OJUELEGBA ROYALE, WIZKID

The Ghetto Lord, Wizkid (born as Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun) is a Nigerian recording artist, songwriter and performer.

HIS EARLY LIFE

Ayodeji was born on 16 July, 1990 in Surulere, a residential and commercial area of Lagos state. He comes from a large family and is the youngest of six children. His father has three wives.

THE GENESIS OF THE FIGURE, ‘WIZKID’

Wizkid started singing at the age of 11, releasing a 7 track album entitled Lil Prinz in 2001. During an interview with Adesope of Factory 78 TV, he described his life in a nutshell. He said he formed a group called the Glorious Five with a couple of his church friends. The group dropped an album prior to dismembering. He later met OJB Jezreel, a record producer who prevented him from recording for a year. While visiting Jezreel’s studio frequently, he watched 2 Face Idibia record Grass 2 Grace and watched Sound Sultan record Jagbajantis. A year later, he started recording. His first song featured OJB Jezreel. The song was met with great reception throughout Surulere. At the age of 15, he was mentored by Naeto C. He also told Factory 78 TV that his parents weren’t receptive of his music from the onset.

In order to gain his father’s trust, he had to work hard and spent lots of time in the studio. Wizkid has a great relationship with Banky W. He told Factory 78 TV that he and Banky became friends prior to starting a professional relationship. He co-wrote Banky W’s “Omoge You Too Much”, a song off the The W Experience album. In 2006, he collaborated with Naeto C and Ikechukwu. In 2009, he became a household name within Nigeria’s musical landscape; he was featured on M.I’s “Fast Money, Fast Cars” and Kel’s “Turn by Turn”.

HIS FIRST ALBUM, “SUPERSTAR”

Ayodeji recorded his first album in 2010, tagged “Superstar”. On the 2nd January 2010, he released “Holla at Your Boy” as the album’s lead single. The song won the Next Rated category and was nominated for Best Pop Single at The Headies 2011. The music video for “Holla at Your Boy” was nominated for Most Gifted Newcomer Video at the 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards. The music video was also nominated for Best Afro Pop Video at the 2011 Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA). On 2nd April 2010, the young star boy released “Tease Me/Bad Guys” as the album’s second single; it was initially released as a freestyle. “Don’t Dull”, the album’s third single, was released on 6 December 2010.

I remember those days, we danced and jerked to “Holla at your boy“ all day long. The song was dope, it still is. It was one of his greatest works, and the video? That one was an extreme success for a newcomer in Nigerian music videos. Wizkid is really a talent beyond measure.

The album, recorded in English and Yoruba, was released on 12 June 2011 by Empire Mates Entertainment. It incorporates elements of R&B, Dancehall, and Reggae. Wizkid collaborated with a wide range of music producers, including E-Kelly, Jay Sleek, Shizzi, DJ Klem, Sunny Nweke, Q-Beats and Samklef. The album features guest appearances from Banky W, Skales, D’Prince and Wande Coal. It was initially scheduled for release on 14 February 2011, but was later pushed back. On 12 June 2011, he hosted an album launch party at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites.

The album launch party featured performances from Banky W, Skales, 2face Idibia, Samklef, Wande Coal, D’Prince, Olamide, eLDee, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, Lynxxx, and Seyi Shay. Superstar garnered Best Album of the Year at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and was nominated for Album of the Year at The Headies 2012.

“AYO”, HIS SECOND ALBUM

Work on Wizkid’s second studio album, “Ayo”, began in 2012 and continued through 2014. It features guest appearances from Femi Kuti, Banky W, Seyi Shay, Phyno, Tyga, Akon and Wale. The album’s production was handled by Sarz, Shizzi, Uhuru, Del’B, Dr Frabz, Maleek Berry, Legendury Beatz and Spellz. It was initially titled Chosen. According to MTV Base, the album suffered from a pushed back release date. It was earlier reported that the album would feature Don Jazzy, Efya and Olamide. On 6 September 2014, the Ghetto Lord revealed the album’s cover art and track listing.

He later announced that he would be releasing his second studio album on 12 June 2013. In an interview with HipTv, Banky W revealed the album’s title and commented on the delayed album. In addition, he gave an estimated time-frame for the album’s release.

On 2 May 2013, Wizkid and Starboy Entertainment released the album’s lead single “Jaiye Jaiye” featuring Femi Kuti. He told Showtime Celebrity that he collaborated with Femi Kuti in order to prevent people from depicting him as an artist whose lyrics revolve around girls, cars and materialistic things. “On Top Your Matter” was released as the album’s second single on 26 October 2013; it was produced by Del B. The music video for the single, which was released on 13 February 2014, was shot and directed in South Africa by Sesan.

In July 2014, our Ghetto Lord visited The Beat 99.9 FM studio in Lagos and told Toolz that he collaborated with Barbadian singer Rihanna.

On 5 January 2015, he released the music video for “Ojuelegba“, a song that highlights the struggles he endured in the early years of his recording career.

Ayodeji Balogun toured London in 2012 and performed at the HMV Apollo on 4th June 2012. On 12 November 2012, he performed at the BBC Radio 1Xtra Live 02 Academy in Brixton alongside Trey Songz, Tulisa, Kendrick Lamar and Angel. On 17 October 2013, he performed at the 2013 edition of ‘Felabration’, a yearly concert dedicated to the late Fela Kuti.

On 2nd November 2013, he performed at the Guinness Colorful World of More concert alongside D’banj, Tiwa Savage, P-Square, Davido, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, Olamide and Phyno, among others. The concert took place at the Eko Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites. On 23 November 2013, he performed at the Guinness Big Eruption Concert. He was invited as a special guest for some shows in Tinie Tempah’s tour of the UK in 2014.

HIS PERSONAL LIFE

On 15 June 2013, Wizkid was involved in a non-life-threatening car accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lekki, Lagos. According to an article posted on Silverbird Television, he was hospitalised for a minor concussion resulting from the wreck. According to eyewitness reports compiled by MTV Base, his Porsche Panamera was spotted speeding down the road; the car’s front tires blew out and resulted in the driver of the vehicle losing control and crashing into a road barrier. Eyewitness reports also added that the car’s airbag suspension system deployed on impact, shielding him and the driver instantaneously.

At the time of the incident, he and other passengers in the car were returning from the Soundcity Nokia Lumia Beat Party. The accident allegedly occurred around 3:30am in front of the GET Arena. As a result of the wreck, the car was badly damaged. Pictures of the damaged vehicle surfaced on Instagram and Facebook. Vanguard reported that Wizkid acquired a Porsche Cayenne two weeks after the accident. He posted pictures of his new acquisition onto his Instagram page and tagged the pictures with the caption “#Blessed”.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun has hung out, performed and recorded songs with the likes of Chris Brown, Akon, Wale and Tyga, he also has merited a certain amount of awards best suited for his talents and greatness. In the space of six years he has won;

2010

Dynamix All Youth Awards for Promising Artiste of the Year

2011

• Dynamix All Youth Awards for Artiste of the Year
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Best New Act of theYear
• City People Entertainment Awards for Best New Male Artiste
• The Headies Award for Next Rated

2012

• MOBO Awards for Best African Act
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Best Album of the Year, Best Pop & RnB Artiste of the Year
• BET Awards for Best International Act Africa
• The Headies Award for Artiste of the Year and Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year

2013

• 4Syte TV Music Video Awards for Best Group Video of the Year
• Ghana Music Awards for African Artiste of the Year
• The Future Awards for Musician of the Year
• Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted Video of the Year

2014

• Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Hottest Single of the Year
• Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted Duo/Group or Featuring

All these, one man; FAME is a ladder and I hope that this young artiste will keep climbing till he gets to the top. Ayodeji Balogun is a force to be reckoned with and his exceptional talents are just at its peak.

I’m sure most of us do not know about the awesome “DANCE GO” video for Hennessy Artistry that our boy Wizkid did with the great 2face Idibia (King Tu Baba). In the video 2Face is a king whose daughter is under a spell and seeks for her redemption with promises of wealth to whoever breaks the spell. Here is the video below for your viewing pleasure:

Our Ghetto Lord said,

‘Dance Go’ video is just the perfect blend of the classic and new school… This is the first video featuring just me and the legend, 2Baba… It’s an honor.

It really is an honor and it is one Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun will not forget in a hurry.

Hail the Lord of the Ghetto, Ojuelegba! Hail Surulere’s Finest!! Hail Wizkid!!!

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