REAL, Vol. 1: Is Wizkid Tapping Into Asake’s Wave?

REAL, Vol. 1: Is Wizkid Tapping Into Asake’s Wave?

Author: ISRAEL OLUWAFEMI MAKANJUOLA January 23, 2026 Duration: 7:03

10,000+ Streams. 116 Countries. One Global Sound.


The Artiste Hangout with Femi Makx is officially trending across 116 countries on Spotify, with Nigeria leading the charge. This isn’t just a numbers game—it’s proof that African stories, sounds, and creative conversations are resonating worldwide.


In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest Afrobeats moments of 2026.


Global superstars Wizkid and Asake dropped their highly anticipated collaborative EP, REAL, Vol. 1, on January 23, 2026, and the culture hasn’t stopped talking. The four-track project fuses Wizkid’s signature Starboy melodies with Asake’s raw street spirituality, log drums, and amapiano-leaning energy.


We break down the full EP experience, highlighting standout tracks like Turbulence, Jogodo, Iskolodo, and Alaye, while unpacking the production mastery led by Magicsticks with contributions from 4Tunes.


The numbers tell a story on their own. REAL, Vol. 1 debuted at #1 on Apple Music Nigeria and the UK, making history as the first African EP to top the UK chart. It’s also hitting #1 across multiple African countries and climbing fast in the US, Canada, Germany, and beyond.


But this conversation goes deeper than charts.


Is Wizkid strategically aligning with Asake at the peak of his street dominance the same way he linked with Burna Boy during the 2020–2021 global breakout? Or is this just organic respect between two kings of different generations? We analyze patterns, intentions, and what this collaboration means for the future of Afrobeats as a global force.


From Nigeria to the world, this episode captures the pulse of culture, music, and influence shaping Africa’s sound today.


Tap in if you haven’t. Stay locked if you have.


The Artiste Hangout with Femi Makx

Conversations. Culture. Creatives shaping Africa’s future.


At Artiste Hangout with Femi Makx, the conversation starts where the music ends. Hosted by music journalist Femi Makx, this isn't a typical interview show; it's a deep, meandering exploration of how the sounds we love are forged. Each episode is built on the premise that a song is never just a song-it's a product of identity, a response to power structures, a spark of creativity shaped by its time. You'll hear long-form, in-depth conversations that deliberately wander, connecting artistic choices to the wider currents of youth culture and social change. The podcast operates from a simple, powerful idea: to examine music not as a passive soundtrack, but as an active, living commentary. This means peeling back the layers of a hit record to find the personal and political stories underneath, or understanding how a specific creative scene reflects broader shifts in society. The analysis is thoughtful and the atmosphere is more like a candid backstage chat than a formal Q&A. It’s for anyone who listens to a track and wonders about the world that made it, who sees the artist as a citizen and their work as a cultural artifact. Tune in for a perspective that treats the creative landscape with the seriousness it deserves, making each episode a hangout that challenges how you hear everything.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Artiste Hangout with Femi Makx
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