dj tunez, wizkid & fola

Biography

DJ Tunez, Wizkid & Fola is a cross‑generational Afrobeats collaboration that unites Nigerian‑American DJ and producer DJ Tunez, global Afrobeats star Wizkid, and fast‑rising Nigerian singer‑songwriter Fola. DJ Tunez (Michael Babatunde Adeyinka), born May 10, 1989 and raised in South Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, honed his craft DJing church and community events before building a reputation on the New York African party circuit.[2] His blend of Afrobeats, dancehall, and house led to his signing with Wizkid’s Starboy Entertainment in 2015, cementing him as one of the key DJs and producers exporting contemporary Nigerian sounds worldwide.[2] Wizkid, already an established superstar and label boss, brought global visibility, melodic direction, and Starboy’s brand power to the partnership.

Fola (Folarin Odunlami), born April 26, 2001 in Ibadan, Oyo State, represents a younger wave of Afrobeats talent.[3] Growing up in a musical household where his father played keyboards and his mother sang in the church choir, he shifted from early ambitions in football to music, posting covers and freestyles online while studying Economics at the University of Lagos.[3] Influenced by Nigerian icons such as 2Baba, Wizkid, Wande Coal, and Naeto C, he developed a fuji‑toned, soulful vocal style over Afrobeat rhythms, later formalizing his career with releases like the EP “What A Feeling” and his debut album “Catharsis.”[3] His studio session with Wizkid and DJ Tunez, arranged through Wizkid’s team after a chance encounter with Davido, produced what Nigerian media described as “one of the biggest records” of 2022–25, marking a turning point in his mainstream rise.[1]

Musically, the DJ Tunez, Wizkid & Fola configuration embodies the evolution of Afrobeats into a global, hybrid sound. DJ Tunez’s club‑tested production sensibility, rooted in Afrobeats and dancehall grooves, meets Wizkid’s sleek Afropop and R&B melodies and Fola’s fuji‑coloured, emotionally driven vocals.[2][3] Their work together extends Wizkid’s Starboy tradition of spotlighting emerging Nigerian voices, while giving Fola a powerful platform and further diversifying DJ Tunez’s catalog of collaborations with leading Afrobeats artists. Though still a relatively new combination, the trio’s session is frequently cited in Nigerian coverage as a career‑defining moment for Fola and an example of how established Afrobeats figures nurture the next generation.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• DJ Tunez started by DJing Christmas parties at his local church in South Brooklyn as a teenager, which gradually evolved into paid gigs for community birthdays and weddings.[2]
• Fola originally wanted to be a professional footballer and spent long hours training before music—nurtured by his parents’ church involvement—pulled him in a different direction.[3]
• Fola first met Davido unexpectedly at a club, and a viral clip of that encounter circulated online just before Wizkid’s team called to invite him to the studio session with DJ Tunez and Wizkid.[1]
• A major studio session with Wizkid and DJ Tunez almost slipped away from Fola because he was in Bristol for an event when the call came; he later rushed back to London to make the session happen, which he describes as life‑changing.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Wizkid - Senior collaborator and label boss figure whose music and co‑sign have strongly shaped both DJ Tunez’s and Fola’s careers; Wizkid signed DJ Tunez to Starboy in 2015 and had already been one of Fola’s major musical influences before they worked together. (Multiple DJ Tunez x Wizkid singles (e.g., “Pami” and other Starboy releases); studio collaboration with Fola described in Nigerian press as a major 2022–25 record.) [2015–present for DJ Tunez; early 2020s–present for Fola.[2][3][1]]
• 2Baba, Wande Coal, Naeto C - Established Nigerian artists whose songwriting, vocal style, and Afropop approach helped shape Fola’s artistic direction; cited collectively as key early influences on his sound. (Referenced broadly in Fola’s biographies rather than tied to single tracks, informing his fuji‑toned, Afro‑R&B blend.) [Formative years through the early 2020s.[3]]

Key Collaborators

• Wizkid - Core creative partner to DJ Tunez via Starboy Entertainment and senior collaborator in the studio session that introduced Fola to a wider audience. (Numerous DJ Tunez & Wizkid releases including “Iskaba” era collaborations and later tracks like “Pami”; joint studio work with Fola on a major 2022–25 single.[2][1]) [2015–present.[2]]
• Wande Coal - Early marquee collaborator for DJ Tunez; their single helped establish DJ Tunez as a frontline Afrobeats producer‑DJ. (“Iskaba,” first released in 2016 and later listed among OkayAfrica’s Best Songs of 2017.[2]) [2016–present.[2]]
• Bella Shmurda - Label boss and collaborator for Fola after signing him to Dangbana Republik, providing structural support, features, and exposure. (“What A Feeling” EP standout track “Who Does That” featuring Bella Shmurda, along with other label‑related collaborations.[3]) [2024–present.[3]]
• Kizz Daniel - High‑profile Afrobeats singer who amplified Fola’s reach through a widely streamed collaboration. (Single “Lost” featuring Kizz Daniel, a key record in Fola’s rise, later included in his 2025 material.[3]) [Mid‑2020s.[3]]

Artists Influenced

• Fola - Emerging artist whose sound and opportunities have been shaped by Wizkid’s influence and DJ Tunez’s collaborative platform; Fola cites Wizkid as a stylistic influence and benefited directly from their studio work together. (Their 2022–25 studio collaboration with DJ Tunez & Wizkid, regarded as a milestone in Fola’s career trajectory.[1][3]) [Early 2020s–present.[1][3]]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia