Nigerian music mogul Banky W has shared new insights into his early relationship with Grammy-winning artist Wizkid, revealing how he played a pivotal role in shaping the young star’s career. In a video shared online, Banky W discussed the origins of Wizkid’s stage name, his time on Banky’s record label, EME, and the struggles the artist faced before achieving global success.
In the interview, Banky W reflected on Wizkid’s humble beginnings, describing him as a “studio rat” who was determined to make his mark in the music industry despite financial hardships. Banky W explained that at the time, Wizkid was often unable to afford studio time, but he made the most of every opportunity that came his way. “Wizkid for a long time in his life was not fortunate enough to afford or pay for studio time,” Banky W shared. “So he was a studio rat, as he would go to any studio where they would let him hang out.”
The artist explained that Wizkid’s persistence was evident as he would spend hours in studios hoping for a chance to record. “He would hang out all day and just wait, hope, and pray for the end of the day for the engineers and producers to just take pity on him and say, ‘Oya, come, come and record for 15 minutes or 30 minutes,'” Banky W continued. “Because he could not pay for his session, he had to make the most of those precious moments.”
Banky W praised Wizkid’s ability to make music quickly, noting that the young artist’s creative process was unique. According to Banky, Wizkid would often work on hooks and melodies throughout the day, preparing for the opportunity to record. “All day long, he would be working on hooks and melodies and just coming up with things in case he was given the opportunity to jump on the mic for five minutes,” he said. “He did not have time to think about what to write at the moment, so that became his process.”
The name “Wizkid,” as it turns out, was inspired by Wizkid’s exceptional talent for songwriting. Banky W revealed that the “Wiz” in the name came from Wizkid’s ability to write songs incredibly quickly. “The name ‘WIZ’ comes from Wiz being the quickest songwriter I know,” Banky explained. “He would just hear a beat, and the song would be done. He didn’t even write it down; it just came to him because he’s a genius.” Banky credited this natural talent as one of the key reasons why Wizkid was destined for greatness.
Banky W also reflected on the early days of Wizkid’s career, particularly the time when he signed the then-unknown artist to his record label, EME (Empire Mates Entertainment). At that time, Wizkid was still navigating the challenges of the Nigerian music industry, and Banky W’s support proved invaluable. “I saw something special in Wizkid early on, and I just knew he was going to be big,” Banky W said. “He had this hunger and determination that I don’t see in many artists.”
Wizkid eventually left EME and started his own label, Starboy Entertainment, a move that helped solidify his place as one of the most influential African artists of all time.
