5 Nigerian Musicians Who Turned Hit Songs Into Wealth

775

In today’s music world, a hit song isn’t just about topping charts; it’s a golden ticket to wealth. From Afrobeats in Nigeria to pop, hip-hop, and R&B worldwide, artists have shown that one viral song can change everything.

These top musicians who turned hit songs into wealth didn’t just stop at fame. They leveraged their chart success to secure endorsement deals, sell out concerts, invest in businesses, and establish long-term brands. In short, these hits became the foundation of empires.

In this article, we’ll explore the songs that made musicians rich, the stars who made the smartest money moves, and how they migrated from hit songs to riches.

 

5 Musicians Who Got Rich from One Hit

1. 2Baba – “African Queen” (2004)

This song is a symbol of love, empowerment, and African pride. Its message is celebrating the beauty and strength of the African woman. It resonated deeply and became an anthem at weddings, anniversaries, and celebratory events across the globe. “African Queen” was the first mainstream Afrobeats track to receive significant international recognition, most notably featuring on the soundtrack of the 2006 Hollywood blockbuster, Phat Girlz. Its success opened the door for a generation of artists and laid the groundwork for the genre’s explosive global expansion.

The song secured 2Baba international recognition, royalties, and brand deals, helping him build a career that spans over two decades. This is undeniably one of the most iconic songs that boosted Nigerian musicians’ careers.

2. Wizkid – “Ojuelegba” (2014)

“Ojuelegba” wasn’t just a Nigerian hit; the song was about the singer’s hardships as an underground artist who wandered the streets of Ojuelegba (a metropolitan area of Lagos Island) to support his recording ambition. Although Wizkid was already famous with his previous song, “Holla at Your Boy” (2011), this song, “Ojuelegba,” elevated him to international fame, leading to his Sony Music deal, endorsement contracts with Pepsi and Nike, and higher concert fees. The song’s official remix features vocals by Canadian rapper Drake and English grime artist Skepta. It made its premiere on OVO Sound Radio in July 2015 and was ranked 12th on The Fader‘s list of the 107 Best Songs of 2015.

This was one of the songs that boosted Nigerian musicians’ careers, turning Wizkid into a global Afrobeats superstar.

READ MORE:

• Nigerian Musicians with the Biggest Endorsement Deals
• How Touring Contributes to Nigerian Musicians
• 6 Ways Nigerian Musicians Make Their Millions

3. PSquare – “Do Me” (2007) & “Personally” (2013)

These tracks helped PSquare dominate Africa’s music scene for years. “Personally,” even Michael Jackson’s family got their attention because of their dance performances. The duo cashed in with massive concert tours across Africa and Europe, endorsements, and real estate investments.

This hit song created the foundation for them to become one of the wealthiest duos in African music history.

4. Davido – “Fall” (2017)

While several songs contributed to Davido’s success, “Fall” is widely considered the song that made him a global superstar, making history as the longest-charting Nigerian song on the Billboard charts and accumulating hundreds of millions of streams and views. Prior to that, he rose to fame in Nigeria with hits like Dami Duro and Skelewu, establishing himself as a musical force before his international breakthrough with “Fall.” 

“Fall” became one of the most-streamed Afrobeats songs of all time, gaining traction in the U.S. and Europe. The song’s global reach boosted Davido’s performance fees and brand deals with Infinix, Puma, and Martell and solidified his OBO empire. Today, Davido is one of the richest African musicians, and “Fall” remains a defining hit song that turned into wealth.

5. D’banj – “Oliver Twist” (2012)

This song by D’banj directly references Charles Dickens’ novel, where Oliver Twist asks for more gruel. In the song, the artist applies this concept to his romantic desires, expressing a desire for more than one woman. This song broke into the UK charts and exposed D’banj to a global audience. He signed deals with GOOD Music and leveraged the fame for major brand endorsements. This single was produced by Don Jazzy and was released with the support of Kanye West’s GOOD Music label and Mercury Records in the UK. 

The song earned D’banj significant international recognition, debuting at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and helping to spread Afrobeats globally. “Oliver Twist” remains one of the most important blockbuster songs in Afrobeats history.

We have highlighted a few Nigerian Afrobeat stars in this list. The list goes on and on. If you want a comprehensive list of old Naija Afrobeats songs to enjoy and relive those memories and dance steps, anticipate our next article.

Lessons for Upcoming Musicians

• Charge more when you blow: After a hit, raise your show fees. Add VIP tickets, meet-and-greets, limited merchandise, and brand takeovers to increase earnings.
• Pick brand deals that fit you. Don’t grab every cheque. Work with brands that match your style, like how Wizkid and Davido chose fashion and lifestyle partners that made sense.
• Reinvest in real assets. Use your hit money to build things that make more money: a label, an artist incubator, a studio, a catalogue, or a simple clothing line.
• Go global on purpose. Plan shows in diaspora-populated cities (London, Toronto, and New York). One big arena moment can lift your price for a long time.

 

Conclusion: From Hit Songs to Riches

Nigeria’s music scene proves that every year, one breakout track can be the song that makes a musician rich (whoever that is), but only for artists who treat momentum like capital. The top musicians who turned hit songs into wealth didn’t rely on luck, but they secured rights, raised show fees, built brand partnerships that fit their image, and reinvested profits into labels, catalogues, fashion, tech, and touring. Do this, and you’re not just chasing virality, but you’re building a business.

 

FAQs 

1: Which hit song made Wizkid rich?

Although Wizkid was already famous with his previous song “Holla at Your Boy” (2011), his song “Ojuelegba” elevated Wizkid to international fame.

2: Do Nigerian musicians earn more from songs or shows?

Concerts and shows often generate the largest income, but endorsements and royalties contribute to steady wealth.

3: Are TikTok viral songs profitable?

Yes — CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” proves how TikTok can generate streaming revenue and international recognition.