The “nepo baby” conversation is always a loaded one, especially when your father is, well, Wizkid. But Boluwatife “Champz” Balogun, the 14-year-old scion of the Afrobeats giant, has officially entered the chat. His five-track debut, Champz’s debut EP Champion’s Arrival, just dropped, and it’s less a test run and more a full-blown statement of intent.
This isn’t just a kid playing in the studio; it’s a focused, 11-minute introduction to a new generational player.
The Sound
For a debut, the project is impressively polished. This isn’t the Afrobeats his father defined. Instead, Champz raps with a crisp UK accent over a blend of Afro-swing and grime, showing a poise far beyond his 14 years. The J Hus comparisons are already flying, and they’re not unfounded. The production is clean, the flows are confident, and the themes are a surprisingly mature mix of ambition, legacy, and youthful storytelling.
The “Tea” and The Talk
Of course, the internet is already ablaze. The “nepo baby” accusations have been flying, a fact Champz himself addresses on the track “Grind,” rapping, “And they was calling me a Nepo, I agree to disagree.”
While some critics are quick to dismiss it, the numbers are impossible to ignore. The EP shot to No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria—making him the youngest ever to do so—and reportedly clocked over a million Spotify streams in its first 24 hours.
The public consensus, however, is… complicated. While many are impressed by the raw talent, others are quick to point out the “sloppy” and “garish” AI-generated album cover. There’s also the heated debate over Wizkid’s involvement. Big Wiz himself has been notably quiet on his main socials, a move many see as deliberate, allowing Champz to stand on his own.
The Generational Shift
Minor gripes aside, the launch is fascinating. We’ve seen musical dynasties before—the Kuti family is the gold standard, with Fela, Femi, Seun, and now Made. But Champion’s Arrival feels different. This is the first true father-son crossover of the modern, global Afrobeats era.
Champz isn’t just following a path; he’s building his own, and he’s using the tools of his generation to do it. The arrival is here, and we’ll be watching.
