A famous American music producer, Swizz Beats disclosed the part he and his ex-wife, Alicia Keys, played in introducing Nigerian Afrobeats singers, Wizkid and Burna Boy to audiences in America.
He made this known on Amazon Music’s Roundtable audiovisual podcast. Swizz Beats stated that at a time when the genre was not yet popular in the US, he was the first to play Wizkid’s songs.
Additionally, he mentioned that he provided Burna Boy with an opportunity to perform in front of an audience in the United States before he gained widespread recognition.
In his words;
“I introduced Wizkid to America. I was the first person to play his song. Me and my wife [Alicia Keys] were on a trip and we danced to his songs.
“I was [also] the first person to bring Burna Boy to the States. I introduced him on the stage. When I was playing Fela Kuti, people thought I was being too African.
“And that how ignorant the energy was at that time. But I didn’t let that stop me from moving what I’m moving because it’s what it’s. It’s about education.
We [Americans] can’t be scared of the educational journey of something that sounds different or feels different,” he stated.