Nigerian rapper and YBNL boss Olamide has clarified that Afrobeats superstar Wizkid began his music career before him, explaining that Wizkid had been active in the industry a year or two earlier.
The statement, made during a recent interview with streamer Azeeez, was aimed at correcting the common misconception that both artists started their careers at the same time.
Fans often link the two because they both rose to nationwide prominence around 2010—Wizkid with the January release Holla at Your Boy and Olamide with the later single Eni Duro. Their parallel rise was further highlighted when both were nominated in the Next Rated category at the 2011 Headies Awards, a contest won by Wizkid.
Olamide told Azeeez, “Wizkid and I didn’t start doing music at the same time. He started a year or two before me; he was already putting out music before I came.” He stressed that his clarification was intended to set the record straight, not to diminish either artist’s achievements.
Earlier records and collaborations support Olamide’s statement. Wizkid, now 35, was featured on rapper M.I Abaga’s track Fast Money/Fast Cars in 2008—well before his mainstream breakthrough—showing he had entered the music scene earlier.
While Wizkid’s early exposure helped establish him as a leading voice in Afrobeats, Olamide’s consistent output and influence in rap and street-pop have made him one of Nigeria’s most prominent homegrown stars.
Despite frequent comparisons, Olamide emphasized his respect for Wizkid and said his comments were solely meant to clarify the timeline of their careers, settling ongoing debates among fans about who came first in the industry.
