From viral success to industry skepticism, Eddie King’s journey shows the price of building a brand—and the pressure of proving who truly benefits from a hit.
Eddie King is no stranger to Liberian music lovers, especially those who have followed the evolution of the country’s Afro sound and the writers documenting both its veterans and its newcomers. With 21.2K YouTube subscribers, 72 uploaded videos, and a strong digital footprint, Eddie King has carved out a place in the industry that many emerging artists aspire to reach. On Audiomack alone, he boasts 16,346 followers and an impressive 1,102,823 total plays.
But the wave of debate swirling around his rise didn’t begin until the release of his widely discussed track “Work For It,” featuring S.I.O. The audio version first dropped on YouTube with a promotional flyer, quickly climbing to 49K views. Two months later, the official video added another 26K views, and the performance video pulled in 3.6K more. On Audiomack, the track amassed a striking 250K plays, making it one of Eddie King’s most impactful releases.
Whispers online suggested that S.I.O’s presence was the “magic touch” behind the song’s success. But industry observers say the narrative is far more layered. Before the collaboration, Eddie King had already built a structured promotional ecosystem, working with a media team, networking with industry names like Baba 2Switt, generating buzz through news stories, and securing multiple online promoters. He reportedly paid S.I.O for the feature, invested in rollout strategy, staged content, and built momentum long before the public took notice.
Yet, despite the hype, “Work For It” did not surpass Eddie King’s biggest independent hits. His breakout hit “Hold Ley” sits at 312K views (YouTube), while “Evil People,” featuring Terry Apala, stands at 284K (YouTube). Several other tracks cross the 100K mark—outsizing the numbers generated with S.I.O despite the collaboration’s visibility.
This raises the big question dominating fan conversations today: Who actually benefited most from “Work For It”?
Was it Eddie King? The promoters? Or S.I.O?
The numbers suggest that while the track boosted Eddie’s short-term buzz, it didn’t eclipse the performance of his earlier catalog. What it did accomplish, however, was strengthening his name among new listeners and giving him his most concentrated media attention in years. But six months after the single’s peak, his viewership reportedly dipped, suggesting the team behind the campaign amplified his name more than his music.
Beyond the streaming debate, Eddie King remains a cultural figure known for his flashy confidence, notably his much-talked-about $20,000 dental transformation, which has become part of his personal brand. As he likes to remind critics, he worked for it.
Now signed to Bilikon Entertainment, Eddie King few days ago released his next single, “Why Worry.” But fans are still murmuring about the relationship between the artist, the label, and his manager Lyee K. Bility, with online chatter claiming Eddie pays $1,500 monthly for management. Some supporters are questioning whether the investment matches the returns—or whether they should simply trust the process.
As Eddie King steps into this new era, one thing is clear:
His story is still being written—and Liberia’s entertainment scene is watching each chapter unfold.
