By Progress Godfrey
On Friday 11 November 2022, Nigeria’s afrobeats sensation, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known by his stage name Wizkid, released his 5th studio album titled: “More Love Less Ego”.
The 13-track album is a careful blend of select musical genres, targeted at giving his fans and lovers of afrobeats around the world, good listening.
Nigerian singer Wizkid had released his 4th studio album “Made In Lagos” on 30 October 2020, which won Album Of The Year award at the 7th annual African Entertainment Awards USA in 2021; Headies 2022 award for Best Afrobeat Pop Album In Nigeria among other notable awards, including nominations at the 64th Grammy Awards.
Among Records set by the made in Lagos album was the “Made in Lagos” 3-day London 02 Arena concert which sold over 48,000 tickets and has been tagged by the host as the show of all time in the arena.
Wizkid’s delivery in album goes to show his continued elevation as the album perfects his universal sound in yet a unique style.
The more love less ego album explores melodic elements from African music into Wizkid’s brand of Afropop; from elements of funky jazz and R&B, to South Africa’s Amapiano, a hybrid of deep house, jazz and lounge music characterized by synths and wide percussive basslines. This surely makes the album African domesticated, despite its international appeal.
The 13-track album features both local and international artistes including Ayra Starr, Skillibeng, Shenseea, Skepta, Naira Marley and Don Toliver to deliver refreshing sounds.
The Journey So Far:
Born 16 July 1990, in Surulere Lagos, Wizkid grew up in an interfaith household with twelve female siblings.
After over a decade of being one of Afrobeats’ go-to hitmakers, Wizkid is continuing to expand his sound with great success.
The self-acclaimed Star Boy and father of four children earned a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) in 2009, a music label owned by Bankole Wellington. This followed his early days with the Glorious Five music group with some of his friends in church. during which time, he met OJB Jezreel, a record producer.
Wizkid watched various Nigerian stars, now legends, who recorded songs that dominated the industry at the time. One of which was the recording of tracks from 2 Face Idibia’s “Grass 2 Grace” album.
To begin his career with EME, Wizkid released “Holla at Your Boy” on 2 January 2010 as a lead track off his 1st studio album which was nominated for Best Pop Single, in 2011 and earned him the Next Rated award at The Headies 2011, same year the “Superstar” album was released.
In 2014, the year Wizkid became the first Nigerian musician to have over one million followers on Twitter, the multiple award-winning starboy released Ayo, his 2nd Studio album which starred Femi Kuti, his former label boss Banky W, Tyga and Akon among others.
After leaving EME, his International recognition became pronounced following his collaboration with Drake on the hit single “One Dance”, which charted number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in 14 additional countries. The song broke multiple records, making Wizkid the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the Guinness World Records.
He went on to sign a multi-album deal with RCA Records; and released his third studio album, “Sounds from the Other Side”, in 2017. The album featured hit tracks like “Come Closer” with Drake.
2019 came in style as he was featured on Beyoncé’s project, “The Lion King: The Gift on the single “Brown Skin Girl”, a song that also peaked at number-one on the World Digital Song Sales chart, and won him a Grammy Award at the 63rd Annual Grammys for Best Music Video.
On the ‘More Love, Less Ego’, his current album, the 32-year-old recently said the title reflects his current state of mind, adding, “Everyone fights with their ego and that’s where I’m.”
“I’m still trying to shed my ego, like everyone else, ” he added.
