South African rapper Nasty C has credited Nigerian music star Wizkid for helping African artists gain wider international recognition through music.
The rapper said Wizkid’s collaboration with Canadian superstar Drake on the hit single One Dance played a major role in pushing Afrobeats to the global stage.
Nasty C Praises Wizkid’s Global Impact
Speaking during a podcast interview, Nasty C said the success of One Dance changed the perception of African music internationally.
According to him, the collaboration opened more opportunities for African artists and increased global interest in Afrobeats.
“Wizkid and Drake collaboration on ‘One Dance’ opened the door for African artists,” he said.
The rapper added that African music became more commercially successful after the song’s release in 2016.
Afrobeats Became More Lucrative
Nasty C explained that the global success of Afrobeats influenced several musicians across Africa.
He noted that some rappers even switched from hip-hop to Afrobeats because of the genre’s growing popularity and financial opportunities.
“Some rappers were even switching to Afrobeats because of how lucrative it became after Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake,” he stated.
The focus keyphrase, Wizkid opened door for African artists, has continued to trend among music fans reacting to the interview online.
‘One Dance’ Broke Global Streaming Record
The song One Dance by Drake featuring Wizkid and British singer Kyla remains one of the biggest global hits linked to Afrobeats.
The track made history as the first song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.
Music industry observers have often described the single as one of the records that introduced Afrobeats to a wider international audience.
Drake also previously acknowledged Wizkid’s major contribution to the song.
Wizkid received credits as a performer, co-songwriter and co-producer on the global hit.
Afrobeats Continues Global Rise
The statement by Nasty C comes at a time when Afrobeats continues to dominate international music charts and streaming platforms.
Several Nigerian artists, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tems and Asake, have gained international recognition through collaborations, tours and award nominations.
Many fans believe Wizkid opened door for African artists by helping create more visibility for the genre worldwide.
