With his yearning romantic ballads, Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Wande Coal pioneered the sound of Afrobeats while becoming an international star. Coal started church singing as a teenager and broke into the music business as a dancer before signing with the Nigerian label Mo'Hits in 2006. Coal contributed to the 2007 compilation Curriculum Vitae as part of the Mo'Hits All Stars. The group was once described as "Nigeria's most favourite boy band".

Following the success of Curriculum Vitae, Coal released his solo debut, Mushin to Mo'Hits, in 2009. It was 6 years before Coal released his next LP, 2015's Wanted. He kept busy in the meantime with a string of singles of his own and with other artists. He also left Mo'Hits to found his own Black Diamond Entertainment. Coal's 2020 EP Realms features the American rapper, Wale and Nigerian producer, Sarz.