“Come Closer” is a 2017 Afrobeats song by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring Canadian rapper and singer Drake. The song was released as a single on June 9, 2017, and later appeared as the second track on Wizkid’s Sounds From the Other Side project, released on July 14, 2017.

Coming shortly after Wizkid and Drake’s massive collaboration on “One Dance,” “Come Closer” became another important link between Wizkid’s Nigerian Afrobeats sound and the international mainstream.

Song Details

• Artist: Wizkid
• Featured Artist: Drake
• Song: Come Closer
• Original Release Date: June 9, 2017
• Album/Project: Sounds From the Other Side
• Project Position: Track 2
• Genre: Afrobeats
• Label: Starboy Entertainment / RCA Records
• Producer: Sarz
• Songwriters: Wizkid, Drake and Osabuohien Osaretin
• Length: Approximately 3:31

The Story Behind “Come Closer”

“Come Closer” is a smooth, confident and romantic record centered around attraction, relationships and Wizkid’s lifestyle.

The song combines romantic lyrics with references to fame, money, nightlife and Wizkid’s growing international lifestyle. Its central message is an invitation to a woman to move closer and become more involved with him.

Rather than being a deeply narrative song, “Come Closer” relies on melody, repetition, atmosphere and confidence.

The simple chorus gives the song its identity and makes it easy to remember.

Wizkid’s Performance

Wizkid carries most of the song with a relaxed vocal delivery that blends Afrobeats with Jamaican dancehall-inspired phrasing.

His performance reflects the musical direction he was exploring around 2017: smoother, more international and heavily influenced by Caribbean rhythms while still retaining his Nigerian identity.

The song also demonstrates Wizkid’s ability to make his vocals work naturally over a production that could appeal to listeners across different markets.

Drake’s Contribution

“Come Closer” is officially credited as featuring Drake, and Drake is also credited as one of the song’s writers.

However, the released song became notable because Drake does not have a conventional vocal verse on the final version. Wizkid remains the dominant voice throughout the record.

This was particularly interesting because listeners had expected another prominent Wizkid-and-Drake collaboration following the enormous success of “One Dance.”

Despite Drake’s limited vocal presence, his songwriting credit and association with the record kept the collaboration firmly connected to the international momentum surrounding Wizkid at the time.

Production

“Come Closer” was produced by Nigerian producer Sarz, who played a major role in shaping the sound of Wizkid’s 2017 era.

Apple Music describes the track as a relaxed Afrobeats record, while the production combines African rhythmic elements with Caribbean-inspired textures.

The production is relatively spacious, allowing Wizkid’s voice and the recurring hook to remain the focus.

Sarz’s contribution is particularly important because he was also responsible for other records on Sounds From the Other Side, including “Sweet Love.”

The Meaning of “Come Closer”

At its simplest, the song is about desire and attraction.

Wizkid addresses a woman he wants to bring closer to him, while describing the lifestyle and circumstances surrounding their relationship.

There is also a second layer to the record: Wizkid presents himself as someone who has achieved success but remains interested in intimacy and companionship.

The combination of romance, confidence and luxury fits the broader atmosphere of Sounds From the Other Side.

Come Closer and One Dance

The release of “Come Closer” was particularly significant because it followed “One Dance,” Drake’s 2016 global hit featuring Wizkid and Kyla.

Apple Music specifically places Sounds From the Other Side in the context of Wizkid’s growing international profile following his contribution to “One Dance.”

“Come Closer” therefore arrived at an important moment in Wizkid’s career.

He was no longer being introduced internationally as simply a Nigerian pop artist. His collaborations with major international musicians were becoming part of his established career.

Music Video

The music video for “Come Closer” was released on April 6, 2017, before the song’s official single date listed by Apple Music.

The visual features Wizkid in a stylish, colorful setting and reinforces the song’s luxurious and romantic atmosphere.

Drake was not present in the released video, which became another notable aspect of the song’s rollout.

Come Closer on Sounds From the Other Side

On Sounds From the Other Side, “Come Closer” appears as Track 2, immediately after “Sweet Love.”

The opening sequence is:

1. Sweet Love
2. Come Closer (feat. Drake)
3. Naughty Ride (feat. Major Lazer)
4. African Bad Gyal (feat. Chris Brown)
5. Daddy Yo

This positioning places “Come Closer” near the beginning of the project and immediately introduces one of its most important themes: Wizkid’s ability to connect Afrobeats with international music.

A Bridge Between Africa and the World

One of the most interesting things about “Come Closer” is that the song does not completely abandon Wizkid’s African sound in pursuit of international appeal.

Instead, it combines the two.

The production remains rooted in Afrobeats, while the collaboration with Drake gives the record a clear connection to the North American mainstream.

This approach became increasingly important to Wizkid’s career as he continued to collaborate with artists from outside Nigeria.

Why “Come Closer” Stands Out

Several elements make the song particularly memorable:

• Sarz’s relaxed Afrobeats production
• Wizkid’s melodic vocal delivery
• Drake’s songwriting contribution
• A simple, memorable chorus
• Caribbean and dancehall influences
• The connection to “One Dance”
• Its place on Sounds From the Other Side

Together, these elements make “Come Closer” a strong representation of Wizkid’s international direction during the late 2010s.

Legacy

“Come Closer” remains one of the recognizable songs from Wizkid’s Sounds From the Other Side era.

It represents a period when Wizkid was increasingly collaborating across borders while maintaining the Nigerian and African musical identity that had defined his earlier career.

The song also demonstrated that an international collaboration did not necessarily have to sound like a conventional American pop record. Instead, Wizkid and Sarz placed the collaboration within an Afrobeats framework.

That approach became increasingly important to the global growth of Afrobeats.

Conclusion

“Come Closer” is an important 2017 record in Wizkid’s international evolution.

Released as a single on June 9, 2017, the song was produced by Sarz and written by Wizkid, Drake and Osabuohien Osaretin.

It later became Track 2 on Sounds From the Other Side, following “Sweet Love.”

Although Drake does not deliver a conventional vocal verse on the final recording, his association with the song connected it to the momentum created by “One Dance.”

Ultimately, “Come Closer” captures Wizkid at an important point in his career: an artist rooted in Nigerian Afrobeats while increasingly operating within a global musical space.