Grammy-Nominated Ayra Starr Opens Up on Wizkid’s Impact on Her Career

Ayra Starr, one of Nigeria’s brightest musical exports has opened up about how working with Afrobeats legend Wizkid helped shape her artistic confidence, as she continues to ride the wave of her second Grammy nomination.

At a special Grammy Museum event in Brooklyn on December 16, 2025, the MAVIN Records star reflected candidly on what she’s learned from the Starboy, describing him as a calm yet commanding presence whose approach to music and life has left a lasting impression.

“Wizkid is a legend — we all know that. He’s a living legend… He made me understand that confidence is not noise,” Ayra Starr told the audience, emphasizing how his relaxed composure and focus deeply influenced her own mindset as an artist.

Ayra Starr’s rise in the Afropop scene has been meteoric since her breakthrough in 2021. Known for hits like “Bloody Samaritan” and “Hot Body,” she has consistently pushed boundaries and connected with international audiences. Her collaborative history with Wizkid began with the duet “2 Sugar” on his More Love, Less Ego project, a track that topped Nigerian charts and highlighted their natural creative synergy.

Their latest collaboration, “Gimme Dat,” earned Ayra her second Grammy nomination, this time in the Best African Music Performance category for the 2026 Grammy Awards. This follows her historic first nomination for “Rush” at the 66th Grammys, a song that also broke streaming records and helped cement her global impact.

Her career momentum extends beyond nomination nods. Ayra Starr was recently named the most-streamed female artist in Nigeria on Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped charts, underscoring her massive fanbase and international reach.