There’s a certain kind of confidence you can’t fake. The type that doesn’t need to shout, doesn’t need to over-explain, and definitely doesn’t need to chase trends. That’s the energy Wizkid and Asake arrive with on Real Vol. 1, an EP that feels like a clean statement from two artists who understand exactly where they stand in the culture. The project represents a cross-generational meeting between Wizkid’s refined, globally-tested approach and Asake’s explosive, fuji-infused contemporary sound.
The project isn’t a surprise link-up for the timeline. It’s not a desperate attempt at virality either. Real Vol. 1 is intentional, calculated, and grounded in a very specific mood, Lagos nights, loud success, and quiet power. It’s the kind of project that sounds expensive without being flashy, and street without being messy.
Real Vol. 1 EP cover | SUPPLIED
The collaboration itself has roots in authenticity. Asake, then known as Medoo, tweeted his desire to work with Wizkid back in 2015. A decade later, after successful individual features on each other’s albums, have delivered a dedicated project captures something more substantial. On paper Wizkid and Asake are two very different energies. Wizkid is calm, composed, and smooth, he moves like a superstar who doesn’t need to prove anything. Asake is urgency, rhythm, grit, and raw emotion, the kind of artist that makes you feel the street in his voice even when the beat is clean. But on Real Vol. 1, the contrast becomes the point. Wizkid brings the silk. Asake brings the sandpaper. Together, they create something that feels textured and real not just music, but atmosphere.
The best part is neither artist tries to dominate the other. There’s no battle for the spotlight. They both show up with discipline and focus, and the EP benefits from that maturity. It’s not about who outperformed who, it’s about how well the chemistry holds. A testament that when fused with intention, difference can yield amazing art.
One thing Real Vol. 1 gets right immediately is sound selection. Produced primarily by Magicsticks, the architect behind much of Asake’s signature sound, the EP maintains cohesive sonic identity rooted in contemporary Afrobeats. Co-production from 4Tunes on “Turbulence” and L.O.L. on “Iskolodo” adds textural variety without disrupting the project’s flow.
Asake and Wizkid | SUPPLIED
The production leans into lush Afro-fusion aesthetics, incorporating amapiano rhythms, bold brass arrangements, and the spiritual, percussion-heavy storytelling both artists are celebrated for. The drums hit with intention, the bass sits properly, and the melodies leave space for the vocals to breathe. This is the kind of production that understands the difference between noise and impact. Nothing is fighting for attention. Everything is placed where it needs to be, and the
result is an EP that feels smooth enough for international playlists but still rooted in the pulse of home.
Wizkid’s performance here is that of someone who has mastered the art of being effortless. He doesn’t force hooks. He doesn’t over-sing. He just glides. His delivery feels like the soundtrack to someone who already won a long time ago, calm, unbothered, and certain. That’s his strength, he can make a simple line feel like a lifestyle quote without trying too hard. His voice carries status. Even when he’s not doing the most, you still feel him.
Asake, on the other hand, brings that hunger. He doesn’t just sing, he pushes energy through the track. His tone has grit, his melodies have bounce, and his delivery carries that signature urgency that has made him one of the most exciting forces in Afrobeats right now. But what makes Asake stand out on Real Vol. 1 is that he doesn’t overpower the music. He adapts. He knows when to bring the heat and when to let the beat carry him. That balance is what keeps the EP cohesive. It’s growth without losing identity.
Check out “Turbulence”:
Lyrically, Real Vol. 1 is music that speaks to people who understand the hustle but also understand the reward. It doesn’t beg for sympathy. It celebrates progress.
What really makes Real Vol. 1 work is replay value. The EP doesn’t rely on gimmicks. It doesn’t feel like a one-week project. It feels like something you’ll return to because it matches a mood, not a trend. It’s the kind of EP that grows on you, not because it’s confusing, but because it’s layered. Each replay reveals a new pocket in the production, a new vocal moment, a new detail you didn’t catch the first time.
Real Vol. 1 is a clean, confident body of work from two artists who are already at the top and still moving like they have something to prove. Together, they deliver a project that feels like Lagos in luxury mode, real, expensive, and ready for the world.
Words by Zimiso Nyamande
