Drake and Wizkid share ‘One Dance’

The song’s release was announced by the American on Tuesday 5 April on Twitter, where he wrote: “Drake – One Dance Feat. Wizkid & Kyla now available on iTunes” and attached a link to the online store. The news was greeted with fanfare by fans of the Nigerian singer, from whom a new album has been expected for months.

The Drake feature follows a guest spot on ‘I Just Want to Thank You’, a track off the deluxe version of ‘The Buffet’, the 2015 album from American artist R. Kelly. But where Wizkid gets a verse on the singer’s song, he appears to sing backing vocals for the rapper, a sour point for some fans of the Nigerian. Some comments over social media have implied that an artist as popular and influential as Wizkid deserves better than a backing spot on such an outing. Other comments appear to show that a section of his fams are pleased with the collaboration.

In separate reports it has emerged that ‘One Dance’ was co-produced by South African talent DJ Maphorisa (of popular house act Uhuru), who also recently featured Wizkid on his single ‘Soweto Baby’.

‘One Dance’ has been released along with ‘Pop Style’, which features rap greats Jay-Z and former D’Banj associate Kanye West. Both songs are expected to lead to Drake’s fourth album Views from the 6, which arrives later this month.

Listen to ‘One Dance’ exclusively on Apple Music.

In recent times, collaborations between African pop artists and their North American counterparts have risen, with rappers Rick Ross and TI featured on songs by P-Square in recent years, for example. Ghana’s Sarkodie has traded verses with Ace Hood on 2015’s ‘New Guy’, and in the same year Davido featured rapper Meek Mill on ‘Fans Mi’.