South African rapper, Nasty C, has credited Nigerian music star, Wizkid, with helping to open international doors for a new generation of African artists.
The rapper said Wizkid’s collaboration with Canadian superstar, Drake, on the global hit song, One Dance, gave African music a major boost on the world stage.
Nasty C credits Wizkid for Afrobeats’ global rise
Speaking during a podcast interview, Nasty C said the success of One Dance changed how African music was received internationally.
According to him, the collaboration helped create wider global interest in African sounds and gave more visibility to artists from the continent.
“Wizkid and Drake collaboration on One Dance opened the door for African artists,” he said.
He added that after the song became successful, African music started attracting more attention from global audiences, record labels and music platforms.
How One Dance changed the industry
Nasty C said the impact of the collaboration was so strong that some African rappers began moving towards Afrobeats because of how commercially attractive the genre had become.
He said he heard this during some of his interviews in Nigeria and Ghana.
“After the collaboration, African music received a significant boost,” he said.
“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.”
Wizkid’s role in Drake’s One Dance
One Dance, released by Drake in 2016, featured Wizkid and British singer, Kyla.
The song blended Afrobeats, dancehall and pop, becoming one of the biggest global records of that period.
It is widely regarded as one of the songs that helped push Afrobeats further into mainstream international music conversations.
Wizkid was credited as a performer, co-writer and co-producer on the track.
Drake acknowledged Wizkid’s contribution
Drake has also previously acknowledged Wizkid’s contribution to the song.
The collaboration remains one of the major reference points in discussions about how Afrobeats entered the global mainstream.
For Nasty C, Wizkid’s involvement in the record was more than just a feature. It became a turning point for African artists seeking international recognition.
Afrobeats’ global influence continues
Since the success of One Dance, Afrobeats has grown into one of Africa’s biggest cultural exports.
Nigerian stars including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Tems and Asake have continued to push the genre to global audiences.
Nasty C’s comment adds to the long-running conversation about the artists and songs that helped African music break into the international market.
