A Beginner's Guide to Wizkid's Music: Essential Songs, Eras, and What to Skip
Beginner's Guide to Wizkid's Music: Songs & Eras

A Beginner's Guide to Wizkid's Music: Essential Songs, Eras, and What to Skip

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known worldwide as Wizkid, has evolved from a teenage pop sensation in Nigeria to a cornerstone of Afrobeats on the global stage. Since beginning his career in 2001, his music has transformed from national street anthems like Ginger to international chart dominance with hits such as Essence, Ojuelegba, and Joro. This guide provides newcomers with a comprehensive overview of his musical journey, highlighting essential tracks and key eras.

Key Takeaways

Wizkid's discography, which includes six studio albums, has amassed over 10 billion Spotify streams as of January 2026. Starting his career at age 11, he progressed from a choir singer to a teenage pop star, especially after releasing his debut album Superstar. His evolution spans album-based eras: Superstar, EME/Ayo, Starboy/SFTOS, Made in Lagos, and Morayo, collectively painting a picture of his rise to global phenomenon status. In 2016, he set a Guinness World Record for the first song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify with One Dance.

A Guide to Wizkid's Music Eras

Born and raised in Surulere, a musically inclined suburb of Lagos, Wizkid's talent emerged early. He evolved from church choir performances to recording at local studios, becoming a recording artist at age five with the group Glorious Five before going solo. Signing with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009 marked the start of his professional journey, introducing Afrobeat sounds to a wider audience. Today, he is globally recognized for Billboard-charting albums and international collaborations, such as the 2019 hit Brown Skin Girl with Beyoncé.

The Superstar Era (Early 2010s)

In 2010, Wizkid released his smash hit Holla at Your Boy, followed by his debut album Superstar in 2011, which cemented his status as a teenage pop prodigy. This era spearheaded the rise of Afrobeat as a genre, featuring tracks like:

  • Say My Name
  • No Lele
  • Scatter the Floor
  • Pakurumo
  • Slow Whine

The EME/Ayo Era (Mid-2010s)

In 2013, Wizkid left E.M.E to form his own label, Starboy Entertainment, transitioning from a national to a continental and international star. His second album, Ayo (Joy), released in September 2014, included anthems like Jaiye Jaiye and Ojuelegba. Key songs from this era are:

  • Show You The Money
  • In My Bed
  • Mummy Mi
  • Kilofe
  • Bomba

The Starboy Era (Late 2010s)

This era, also known as the Sounds from the Other Side (SFTOS) era, saw Wizkid's transition to a global star after signing with RCA Records in 2017. His third studio album, Sounds from the Other Side, featured collaborations with artists like Drake and Chris Brown. Notable tracks include:

  • Sweet Love
  • Come Closer
  • Naughty Ride
  • African Bad Gyal
  • Gbese

The Made in Lagos Era (Early 2020s)

From 2020 to 2022, Wizkid released Made in Lagos, which became one of the longest-charting albums on the Billboard World Albums chart. This busy period also included albums like More Love, Less Ego and Soundman Vol. 2. The hit single Essence, featuring Tems and Justin Bieber, peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Songs from this era are:

  • Money & Love
  • Balance
  • 2 Sugar
  • Everyday
  • Blessed

The Morayo Era

For beginners, the Morayo era represents high-quality sound and visual production, with the album Morayo dedicated to his late mother, Juliana Morayo Balogun. Released in November 2024, it features tracks such as:

  • Troubled Mind
  • Bad Girl (featuring Asake)
  • Time
  • Piece of My Heart (featuring Brent Faiyaz)
  • Pray

The Beginner's Playlist — 15 Wizkid Songs You Must Hear First

Wizkid's music blends high-octane Afropop with soulful neo-R&B, often incorporating his native Yoruba language and culture. This playlist offers a starting point to explore his storytelling:

  1. Essence (Made in Lagos, 2020)
  2. One Dance (Made in Lagos, 2016)
  3. Ginger (Made in Lagos, 2020)
  4. Pakurumo (Superstar, 2011)
  5. Holla at Your Boy (Superstar, 2011)
  6. Ojuelegba (Ayo, 2014)
  7. Joro (Ayo, 2019)
  8. Kese (Morayo, 2024)
  9. Bad to Me (More Love, Less Ego, 2022)
  10. Jaiye Jaiye (Ayo, 2024)
  11. Come Closer (Sounds from the Other Side, 2017)
  12. Ginger (Made in Lagos, 2020)
  13. Daddy Yo (Sounds from the Other Side, 2017)
  14. Final (Baba Nla) (2015)
  15. Don't Dull (Superstar, 2011)

Frequently Asked Questions

At what time did Wizkid start music? Wizkid began making music around age 11, singing in church and forming the gospel group Glorious Five, which released their album Lil Prinz in 2001.

Which song is Wizkid's biggest hit? His biggest hit is One Dance, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks in 2016. Essence is his second-highest charting hit, reaching number 9 for 35 weeks.

What are the first 5 songs of Wizkid? His first five notable songs from the Superstar album are Say My Name, No Lele, Scatter the Floor, Pakurumo, and Slow Whine.

Which song did Wizkid and Tems sing together? They collaborated on Essence, one of Nigeria's highest-charting hits on the Billboard Hot 100, nominated for a Grammy Award.

From humble beginnings in Surulere to breaking global charts, Wizkid's music serves as a powerful vehicle for Nigerian and African culture, blending Yoruba heritage with modern sounds to secure his place as a pioneering giant in the industry.