Nigerian rapper and YBNL boss Olamide has clarified that Wizkid started his music career before him, noting that the Afrobeats superstar had been active in the industry a year or two earlier
Speaking in a recent interview with streamer Azeeez, Olamide sought to correct the widespread belief that both artists began their musical journeys simultaneously.
Fans often associate them because they both gained nationwide attention around 2010—Wizkid with the release of “Holla at Your Boy” in January, and Olamide with “Eni Duro” later that year. Their careers intersected publicly when both were nominated for the Next Rated category at the 2011 Headies Awards, a title eventually claimed 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 aim was simply to set the record straight, not to downplay either artist’s achievements.
Supporting Olamide’s claim, Wizkid, now 35, appeared on rapper M.I Abaga’s track “Fast Money/Fast Cars” in 2008—years before his mainstream breakthrough—showing that he had entered the music scene earlier.
Wizkid’s early exposure helped cement him as a leading figure in Afrobeats, while Olamide’s consistent releases and influence in rap and street-pop have made him one of Nigeria’s most powerful homegrown stars. Despite frequent comparisons, Olamide emphasized his respect for Wizkid and said his remarks were only meant to correct misconceptions about their career timelines.
The clarification aims to settle ongoing debates among fans about who truly started their music journey first.
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