“I felt it coming” – The shift with Made in Lagos
Speaking to Apple Music, Wizkid reflected on the three-year journey behind Made in Lagos. He said:
“I felt it coming… I’m lying if I didn’t feel it coming because it took me three years to work on that album. I felt there was going to be a shift… it wasn’t a different sound, but it was a more matured sound…”
He described it as a natural evolution: confident in his art, he said, “I was born to do this sh**, man,” signaling a deep-rooted belief in his path to success.
Belief, perseverance & not taking “no” for an answer
In a chat with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Wizkid emphasised resilience as the bedrock of his progress:
“Never to take no for an answer… when I started… I was the youngest… I just never took no for an answer and I was always determined… If I think about anything, I go for it.”
He also underscores adaptability and awareness, stating, “Always be open‑minded, always keep your ears to the ground because you never know where a good business is going to come from.”
Motivation from underestimation
During an Instagram Live with TEFLive, Wizkid admitted that being underestimated by others became fuel:
“I love it when people underestimate me, it fuels me more than anything else in the world.”
Validation through success
Teaming up with P2J on Made in Lagos, Wizkid recalled producer doubts at launch—but his faith was unshaken:
“This is good music. They’re going to f****** love it.”
And indeed, the album’s global accolades—including Apple Music’s “Artist of the Year (Africa)”—confirmed his instincts.
What he’s said, in his own words
“I felt it coming… I’m lying if I didn’t feel it coming because it took me three years… I was born to do this sh**, man.”
“Never to take no for an answer… If I think about anything, I go for it.”
“I love it when people underestimate me, it fuels me more than anything else in the world.”
“Always be open‑minded… you never know where a good business is going to come from.”
CONCLUSION
Wizkid attributes his success to a potent mix of unwavering self-belief, hunger for progress, strategic adaptability, and a finely-tuned internal compass that anticipated his breakout moment. Whether on creative frontiers or business avenues, these principles shaped his journey from Surulere beginnings to global stardom.
