Aubrey Drake Graham, or better known as Drake, has revealed the story behind his collaboration with Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Wizkid, that led to the creation of the hit song “One Dance”. In an interview on his independently owned radio station, OVO Sound, the Canadian rapper shared how the song came about and his initial concerns about it.

“One Dance” was released in 2016 as part of Drake’s album “Views”, featuring Wizkid and British singer Kyla Reid. The song’s popularity skyrocketed, eventually earning it a diamond certification in the US in December 2022, a prestigious recognition that signifies the sale of over 10 million copies.

Drake, who is also the owner of OVO frontman, recounted how he met Wizkid through British rapper Skepta and became involved in the remix of Wizkid’s song “Ojuelegba”. After collaborating on the remix, Drake and Wizkid had a conversation about working together on a new project. Drake liked Wizkid’s sound and was impressed with his talent and work ethic. The two exchanged contact information, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The rapper expressed his initial concern about “One Dance,” explaining how he was apprehensive about releasing the song because of its relatively small fan base at the time. He wondered if the song would even receive any attention, but he eventually decided to release it anyway, and the song became a massive success, catapulting Wizkid into global fame.

The success of “One Dance” is a testament to the power of collaboration between artists from different regions and genres. The song blends Afrobeats with pop, creating a unique sound that resonated with audiences worldwide. It also helped to bring Afrobeats music to the forefront of mainstream music, paving the way for other African artists to gain recognition and exposure on a global stage.

Drake’s collaboration with Wizkid has since led to other successful collaborations, including “Come Closer” in 2017 and “Skepta Interlude” in 2018. The two have developed a strong bond, with Drake even referring to Wizkid as his “brother” in interviews.