
Just like how glaring it is when a star appears in the sky, so also is Wizkid, he can’t be unnoticed. He is exceptionally tremendous.
Star boy is full of charm and vigor. He is dapper, he has got poise and is driven which has over time earned him fame and wealth in the music industry.
What stands Wizkid out is that he is nothing like his colleagues who announce each of their expensive purchases- cars, money, houses even girlfriends/boyfriends self on social media. Star boy is one of those few musicians that quietly do things and doesn’t rant about it.
Wizkid started dominating the music industry right after he dropped the song “Holla at your boy” off his first album titled “Superstar” under Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) record label owned by Banky W. The song won him the coveted “Next Rated Award” at the 2011 edition of “The Headies”. The award came with a 2012 Hyundai Sonata.
More about Balogun Ibrahim Ayodeji (BIA) aka #Wizkid aka #Starboy
“African born, me rep my thing, yo”
Linked to the zodiac sign- Cancer, Wizkid was born on the 16th of July, 1990. He is African born, he is Nigerian born and he doesn’t hide it. He still fuses Yoruba, pidgin, and at times Igbo in some of his songs. He wears African prints in his videos. He also sings using the afrobeat style. He is indeed showing that he is an African.
Wizkid has been singing since age 11 right from his church. He and four other boys formed a group called “Glorious 5” and released an album. He acknowledges Naeto C, OJBJezreel, Ikechukwu, and MI’s efforts in developing his skill.
He dropped out of two different schools Lagos State University (#LASU) and Lead City University (#LCU)while nurturing his music career.
He record label “Star Boy Entertainment” is a home to Maleek Berry, producers like Uzezi Oniko and Okiemute Oniko (Legendary Beatz), recording artist like LAX, Efya, R2Bees, Mr Eazi, Terri, Spotlight and Ceeza Milli. Although, some of the aforementioned people are no longer under his record label.
“We in Miami living la vida loca, ayy”
Wizkid has indeed paid his dues; from all those time he was always hanging around late OJB’s “Point Beat” studio watching 2Baba record his “Grass to Grace” Album and late Sound sultan record his “Jagbajantis” album, to following Banky W to shows as a minor artist, to working tirelessly just to reach his goal; it is, however, his turn now. He is currently wearing the biggest crown in the music industry in terms of fame and wealth.
Wizkid is more successful than those he met in the industry.
So he can afford to live the kind of life he wants to live. His assiduousness and God have fetched him plenty of money. He is exuberant as well as carefree. He is answerable to no one. He smokes cannabis however and whenever he wants, he even dances as he is smoking it. He also loves to take Hennessey as he sang in the song ‘Come closer’ where he featured Drake “Me love my Hennessy straight with no chaser”
“Starboy dey here suh. Came into the game, no one replace me”
For now, Wizkid is the most recognized African artist all over the world. Indeed no one has been able to replace him. View some of his international /Nigerian collaborations below:
Wizkid’s International Collaborations
Come closer ft Drake- 2017, Ojuelegba remix ft Drake, Everytime with Future (2017), In my bed with Akon, African Byad gal ft Chris Brown (2017), Don’t dull remix with Akon, Naughty ride ft Major Lazer (2017), For you ft Akon, Show you the money remix ft Tyga, Checklist with Normani and Calvin, Shabba with Chris Brown, Hoody baby and Section boyz (2016), One for me ft Ty Dolla $ign (2017), Can’t believe with Cranium and Ty Dolla $ign (2017), Wale ft Major Lazer, Shabba with Chrisbrown, Trey songz and French Montanna (2016), One dance with Drake and Kyla, Slow down with R2bees, Tonight with R2bees, Supa with R2bees (2018), Sundown with Rihanna, All for love ft Bucie, Brown Skin Girl (Beyonce ft Wizkid, Saint JHN, Blue Ivy (2019)), Smile by Wizkid ft H.E.R) and so on.
Wizkid’s Nigerian Collaborations
Fake love with Duncan Mighty, Bad energy with Skepta (2018), Molowo noni with Samklef, My love with Wale, Sexy mama with Iyanya, Familiarity with Jayru, Pull Over with Kcee, Omo to shan with Olamide, Kana with Olamide (2018), Nowo wit DJ (2018), Immediately with Mystro (2018), Gucci Snake with Slimcase (2018), Jaiye Jaiye ft Femi Kuti, Roll it remix ft Akon and Banky W, Beat of life with Sarz, Body hot ft Praiz, Medicine remix ft flavor, You don’t know with Justine, Girl with Bracket, Fine lady with Lynxxx, The matter with Maleek Berry, Bad girl with Jesse Jagz, Malo with Tiwa Savage, Olofofo with Iceprince, Caro ft Lax, Essence ft Tems and so on.
“All of my guys know me all about my paper” “Me no let anything come between me and my paper”
That is so true! There is time for everything. When it is time for Wizkid to go for shows and make money, nothing can hinder him, not even all his baby mamas can hold him down. Not even the cannabis or Hennessy can stand in his way.
He was the most booked Nigerian artist in 2018 performing both in and out of Nigeria. He had hundreds of shows, some shows were even clashing with one another and he earned millions of dollars for all the shows.
“Me got me, girls, all around me, me no chaser” “She give me tease and she pleasing my roja”
This is extremely true, however, whether he is no chaser is what I know not. But I certainly know that he is one person women flock around or maybe it is the other way round. He enjoys the company of women a lot. I mean this is pretty obvious as he sings mostly about women, their bodies, and s-x. He talks about women erotically. If he doesn’t talk about a lady and her physique s-x-ally, then it can’t be a Wizkid’s song.
And to those pleasing his “Roja” they now have babies from it and are on the list of his baby mamas. His first baby mama is Sola Ogudugu who has a son (Boluwatife Balogun) for him. What about Tania Omotayo, she pleased his Roja but did not have a baby for him.
Wizkid has two other baby mamas. However, there is just one who has got the keys to his Porsche and rover at the moment; she is Jada Pollock. She has a son for Wizkid by name, Zion Ayo Balogun. Jada Pollock is also Wizkid’s manager.
“Starboy call me number one” “Me number one inna my city”
He loved to listen to legends like King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti and Bob Marley while growing up. Wizkid is number one now in the whole of Africa. He is representing Nigeria and Africa well. His feature in Drake’s song- One dance created an opening for him in the international music scene.
“One Dance” by Drake was number one in the top 15 countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and so on. He was graded 5th on Forbes and Channel O’s 2013 list of the top 10 Richest African artists.
Wizkid is the second Nigerian and African musician with the highest number of followers on Instagram; about 14 million followers. Davido has about 23 million followers; he is the African celebrity with the highest number of followers.
Wizkid is also the first Afrobeat artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records for his contribution to Drake’s song “One dance.”
He is the first African artist to model for Dolce and Gabbana with his “Starboy” logo along with Model-Naomi Campbell. Perhaps, the reason he was the model’s date in 2018.
Wizkid also has a day named after him in Minnesota, United States. The Governor of Minnesota set aside October 6th as “Wizkid Day.”
He was formally an MTN ambassador but he is now with Glo. He is also one of the Pepsi Ambassadors. He has several awards from Bet Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartTadio Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Award, MTV Africa Music Awards, SoundCity MVP awards, MOBO Awards, Headies Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards, Nigerian Entertainment Awards, Ghana Music Awards, Dynamix All Youth Awards, City People Entertainment Awards, Future Awards and so on.
Now you tell me, what other qualification does he need to be referred to as Number 1?
“When my tune drop, the girls dey bounce along”
This is so true. Since his foyer into the music industry, he has dropped hot tunes that have got not only the ladies bouncing along but the male gender as well. View some of those banging songs below…
Superstar 2011 Album
Don’t dull, Pakurumo, Love my baby, Wiz party, Slow whine ft Banky W, Holla at your boy, Tease me/bad guys, Oluwa lo ni, Wad up ft D’Prince, Say my name, No lele, Scatter the floor, Gidi Girl, EME Boyz (Ft Skales and Banky W), What you wanna do, For me ft Wande Coal, Shout out
Empire Mates State of Mind 2012 Album
Dance for me, Sun mo mi, Ko mo le, Change, Baddest Boy, Get down tonight, Don’t delay me,
Ayo 2014 Album
Ayo, Jaiye Jaiye , On top your matter, One question, Bombay, Show you the money, Others include- Expensive shit, In my bed, Eledumare, Kind love, Caro, Mummy mi, Ojuelegba, Azonto, Baba Nla, Final, Expensive shit, Picture perfect, Wine to the top, Ghetto youth, Sexy, nobody,
Odoo, Yapa, Drop, Beat of life, Pussy, Wonder
Sounds from the other side 2017 Album
Come closer ft Drake, Manya, African Byad gal ft Chris Brown, Daddy Yo, Naughty ride ft Major Lazer, Dirty Wine, Sweet love, Final (Baba Nla), My love ft Dua Lipa,
2018 Singles
Soco, Fake love with Duncan Mighty, Fever, Gucci Snake with Slimcase, Commando, Master groove, Lagos Vibes, Baba Nla.
Made in Lagos 2020 Album
Reckless, Ginger ft Burnabboy, Longtime ft Skepta, Mighty Wine, Blessed ft Damian Marley, Smile ft H.E.R, Piece of Me ft Ella Mai, No Stress, True Love ft Projexx and Tay Iwar, Sweet One, Essence ft Tems, Roma ft Terri, Gyrate, Grace
Star boy has over 100 songs to his name- woh, I did not even know that until today. So @Ogefash Blog, we sing “Wizkid you have got that thing, you know; you have got the talent. You make us sing your songs as well as dance to your songs. Yeah 4x yeah 4x keep coming closer. We pray that you keep soaring high”
Wizkid has a Net Worth of over $100 million. He has a deal with popular fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger for its “Pass The Mic” campaign. This he revealed on his Instagram page. View his post below:
“I want to “Pass The Mic” to you. What is making you feel hopeful right now? Send an audio DM to @TommyHilfiger. We are listening #TommyPartner.”
Ogefash Photoblog celebrates Wizkid always. Just like the meaning of your birth name- “Joy” – Your joy shall keep overflowing. Your ola ko le tan (Your wealth is inexhaustible) because Olanlesi (Your wealth is increasing)
References
#wizkid #starboy #starboyentertainment #Drake #Chrisbrown #Akon #Tyga #tommyhilfiger @wizkidsnetworth