That warm guitar line just slid through the speakers on Hoodz Radio, and the mood in the room changed. That’s Wizkid Smile H.E.R. in rotation: a Lagos star and an R&B voice from the States meeting on a love record that doesn’t need to shout to be heard.

Wizkid Smile H.E.R.: The Story Behind the Song

“Smile” is by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring American R&B singer H.E.R. It was released on July 16, 2020, as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Made in Lagos.

The date matters. The song dropped on Wizkid’s 30th birthday, and he framed it as a gift to the fans. Many of them had expected a full album that day, because of a cryptic tweet from Wizkid. They got “Smile” instead.

Hear that as a statement of intent. Instead of a big announcement, the opening move of the Made in Lagos rollout was a warm, patient love song.

What Is “Smile” About?

It’s a love song, plain and warm. The writing leans on devotion, with a narrator ready to run toward danger just to stay close to the person he loves. We won’t spell out the lines. Press play and let it land.

Wizkid moves his cadence between English and pidgin, which keeps the record rooted in Lagos even as it opens the door wide for listeners everywhere. H.E.R. brings the R&B side, and the two voices sit together easily.

Who Made “Smile”: Credits and Production

The producer is P2J. The beat is guitar-led and reggae-flavored, a reggae-leaning love cut that leaves room for both vocalists. P2J is also the producer behind Afro B’s “Joanna,” GoldLink’s “Zulu Screams” and Beyoncé’s “Water.”

Here’s the full credit sheet:

  • Artist: Wizkid featuring H.E.R.
  • Songwriters: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid), H.E.R., Richard Isong and Emmanuel Isong
  • Producer: P2J
  • Mixing: Leandro “Dro” Hidalgo
  • Mastering: Colin Leonard
  • Engineers: Brendan Morawski and Sam Harper
  • Labels: Starboy Entertainment and RCA Records
  • Runtime: 4:11

Everything on that list works toward one feeling: smooth, unhurried, easy to live inside.

The “Smile” Video

The music video came out on September 24, 2020, directed by Meji Alabi. It features H.E.R. and appearances by Wizkid’s three sons, Zion, Ayo and Bolu. Wizkid dedicated the visual to his sons. There are park scenes with Wizkid and his son, cut together with shots of H.E.R. and others.

The crew list shows how much care went in:

  • Director: Meji Alabi
  • Cinematographers: Erick Reyes, Gideon Chidi Chukwu and Olan Collardy
  • Art director: Jade Mortimer
  • Editor: Mah Ferraz
  • Colorist: Jonny Tully
  • Production company: JM Films

Alabi also directed the videos for “Ginger” featuring Burna Boy and “No Stress,” both from Made in Lagos, and has directed for Burna Boy and Davido.

How “Smile” Landed

The record moved quickly. On Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart dated August 1, 2020, “Smile” peaked at No. 5. On the UK Official Afrobeats Chart it peaked at No. 3, first charting on August 1, 2020, and staying on the chart for 13 weeks, through October 24, 2020.

Those are numbers that match what the song does in the room: it travels.

Where “Smile” Sits in Wizkid’s Catalog

Before “Smile,” Wizkid’s most recent moves were the Soundman Vol. 1 EP in late 2019 and his guest spot on Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” with SAINt JHN. Go back further and you find Superstar (2011), Ayo (2014) and Sounds from the Other Side (2017), his major-label debut, which brought in collaborations with Trey Songz, Drake, Major Lazer, Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign.

Made in Lagos followed that run as his fourth studio album, on Starboy and RCA. It was first announced for mid-October 2020, then delayed and released at the end of the month. The announced guest list included Burna Boy, Damian Marley, Skepta, Ella Mai, Tems, Tay Iwar, Projexx and H.E.R.

The story didn’t stop there. Made in Lagos Deluxe arrived on August 27, 2021, with “Smile” on it, reported at 18 tracks including the Justin Bieber remix of “Essence.” “Essence,” with Tems, debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album has also been credited with bringing smiles after the EndSARS protests and the Lekki Tollgate massacre, which says plenty about what this music meant at home.

The Other Half of the Duet: H.E.R.

H.E.R. is a Grammy-winning singer, and many people know her from Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part,” which is RIAA 7x Platinum. Her album Back of My Mind came out June 18, 2021, on RCA, the same label home as Wizkid. On “Smile” she doesn’t overpower the record. She settles into it.

Why “Smile” Stays in Rotation on Hoodz Radio

Here’s the station’s take. Hip-hop and R&B have always been about the groove and the feeling, and “Smile” delivers both. It bridges Lagos and US R&B without forcing either side to compromise.

It also fits a bigger picture. Wizkid had already appeared on Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” and linked with Drake before this, so a pairing with H.E.R. feels like another step in the global Afrobeats and R&B conversation. We respect the legacy that built those bridges, and we amplify the voices still crossing them.

Sometimes a record just makes you exhale. This one does, and that’s why it keeps coming back around.

Sources

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