South African rapper Nasty C has once again highlighted the global influence of Nigerian superstar Wizkid, crediting him for helping push African music further into the international spotlight.
Speaking during a podcast interview, Nasty C reflected on how Wizkid’s 2016 feature on the smash hit “One Dance” with Canadian rapper Drake marked a major shift for African artists. According to him, the collaboration didn’t just perform well globally — it changed how African music was viewed and consumed around the world.
He explained that after the song’s success, Afrobeats began to gain even more commercial recognition, opening new opportunities for African artists across different markets. Nasty C noted that the impact went beyond streaming numbers and fame, as it also influenced career decisions within the industry.
He further shared that during interviews in Nigeria and Ghana, he was told that some rappers even began moving away from hip-hop into Afrobeats, drawn by how profitable and fast-growing the genre had become following that global moment.
“Wizkid and Drake collaboration on ‘One Dance’ opened the door for African artists. After the collaboration, African music received a significant boost. During some of my interviews in Nigeria and Ghana, the hosts told me that some rappers were even switching to Afrobeats because of how lucrative it has become after Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake,” he said.
For many, that era remains a turning point that helped cement Afrobeats as a global force rather than a regional sound, with ripple effects still visible in today’s music industry.
Nasty c-Wizkid Influenced Growth of African Stars
