South African rapper Nasty C has publicly acknowledged the role of Nigerian superstar Wizkid in boosting the international appeal of African music. During a recent podcast appearance, Nasty C highlighted how Wizkid’s 2016 collaboration with Drake on ‘One Dance’ served as a pivotal moment for the genre.
According to Nasty C, the success of ‘One Dance’ opened doors for many African artists, making Afrobeats a highly lucrative field. He noted that in conversations with hosts in Nigeria and Ghana, he learned that some hip-hop artists were even switching to Afrobeats because of the financial opportunities that emerged after Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake.
The track, which also features British singer Kyla, holds a Guinness World Record for being the first song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. Recognized for its blend of Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop, the song is widely credited with bringing global attention to the Afrobeats sound. Drake himself has acknowledged Wizkid’s significant contributions, as the Nigerian artist served as a co-writer, co-producer, and performer on the hit.