Is Wizkid greater than 2Baba?

Who is the greatest of all time?

Has Wizkid surpassed 2Baba?

This question is borderline blasphemous to many but with the recent Billboard stunting of Wizkid’s single “Essence” featuring Tems, it is a question that needs an answer.

“Essence” has gone from being a fan favourite off Wizkid’s last studio effort ‘Made In Lagos’ to gaining a ubiquitous ‘summer’ presence.

Ojuelegba was a turning point for Wiz. The last time a Wizkid record was this far-reaching culturally was his hometown ode “Ojuelegba.” Just like his collab with Tems, it reverberated from Lagos to London (the Afrobeats cultural exchange highway) and then to America.

For Big Wiz, lightning has struck twice, overseas of all places. His phenomenal ten-year run, blessed by a Billboard placement, now begs the question – is he greater than 2Baba?

2Baba ran the 2000s. 2Baba led his generation in the revitalization of an urban music scene that had crumbled in the 90s and also sparked the dominance of Nigerian music in Africa. His music video was the first to be played on MTV Base when it was launched in 2005.

“African Queen,” a Nigerian music canon, left the shores of Nigeria and landed on the soundtrack of a Hollywood flick. He was the first Nigerian act to win an MTV Europe Music Award and gained impressive co-signs from the likes of Beenie Man and Wyclef Jean.

His first two solo albums, not only mega-successful, are Nigerian pop staples that highlighted the ambition, creativity, and potential of millions of Nigerian youth that had been stifled by the oppressive climate of military dictatorship.

2Baba shattered the ceiling placed on his generation but it also met another glass ceiling. It also had the desire to conquer the world but it didn’t have the means to. There was no streaming then. For 2Baba and co, it was a matter of time. The world wasn’t just ready for West African pop music.

Kanye West tried to introduce it to America with D’banj but it wasn’t the right time and it wasn’t the right artist. Psquare enlisted Rick Ross to help gain access into North America but the song did more here than over there.

Then, Wizkid took over from 2face. Rightly so, the Wizkid generation has picked up from the 2Baba generation and taken Afrobeats boldly where no man has taken it before.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the successful baton exchange between 2Baba and Wizkid – the GOATS of their respective generations.

It’s a continuum and not the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. 2Baba went to space and Wizkid walked on the moon. It will be the mandate of another generation to build a colony on Mars.

There can only be generational GOATS but an overall GOAT is just for hype, publicity, and barbershop talk. It doesn’t really matter if you say it’s Wizkid or it’s 2Baba, they’re both legends.

What are your thoughts? Let’s hear from you.

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