South African rap star Nasty C has credited Nigerian music sensation Wizkid for helping African music gain worldwide recognition through the global success of the hit song ‘One Dance.’
Speaking during a recent podcast interview, the “Zulu Man With Some Power” rapper said Wizkid’s 2016 collaboration with Canadian superstar Drake played a major role in opening international doors for modern African artists and the Afrobeats genre.
According to Nasty C, the success of ‘One Dance’ significantly boosted the commercial appeal of Afrobeats across Africa and beyond. He revealed that during media appearances in Nigeria and Ghana, several interviewers told him that some rappers began transitioning from hip-hop to Afrobeats due to the genre’s growing profitability after the song’s release.
“Wizkid and Drake’s collaboration on ‘One Dance’ opened the door for African artists. After the collaboration, African music received a significant boost,” he said. “Some hosts in Nigeria and Ghana even mentioned that rappers were switching to Afrobeats because of how lucrative it became.”
Released in 2016, ‘One Dance’ featured Wizkid and British singer Kyla. The chart-topping record blended Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop influences, helping introduce African sounds to a wider global audience.
The song also made history as the first track to surpass one billion streams on Spotify, earning a Guinness World Record and cementing its place as one of the biggest crossover hits in modern music.
Drake previously acknowledged Wizkid’s major contribution to the song, with the Nigerian singer credited as a co-songwriter, co-producer, and performer on the global smash hit.
