Wizkid Biography/Net Worth, Age, & More

Biography

Wizkid or Starboy is the stage name of Nigerian music artist Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, who was born on July 16, 1990. Wizkid is also his professional name. Because of his significant impact on the development of the African continent’s music culture throughout the course of his career, he is regarded as one of the top three Afrobeats performers to originate from the African continent.

Wizkid, who was formerly known by his stage name Lil Prince, became a nationwide hit with the release of the single “Holla At Your Boy.” This track served as the lead single for his first album, Superstar, which topped the charts. He is sometimes referred to by the names Big Wiz or Machala.

The year 2016 was the year that brought him to the attention of people all over the world as he contributed his voice to Drake’s award-winning and internationally successful song “One Dance.”

Made In Lagos, the singer’s and songwriter’s fourth studio album, was launched into the public domain in October of 2020, and ever since then, the project has gone on to collect a number of accolades and establish a variety of records. Made In Lagos was named after the city in which the album was recorded.

The song “Essence,” which was a top single from the album, made history by being the first Nigerian song to rank on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun is a megastar in the Nigerian music industry. He was born on July 16, 1990. His official name is Wizkid, although he is also known as Starboy and Big Wiz. The release of his breakthrough track “Holla At Your Boy” in 2009, after he had signed a recording contract with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E. ), brought him to the attention of the public.

The song that brought him millions of new admirers also served as the impetus for Wizkid to release a string of albums that were financially successful over the previous twelve years.

The success of his most recent album, Made In Lagos, which debuted at number one on the Billboard World Album Chart has brought him praise from critics all around the world.

Essence featuring Tems, which is featured on one of the album’s singles, has broken new ground by being the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Additionally, it was reported in February 2021 that Wizkid has achieved the accolade of being the most-streamed Nigerian artist on Spotify. Wizkid has accumulated over 3.4 billion listens from all of his songs, making him the most-streamed Nigerian artist ever on Spotify.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known by his stage name Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer, rapper, and composer who is 32 years old. His presence in the Nigerian business is seen as a blessing due to the impact he has had there. Wizkid is his stage name.

In the Beginning
On July 16, 1990, Wizkid was welcomed into the world by his parents, Mr. Ibrahim Balogun and Mrs. Jane Dolapo Balogun. Wizkid is known as one of the most successful musicians of all time.

He was brought into a family of mixed religious beliefs; his father was a devout Muslim, while his mother was a devout Christian. He was raised in this environment from birth. His name was given at birth to be Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun by his parents.

He was born and raised in Ogun State, which is located in the South West area of Nigeria. He is the eldest of twelve sisters who are all his siblings, making his family rather huge. He spent his childhood in the Ojuelegba neighborhood of Surulere City in Lagos State, which is known for its high rate of polygamy. His father had three wives, all of whom he is married to.

He spent his formative years in Lagos City, which provided him with exposure to the rich musical culture of Nigeria and assisted in the development of his enthusiasm for the field.

When he was a little child, he frequently went to church with his mother and his other siblings, and he was quite involved in the activities that were related to the choir section of the church that they attended.

By the time he was eleven years old, he had already co-founded a music group called Glorious Five. The band recorded one album before breaking up so that its members could pursue individual careers.

During this time, he was known by his stage name, which was Lil Prinz. His appreciation for music was nourished by listening to the works of music greats such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, and King Sunny Ade.

As he progressed into his teenage years, he started going to the recording studio of the legendary Nigerian producer OJB Jezreel, where he met the more seasoned musician and became familiar with him.

Wizkid had OJB Jezreel as a mentor, and during that time, OJB Jezreel gave him some excellent advice, such as delaying the start of his recording career for a year and using that time to hone his sound. At the age of fifteen, he also came into contact with the rapper Naeto C, and the two of them had a relationship similar to that of a mentor and student.

The discovery of Wizkid by music executive, talent manager, and musician Banky W was an important turning point in the trajectory of Wizkid’s professional life.

On July 16th, 1990, Wizkid entered the world into a household that practiced polygamy. His parents gave him the name Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, which is of Yoruba origin, and he is a member of that tribe. His dad is a follower of Islam, but his mom is a devout Christian who goes to a Pentecostal church in Nigeria. Both of them live in Nigeria.

He spent his entire childhood in the Ojuelegba neighborhood of Surulere, where he was born. Even though he was born in the state of Lagos, he is a native of the state of Ogun.

He was raised as the only son out of a total of twelve siblings, all of whom are female. His grandfather, Mr. Balogun, was a polygamist and had three different wives. In spite of the fact that they were a polygamous family, the Baloguns managed to maintain their peaceful coexistence. And as a result of this, Wizkid was able to pursue his dreams in music without being distracted by the concerns of his family.

Wizkid’s first foray into the world of music came at the tender age of eleven, when he and his close friends established a band that they called Glorious Five. These friends were active members of his church.

Before disbanding, the band worked together on an album that was eventually published to the public. His first stage name, Lil Prinz, was changed to Wizkid in 2006 when he began performing under his current pseudonym.

As Wizkid’s age progressed, he started rubbing shoulders with several notable figures in the music business. First, he was introduced to a renowned music producer by the name of OJB Jezreel, who counseled him not to record any music for the next twelve months but to instead concentrate on developing his songwriting skills.

During this time, he made it a habit to stop by the recording studio owned by OJB Jezreel, which was situated in the same area as him, Ojuelegba. And as a result of this, he was able to observe musicians such as 2baba and Sound Sultan while they recorded songs.

After some time had passed, he became acquainted with the rapper Naeto C, whom he considers to be one of his primary influences inside the profession. When Wizkid’s life crossed paths with Banky W, a singer, talent manager, and CEO of E.M.E Records, he was finally given the opportunity to experience success.

Banky W was immediately brought to Wizkid, where he started honing his sound while collaborating with the younger musician. As a direct consequence of this, Wizkid inked a recording contract with E.M.E recordings in the year 2009.

Education

Wizkid’s wealthy family sent him to top private institutions in Surulere for primary and high school.

In 2009, he dropped out of Lagos State University. Later, he enrolled to Lead City University, Ibadan, and was admitted. He studied for two academic sessions before withdrawing to face music.

The Baloguns paid for their son’s schooling. Wizkid attended private elementary and high schools in Surulere.

After earning his WASC, he entered Lagos State University. After that, he quit school.

Key Take Away

• Full Name: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
• Stage Name: Wizkid
• Born: 16 July 1990 (age 32 years old)
• Place of Birth: Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
• State Of Origin: Lagos State
• Nationality: Nigerian
• Parents: Ibrahim Balogun, Jane Dolapo Balogun
• Children: Boluwatife Balogun, Zion Ayo-Balogun, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Jr.
• Height: 1.62 m
• Siblings: Yetunde Balogun, Lade Balogun
• Girlfriend • Wife: Tonto Dikeh, Seyi Shay, Tiwa Savage, Oluwanisola Ogudugu (ex.), Binta Diallo (ex.), Jada Pollock (curr.), Tems (rum.)
• Occupation: Singer • Songwriter
• Net Worth: $30,000,000

Career
Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment signed Wizkid in 2009. He initially showed his songwriting talent by co-writing Banky W’s track Omoge You Too Much. In 2009, he released his first album’s lead hit, Holla At Your Boy. The song skyrocketed his reputation and won him The Headies’ Next Rated Artist award in 2011.

Tease Me/Bad Guys was published on April 2, 2010. Don’t Dull was released as a Christmas song on December 6, 2010. Superstar, a blend of Afrobeats, Dancehall, R&B, and Reggae, was launched on June 12, 2011 at Eko Hotel and Suites. The album won Best Album of the Year at the 2012 Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

Wizkid toured London with Skales, Shaydee, Banky W, and Niyola after releasing his first album. He also recorded E.M.E’s 2012 compilation album, Empire Mates State Of The Mind.

Wizkid’s second studio album, Ayo, was released in 2014. Femi Kuti, Seyi Shay, Phyno, Tyga, Akon, Wale, Sarz, Shizzi, Legendury Beatz, Dokta Frabz, Maleek Berry, and Spellz contributed to the album’s popularity. In May 2013, Jaiye Jaiye was the album’s lead song. Femi Kuti was on the song.

In October 2013, he released On Top Your Matter. Produced by Del B. After his E.M.E contract expired, he became an independent artist and founded his own label.

Wizkid released Ojuelegba in January 2015, a song about his early career and the obstacles he endured. After signing with RCA in March 2017, he released Sounds From The Other Side in July. The album included Chris Brown’s African Bad Gyal, Expensive Shit, Daddy Yo, Come Closer, and Sweet Love.

Wizkid appeared on Drake’s 2016 smash One Dance. The song helped him acquire international prominence by topping the Billboard Hot 100 list for 10 weeks. The song topped 15 nations’ charts. He became the first Afrobeats musician in the 2018 Guinness World Records thanks to One Dance.

Normani and Calvin Harris contacted Wizkid in 2018 to cooperate. The trio’s track Checklist was a hit that year. The song topped Billboard World Digital Song Sales. Beyoncé’s album The Lion King: The Gift included him in 2019. He appeared in Brown Skin Girl, which won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 2021.

Made In Lagos, his fourth studio album, topped the Billboard World Album Chart in October 2021. Essence, starring Tems, was the first Nigerian song on Billboard Hot 100. The Justin Bieber remix also hit the top ten. In February 2021, he has over 3.4 billion Spotify streams over his oeuvre.

Wizkid began Superstar after signing with E.M.E. Wizkid worked with Masterkraft, Samklef, Shizzi, Jay Sleek, and Q-Beats on the album.

In January 2010, he released the first single. Holla At Your Boy made Wizkid a popular among young Nigerians. The song helped him win The Headies 2011 Next Rated Artiste award.

Tease Me/Bad Guys is Wizkid’s second album single. This song was a hit like his first. Don’t Dull became the December club jam and party tune. Superstar’s premiere party was hosted at Eko Hotel and Suites on June 12, 2011. 2012 Headies Album of the Year nominee.

Wizkid released Empire Mates State Of The Mind in 2012 alongside Shaydee, Niyola, Skales, and Banky W. After the album’s release, he and other E.M.E performers toured the U.S.

His sophomore album, Ayo, went well commercially after two years in the studio. Jaiye Jaiye is the album’s lead track, released May 2, 2013. The song featured Femi Kuti. On Top Your Matter is the second single from the album. Again, he worked with Del B.

He departed E.M.E records when his five-year contract expired. He founded Starboy Entertainment instead. Wizkid reportedly had contract concerns with E.M.E. management before departing. This was his motive for quitting E.M.E. mansion in February 2013. Legendury Beatz and Maleek Berry were signed to Starboy Entertainment.

Wizkid published Ojuelegba in January 2015, which detailed his early tribulations. After being featured on Drake’s One Dance, he was recognized on Billboard Twitter’s Last 24 Hours chart. By May, Wizkid’s song has hit the Billboard Hot 100 list. Due to One Dance, he’s the first Afrobeats artist in the 2018 Guinness World Records.

RCA Records signed him in March 2017. He published Sounds From The Other Side four months later. Wizkid’s album included Drake, Chris Brown, Sarz, Spellz, Del B, Major Lazer, Ty Dolla Sign, Efya, and DJ Mustard. Before the album, he released Daddy Yo, Sweet Love, and Come Closer.

Beyonce called him in 2019 to work on The Lion King: The Gift album. Brown Skin Girl features his voice. The song won Best Music Video at the Grammys. It won him BET, NACCP, and Soul Train Music Award nominations.

Wizkid released Made In Lagos on October 30, 2020. Essence, one of the album’s hits, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. The record has millions of streams, earning him several nominations. Justin Bieber asked Wizkid to remix Essence after its popularity.

Wizkid was signed by Banky W to Empire Mate Entertainment (EME) in 2009 and came to popularity with “Holla At Your Boy” Due to contract issues, he quit EME and established StarBoy.

Social Media

In 2013, Wizkid was the first Nigerian musician to amass one million Twitter followers.

He presently has over 13,1 million Instagram followers.

Personal Life

Wizkid is currently 31 years old. He is said to be unmarried despite having three attractive sons: Boluwatife Balogun, Ayodeji Balogun, and Zion Balogun. However, rumors have it that the celebrity is dating his manager and the mother of his third child, Zion Balogun. Also, several bloggers have fingered him to be dating Tems.

Despite this, Wizkid dotes on his children, spending time with them anytime he is not in the studio or on tour.

Wizkid is a tremendously successful musician, both financially and musically. He presently divides his time between his Lagos and Accra homes. In addition to having a fleet of opulent automobiles, he also possesses prestigious residences across the world and diversified business ventures.

He is also a music executive, having launched his own music label, Starboy Entertainment, in 2013, under which he signed musicians like Maleek Berry and Legendury Beatz. Starboy Terri, a rapidly ascending vocalist, is now contracted to the company.

He is a Pepsi ambassador, having signed his first contract with the international corporation in 2012. In addition, he has entered into brand collaboration agreements with corporations such as MTN Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and the United Bank Of Africa (UBA).

Currently, he is being handled by Mr. Sunday Are. Additionally, he is known by the aliases Starboy, Machala, Big Wiz, and Big W.

Wizkid is frequently regarded as one of the top three performers in Africa. The last two are Burna Boy and Davido. Wizkid has the largest fan base in Nigeria, who call themselves Wizkid FC. Wizkid is also known by the monikers Starboy, Big Wiz, and Big W.

The 32-year-old singer was born in Lagos. Despite not being married, he has three boys from three separate women. Boluwatife, his first kid, was born in 2011. At the time, he was barely 21 years of age. He spends most of his leisure time with his children on vacation or taking them to beautiful areas.

It is claimed that he is presently seeing his manager, Jada P, who is also the mother of his third kid, Zion Balogun. Additionally, he has a manager named Sunday Are. In 2018, he also announced the signing of the vocalist Terri.

The musician, famed for his unique sartorial sense, owns prestigious residences throughout the globe. He currently divides his time between his residences in Lagos and Ghana.

Wizkid has three children.

Oluwanisola Ogudugu is the mother of Boluwatife Balogun.
Ayodeji Balogun is the offspring of Binta Diallo.
Zion Balogun is Jada Pollock’s son.
Except for Jada Pollock, the three women listed above are his baby moms and ex-girlfriends. Wizkid has also previously dated Tonto Dikeh, Tiwa Savage, and Seyi Shay.

Net Worth
As one of the most influential musicians and music executives in Africa, Wizkid is extremely wealthy. He gets a substantial amount of royalties from his songs and generates money by organizing and performing at concerts across the globe.

The net worth of Wizkid is believed to be $30 million.

Award/Recognition

Wizkid gained official worldwide fame in 2016 when he worked with Drake on “One Dance,” a chart-topping track in many countries, including the United States, for which he is recognized as the songwriter. In addition, he featured Drake on Come Closer.

EPS & Albums

PS: Wizkid’s forthcoming album Made In Lagos was scheduled to be released on October 15, 2020; however, its release was delayed owing to the End SARS protest in Nigeria. Additional albums and projects by Wizkid include;

• Superstar (2011)
• Ayo (2014)
• Sounds from the Other Side (2017)
• Made In Lagos (2020)

Disclaimer: Every Biography and Contents Published on myDelsu are for Knowledge purposes; Nevertheless, Please Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out to Us for Any Corrections, Suggestions, or Copyright Infringement!!

See what others are reading

• Davido Biography: Net Worth, Wife, Age, Siblings and more
• Regina Daniels Biography/Net Worth, Age, Husband and more
• Koji Agudah Biography/Net Worth, Career, Age.