By Rita Okoye

Hailing from Lagos, Wizpec channels the soulful essence of 90s R&B and the vibrant rhythms of Afrobeat into his music.

His 2023 track “Riddim,” featured on his first collaborative album Good Things Take Time, evokes memories of an era dominated by icons like 2baba, Tony Tetuila, and Craig David.

The song’s polished bassline digs into the listener’s core, laying a rich, textured groundwork.

Over this, Wizpec’s voice—strong yet elegant—pours smoothly, reminiscent of a velvety vintage wine savored slowly.

The album Good Things Take Time brims with tracks that hook you in and refuse to let go, a quality that earned it the prestigious Album of the Year award in 2023.

Take “Yawa go dey,” where lush strings weave around a lively, skipping drum pattern. When Wizpec sings “Monalisa,” his tone carries a quiet confidence, like a mantra of self-assurance.

Far from a simple brush-off, the song carves out room for tangled emotions to breathe, its gentle ambiance offering a glimpse into a deeper, introspective world.

Wizpec’s knack for infusing his vocals with precise emotion shines through consistently. His 2020 EP Afrocentric showcases this gift, blending the tender allure of Afrobeat with delicate, airy production.

On the track “Empty,” he shifts the word’s delivery from hesitant murmur to bold embrace across verses, tracing the arc of a fleeting romance. It’s a subtle transformation, but one that reveals his mastery of nuance and feeling.

That vocal prowess takes center stage again in Afrocentric’s lead single “Centric.” Here, Wizpec marries English and Yoruba lyrics, creating a striking contrast.

The earthy, rolling Yoruba syllables brush up against the silkier English phrases, evoking the sensation of a gentle touch trailing along skin. This interplay feels instinctive, a nod to his roots—his grandfather and maternal grandfather were both Yoruba traditional rulers, and as a teen in the early 2000s, he soaked up the sounds of Yoruba tradition.

Those influences echo in his work, shaped further by the late Sound Sultan, a singer-songwriter who championed Wizpec’s ability to straddle dual identities. That endorsement feels earned—Wizpec’s music bridges cultures with an authenticity that’s uniquely his own. His voice carries the weight of heritage while staying firmly planted in the present, a balance that defines his artistry and helped elevate Good Things Take Time to award-winning status.

In 2024, Wizpec dropped a visualizer for his breakout hit “Signs,” amplifying his growing presence. On the lead single, his voice brims with fullness and poise, sliding effortlessly between swagger and laid-back charm. It’s a performance that feels perfectly timed, aligning with his Subterranean show—a moment that seems tailor-made for his ascent, fresh off the heels of his 2023 triumph.

Ultimately, Wizpec’s music is a tapestry of past and present, woven with care and skill. From the nostalgic grooves of “Riddim” to the emotional depth of “Yawa go dey” and the cultural fusion of “Centric,” he crafts songs that linger long after the last note fades. With Good Things Take Time—a project celebrated as the Album of the Year in 2023 at Golden Stars awards—and beyond, he’s proving that his journey—steeped in tradition yet forward-looking—is one worth following.