Posted by Whether it’s collaborating or a simple social media post, a Drake co-sign can go a long way. For Nigerian artist Oxlade, it resulted in millions of streams. During a recent interview with AllHipHop, the Afrobeats artist explained how Drake sharing his song “Away” to his Instagram Stories in November 2020 changed everything.
“It felt special,” he said. “He screenshotted the song on Apple Music and he posted it on his story. Ever since then, it’s been really crazy for me. I had three million streams the next day. Extra, that’s the Drake effect, man. Everybody needs the Drake effect. I obviously hit him up, I thanked him and everything.”
Oxlade is also hopeful of collaborating with Drake after sending a couple of tracks to him.
“Hopefully, we got something,” he revealed. “I’m optimistic. It’s a couple of songs that he’s got.”
Drake just posted oxlade on his story, good to see that real recognize real??? pic.twitter.com/WGGI3zOYhD
— MBAH (@Mbahdeyforyou) November 7, 2020
Outside of Nigeria, Oxlade has plans to achieve “greatness” when it comes to success in America and beyond.
“There’s nothing stopping my music from crossing over,” he said. “There’s nothing too big as a mega hit song or a No. 1 hit record on the Billboard charts that’s an Afrobeats song. It’s not impossible anymore. You see some Afrobeats songs crossing over and doing the most. Anytime I go to any restaurant, studio, or anywhere I go, I hear Afrobeats songs and I feel proud to be Nigerian. I feel proud to come from where that sound comes from.”
Drake & Nigerian Singer Tems Have Another Collaboration Lined Up
He added, “That’s what I wish for, that’s what I’m working towards. I’m trying to collaborate and connect with people, connect with creatives. Make more music, bring different genres together with mine to create new world sounds.”
Drake is no stranger to Nigerian collaborations, having collaborated with WizKid on 2016’s No. 1 single, “One Dance.” Tems was also featured on “Fountains” from his Certified Lover Boy LP, with the pair also set to collaborate for her debut album in 2022.