Wizkid’s unofficial song of the summer, “Essence,” has made its way to the U.S. Billboard Top 10, making history as the first-ever Nigerian song to do so. Playing at every brunch party, summer cookout, and on TikTok videos for months, the Afrobeat hit featuring Tems has hypnotized us with a contagious hook that has been the soundtrack to our lives.
Originally, the song, which is sitting at the number 10 spot on the list, was released in Oct. 2020 as part of WizKid’s Made In Lagos album rollout. It was later brought back to life in 2021. In August, “Peaches” singer Justin Bieber added his vocals to the summer Afrobeat anthem, intertwining with Wiz’s verses and Tems’ sultry crooning.
While this historic accomplishment is Wizkid’s second hit on the Billboard chart, his first being featured on Drake’s “One Dance,” this marks his first top 10 single as a solo artist. It’s evident that the song’s success was supported and born in the Black community. Still, the success of the music transcends all audiences.
