Nasty C credits Wizkid-Drake 'One Dance' for African music global breakthrough

South African rapper Nasty C has credited Wizkid's 2016 collaboration with Drake, 'One Dance', as the key that opened doors internationally for African artists. Speaking during a podcast interview, he noted that after this collaboration, Afrobeats became significantly more lucrative to the extent some rappers switched from hip-hop to the genre.

The 'One Dance' track, which features Wizkid alongside British singer Kyla, holds the Guinness World Record for the first song to hit a billion streams on Spotify. Wizkid is credited as co-songwriter, co-producer and performer on the song that blends Afrobeats, dancehall and pop.

'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,' Nasty C shared. This collaboration is widely regarded as one of the pivotal moments that brought global attention to Afrobeats and established Drake's acknowledgment of Wizkid's significant contribution to the track's success.

How has Wizkid's global collaborations influenced your perception of African music's international potential?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/25/wizkid-opened-door-for-african-artists-nasty-c/