“Izz your boy Wizzy.”
That was our official introduction to Wizkid on M.I’s Fast Money Fast Cars. 2008. He was a kid then, different guy.
Fast forward 8 years later. EME, conflicts, back-to-back hits, baby mamas, and Wizkid has gone on to become one of Nigeria’s biggest exports.
Wizkid owned his genre and its fans until 2011.
Enter Davido. Omo Baba Olowo.
Davido, like Wizkid, started dropping hits by the numbers and today, he remains one of our biggest exports.
But this is not about their music, this is about the lives they have built for themselves.
I think life is like Davido and Wizkid, one from the ghetto, the other is a rich kid. – Paedae of R2Bees
Wizkid’s beginnings were humble and sweaty; mostly from trekking endlessly in the Lagos heat.
Davido on the other hand, is famous for using his father’s money to buy up all the time Wizkid spent sweating.
Since then, it has been a constant who-is-at-the-lead? between the two, even as the media fuels the rivalry.
This brings us to this photo which, in 10 years, we shall mostly likely be hailing as iconic.
Wizkid has come a long way as an artist, but his career has been riddled with controversy, mostly stemming from conflict with just about anyone within reach. From Banky W to Skales to Samklef to Saeon to baby mamas to Linda Ikeji.
Davido’s controversial path has been mostly konji related, with a sprinkling or two of intellectual property troubles. But these guys have consistently stayed relevant, every single year.
Here’s what has changed with Wizkid.
When he stepped out of that car with a sly smirk on his face, Bankole should have known that Wizkid was not coming back.
Not much has changed with Davido. Mostly them same crew with a few tweaks here and there. Still the people person he used to be.
Davido is succeeding with an army. Wizkid is succeeding with very thin ranks, changing allies as quickly as he is dropping hits.
Is it working for Davido? Yes. Is it working for Wizkid? Yes. They are both succeeding.
There’s no one way to this thing. Period.
Now, Wizkid and Davido, will both of you come down from your nice cars and release the albums you’ve been promising since last year?
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