News: WIZKID Named ‘MTV Base Artist Of The Month’ For November 2014

Nigerian pop star and chart buster Ayo Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid aka Starboy has been named MTV Base’s Artist Of The Month for November 2014.

To tie in with the release of Wizkid’s brand new album Ayo, urban music authority MTV Base is backing Wizkid with a month of programmes dedicated to his rise and rise.

Wizkid, who started out singing in church in Lagos, at the age of 11, burst onto the music scene in 2010 with the hit “Tease Me”. His debut album Superstar firmly cemented his place in African music’s Afro-Beat pantheon, taking over dance floors and charts throughout Africa, and allowing him to make his first major moves on the international music scene.

In 2012, Wizkid sold out his headlining performance at London’s famed Hammersmith Apollo, before putting in an unforgettable live set at BBC Radio 1Xtra Live.

More recently, he performed at this summer’s London’s Wireless Festival. The recognition Wizkid has received over the past few years from both the industry and public alike has been nothing short of impressive: in 2011, he won the MOBO award for Best African Act, and took home a BET Award in 2012 for Best International Act: Africa.

The star has also notched up 3 nominations for the MTV EMAs, and garnered two nominations for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, for Best Male, and Best Collaboration.

Not one to sit on his laurels, 2014 sees Wizkid busier than ever, collaborating with American rapper Wale on a track called “Drop”, and recording with Ty Dolla $ign, Big Sean, Chris Brown and Rihanna. Tracks from his new album feature Tyga and Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti.

As well as being a recording and performing artist, Wizkid owns his own record label, StarBoy. He recently landed an exciting new management deal with Disturbing London that will help to raise his profile and expose him to an even broader audience in the UK and Europe.

FULL BIOGRAPHYNigerian star Wizkid, who has taken over dancefloors and charts throughout Africa and who is starting to make making major moves internationally, is MTV Base’s Artist Of The Month for November 2014.
Wizkid, who started out singing in church in Lagos, Nigeria as an 11 year old, burst onto the music in 2010 with the hit “Tease Me”, followed by his debut album Superstar in 2011, which cemented his place in African music’s Afrobeats galaxy.

To tie in with the release of Wizkid’s brand new album Ayo ( which means “joy in Yoruba and is also short for his real name, Ayodeji Balogun), urban music authority MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) is backing Wizkid with a month of programming dedicated to his rise and rise.

Wizkid has collaborated with American rapper Wale on a track called ‘Drop’ and features Tyga and Nigerian legend Femi Kuti on Ayo. He has recently been in the studio with Ty Dolla $ign, Big Sean, Chris Brown and Rihanna.

Back in 2012, Wizkid completely sold out his headlining performance at London’s famed Hammersmith Apollo, and then put in an unforgettable live set at BBC Radio 1Xtra Live; he even went on to perform at London’s Wireless Festival earlier this summer. The recognition he’s received over the past few years from both the industry and public alike has been nothing short of impressive / massive?. In 2011, he won a MOBO award for the Best African Act and took home a BET Award prize in 2012 for the Best International Act: Africa. The star also has three nominations for the MTV European Music Awards under his belt.

As well as being a recording and performing artist, Wizkid owns a record company called StarBoy. He recently landed an exciting new management deal with Disturbing London that will help to raise his profile and expose him to an even broader audience in the UK and Europe.

Commented Tim Horwood, Channel Director, MTV Base, “We’ve noticed the connection Wizkid has had with his fans since he exploded on the scene in 2010 with an ability for hit making, and seducing crowds with his epic live shows. It’s been amazing to see how well he’s done in Africa in a relatively short space of time, and it’s even more exciting to see him put the work in that’s resulted in international deals, shows and collaborations. We want to propel him even further by crowning him Artist Of The Month for November.“