The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022 - Issue 31

bitemusicceleb Wizkid I n the realm of music, there may be some dis- agreements between personalities. Before his career break, Wizkid, one of Nigeria’s top super- stars, sang in the choir at church and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he formed with his four church friends. In 2009, he signed to Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) and released his solo debut album Superstar two years later. In 2014, he decided to leave the record label after his second EP, Ayo, which caused a rift between him and co-founder Banky W. “In terms of when he stopped being on the label, it was a lack of commu- nication that caused this war,” Banky W told radio presenter Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. “At the time, I think he had started to dream bigger and just wanted to be in control of his own shape, of his own destiny, and there was a lot of chatter going around: people saying this, saying that.” The artist told Banky W he wanted to set up his own outfit. “EME was great for him, and he was grateful, but he wanted to go to the next level, doing it his way,” he revealed. “I said no problem if you want to go, you’ll leave with my blessings, and I will never try and force you or say you must stay with us.” The co-founder said Wizkid was meant to do five albums but had only done two. He reportedly wanted to re- view the terms of his contract, but Banky W refused, which caused animosity between the two. Wizkid maintained creative control with Starboy En- tertainment he founded with producers Maleek Berry, Legendary Beats and LAX in 2013. “I started Starboy Entertainment with my friends,” he said in an Insta- gram Live Session with the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2021. “We literally started it in my living room. We didn't even have much, and I can't remember what we had altogether then. We decided to do a photo- shoot the same day we spoke about it and went for it because we were so determined.” True Love zkid