Nigerian music star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has expressed pride in his first son, Boluwatife Balogun, following the release of the teenager’s debut musical project.
Boluwatife, who now performs under the stage name Champz, released his first extended play titled Champion’s Arrival on Friday, November 8, 2025. The five-track project is available on all major streaming platforms.
When asked about his son’s new venture while attending a New York Knicks basketball game earlier this week, Wizkid said, “We love it, man. He’s my kid, you know.”
In 2015, Wizkid had said in an interview that if his son chose a musical path, he would sign him to his Starboy Entertainment label. “If my son ends up being an artiste, that’s more money for me. I’ll just sign him to Starboy on a lifetime contract,” he said at the time.
Tife, aged 14, said the EP represents his confidence, creativity, and determination to build a global music career. According to him, Champion’s Arrival blends Afro-swing, hip-hop-infused Afrobeats, and Afro-fusion sounds.
Boluwatife began experimenting with music production at the age of nine and started writing songs by ten. He told his mother, Shola Ogudu, that he wanted to become a rapper shortly before his 14th birthday.
In the lead track “Champion Sound,” he raps, “Shoutout to the OGs in the game, but it’s time to pass on the baton to champion.”
The EP’s release generated wide attention online. Within 24 hours, it recorded over one million streams across major platforms and rose to No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Albums chart, making Champz the youngest artist to achieve that milestone in the country.
Industry observers noted that while Boluwatife benefits from his father’s reputation, his debut shows “genuine effort and early talent.”
