South African rap star Nasty C has given Nigerian superstar Wizkid his flowers, crediting him as a key architect of African music's global breakthrough.

Speaking during a podcast interview, the Zulu Man With Some Power rapper pointed directly to Wizkid's 2016 collaboration with Canadian megastar Drake on "One Dance" as the record that cracked open the international market for modern African artists.

"One Dance" wasn't just a chart-topper; it made music history. Featuring Wizkid and British singer Kyla, the Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop-infused track became the first song ever to hit one billion streams on Spotify, a milestone certified by the Guinness World Records.

It is widely regarded as one of the defining records that introduced Afrobeats to a mainstream global audience.

Notably, Wizkid wasn't simply a featured act. Drake himself acknowledged in an interview that Wizkid contributed significantly to the song, and the credits reflect that Wizkid is listed as co-songwriter, co-producer, and performer.

Nasty C, speaking from first-hand experience, described just how dramatically the collaboration shifted the landscape for African artists everywhere.

"Wizkid and Drake's collaboration on "One Dance" opened the door for African artists. After the collaboration, African music received a significant boost. 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 became after Wizkid's collaboration with Drake," he said.

“Wizkid and Drake collaboration opened the door for African artistes”

- Nasty C pic.twitter.com/hJiNrVr0fv

— BASITO (@itzbasito) May 23, 2026