With Hot100 top 10 hit (and potential Big Four contender) “Essence,” Wizkid has a global audience listening and is bringing African artists along for the rise.
Wizkid photographed on Oct. 5, 2021 at Poppy in Los Angeles.
Pollock describes his ambition in even grander terms: “He’s a global artist. We never looked at Michael Jackson like, ‘He’s an American artist.’ We looked at him like, ‘He’s a world artist. He makes music for the world.’ And that’s ultimately what Wiz’s vision is — to make music for the world.
Wizkid’s rise was concurrent with that of Afrobeats, though he took it in a more hip-hop-infused direction. He had sharply honed freestyling skills and rapped about taking out girls, wearing designer clothes and hustling out of the hood.
What was once Wizkid’s handicap had become his secret weapon: He had harnessed the power of youth, especially locally. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is also one of the youngest in the world; the United Nations Population Fund approximates 43.3% of the population is under the age of 15.
Still, says Wizkid, he never wanted his name only on the arena’s marquee. “What’s the point of doing it alone?” he asks. “I want to bring my brothers and sisters. I’m always trying to move together, move the culture to the next level.” Before the sold-out 2019 fest began, he made a mission statement that guides him to this day: “Tonight isn’t about Wizkid or Starboy. Tonight is about African music.”It’s one day after Lost in Riddim, and Wizkid and Tems are backstage at L.A.
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