Nigerian music giants Wizkid and Asake sparked heated debates during a December 18, 2025, appearance on the "Close Friends Only" Instagram podcast, openly endorsing artificial intelligence as a tool to elevate creativity rather than replace it, ahead of their joint EP 'REAL (Vol. 1)'. Wizkid recounted discovering an AI artist's cinematic visuals, praising their quality and openness to using AI for music videos or enhancements, stressing, "When we create things with AI, I don’t think it’s advisable to always rely on AI. I think making our own content and enhancing that s*** with AI is the future." Asake echoed enthusiasm, joking, "I love AI. I won't lie. If AI can go perform for me, and they pay the money to my account, I don't mind," while valuing pre-show collaborations with geniuses.
Their comments, clipped by Album Talks on X, divided fans amid AI's 2025 surge Billboard-charting AI tracks, million-dollar deals for virtual artists, and Nigerian hits like Fave's AI-enhanced 'Intentions' with skeptics fearing job losses like those voiced by Dua Lipa and Kelani. Yet Wizkid clarified AI as an augmentor, aligning with majors like Sony and Universal's AI partnerships, as platforms like Suno democratize production. The duo also teased 'MMS' from Asake's 'Lungu Boy,' crediting producer P.Priime and mutual admiration for hit-making chemistry.
This stance positions Afrobeats leaders as forward-thinkers in a polarized landscape, balancing innovation with human essence as labels adapt and artists like Fave collaborate on AI versions. Social media buzz questions if they're "wrong," but their nuance enhance, don't erase signals adaptation over resistance in music's tech evolution.