Wizkid’s Son Tife Steps Into the Spotlight, Set to Forge His Own Path
At just fourteen years old, Wizkid’s eldest son, Boluwatife “Tife” Balogun, is making a statement: yes, he’s his father’s child, but no, he’s not riding solely on his legacy. With a recently posted studio video circulating online, Tife reveals a shy but composed presence, dropping confident bars and hinting at a debut rollout distinctly his own.
In the clip shared on his Instagram, Tife stands before the mic, a minimalist beat behind him and a measured cadence ahead. He offers lines such as “Shoutout to the OGs in the game, but it’s time to pass on the baton,” and “I’ve got zero competition,” signalling not only his awareness of the heavy name he carries, but his intention to carve his own lane. The post has already gone viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of likes and thousands of comments across platforms.
Carved in the Family Business, but carving something new
Wizkid has been one of the most successful African artists globally, turning Afrobeat into a worldwide phenomenon. His name is a stamp of influence and industry value. For Tife, growing up in that environment means he’s had early exposure to music, branding, and the limelight. Yet from what we can observe, he’s choosing to go a slightly different route: instead of melodic Afrobeat singing like his father, Tife is leaning into rap, more assertive, sharper in delivery, more in line with the global youth energy of rap and hip-hop than classic Afrobeats.
This difference doesn’t mean disrespect to his dad’s legacy. On the contrary, it suggests an understanding of the platform he has, and a desire to build on it rather than simply rely on it. Tife’s nods in the lyrics (“pass on the baton”) show awareness of the legacy, but he pairs that with “zero competition,” suggesting he intends to compete on his own merits.
While the world will naturally compare Tife to Wizkid, the teenager is not doing this alone. Growing up as the son of a global star provides advantages: access to production resources, industry networks, studios, mentors and marketing muscle. But he appears to be aware that those advantages don’t automatically guarantee success, there’s still talent, authenticity and hard work required.
Youth artists emerging from established families often face a double bind, the benefit of the name recognition and resources, but also the challenge of being compared, dismissed, or written off as riding on the coattails of parent success. Tife’s announcement and teaser suggest he’s aware of both sides, and he seems to be choosing the harder path: original identity over safe imitations.
What we might expect next, an official single release (likely “Champion’s Arrival,” as teased). We could see a strategic build-up: social media clips, behind-the-scenes, maybe collaborations, perhaps a fashion tie-in given Tife’s earlier involvement in his apparel brand (he launched a kids clothing line at age seven). The style, production and rollout of his track will likely lean younger and edgier than his father’s catalog, possibly tapping into rap, trap, or street-infused sounds tempered with the global Afrobeats swag.
Carving a new path is never easy, even with privilege. Tife will need consistent output, authentic voice, resilience to critique, and perhaps most importantly: a connection with the youth audience that sees him as their peer rather than “Wizkid’s son.” On the flip side, having a father who has “been there, done that” offers mentorship that many young artists lack. It gives him a vantage point of experience, and possibly the ability to avoid some pitfalls.
