New age African artists are making waves around the world, now more than ever. But that may have not been possible without trailblazers like Davido.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Davido (born David Adedeji Adeleke) laid the groundwork for Afrobeats in the early 2010s thanks to buzzworthy songs like "Gobe," "Skelewu," "Like Dat," and "The Money"; he has since earned a reputation for creating nostalgic sing-along anthems and lively Afrobeat tracks. Along the way, Davido has also pushed the limits of African music — bridging the gap between local and global artists, and collaborating with musicians like Chris Brown, Asake, Summer Walker, Angélique Kidjo, Burna Boy, and Lil Baby.
Now that he's getting to enjoy the ride alongside several other global acts, he can't help but gush. "[African music] has been at a peak, reaching mainstream [attention] the past few years that I don't think it's ever been at before," Davido told GRAMMY.com in 2024. "It's an amazing thing to witness and be a part of."
On April 18, the four-time GRAMMY nominee will release his aptly titled fifth album, 5ive. As hinted by pre-release tracks "Be There Still," "Awuke" featuring YG Marley, and "Funds" featuring ODUMODUBLVCK and Chike, fans can expect lively, catchy records that celebrate life and his heritage.
Ahead of the highly anticipated album, GRAMMY.com revisits five essential songs that reflect the timeless artistry of Davido.
Davido exploded onto the music scene with a clear focus and clearer intentions — and unwavering confidence to boot. His debut album, Omo Baba Olowo (meaning "Son of a Rich Man" in Yoruba), became notable for his energetic sophomore single "Dami Duro," which translates to "Stop Me."
The fast-paced track effortlessly merges Yoruba and English lyrics, celebrating his success and hinting at his impending, unstoppable rise in the music industry. Recognized as a boastful party anthem, this song marked a defining moment for a young Davido, setting the tone for a long-spanning and prosperous career.
For many Nigerians, Davido's music has become an integral part of numerous celebrations and has served as the soundtrack for birthdays, anniversaries and weddings alike. His folksy, upbeat single "Aye," produced by TSpize and written by fellow Nigerian artist Victor Ngubor (Runtown), debuted in February 2014 — conveniently in time for Valentine's Day.
The love song features a youthful and enthusiastic Davido bragging about finding real love untainted by material items. "She no wan designer/ She no wan Ferrari/ She say na my love oh/ You belong to me/ And I belong to her oh," he sings on the chorus.
In 2014, "Aye" won Song of The Year at Nigeria's musical award celebration, The Headies. The award solidied Davido's music as a go-to soundtrack for life's most precious milestones, while further cementing his status as a cultural icon.
Davido's second studio album, A Good Time, birthed many popular songs such as "Risky" featuring Popcaan, "Assurance" and "If." However, none of those compared to the success of "Fall."
Originally released in 2017, the single was an immediate success, debuting at No. 3 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. It remained in the chart for 59 weeks, breaking the record for the longest-charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history at the time; subsequently, the song helped elevate Davido's mainstream recognition.
"Fall" saw another boost when it was included on the star's 2019 album, A Good Time, which reminded the world of his global prominence. And that would only continue to grow in the next decade.
A Better Time is another album that served fans and new listeners with numerous hits and iconic melodies. The project spawned the single-turned-political anthem "FEM," the sultry midtempo record "Jowo," and the cheeky rhythmic tune "Holy Ground" featuring Nicki Minaj. Yet, the song arguably most beloved by Davido's fans was the cheerful "La La," featuring fellow Nigerian singer CKay.
A hidden gem on A Better Time, "La La" incorporates makossa, an African rhythm popularized in the early 2000s; the track's dose of nostalgia helped it become a fan favorite, especially after the release of its playful music video. The collaboration also marked an exciting surprise for fans of both artists, as CKay had just delivered his own global smash with 2019's "Love Nwantiti."
At the beginning of the track, Davido says, "This song feels so good," and that's exactly what it does for the listener. From the thumping bass to the playful lyrics and adlibs, "La La" makes you want to move — or in Davido and CKay's case, "Dance my makossa."
"Unavailable" 'Timeless' (2023)
Though Davido is no stranger to his music going viral, his single "Unavailable" generated a unique buzz, particularly on social media. Featuring South African producer/artist Musa Keys and later remixed by Atlanta rapper Latto, "Unavailable" has 1.4 million videos with its sound on TikTok as of press time. That's mostly thanks to a dance challenge that sparked from the song, which even received a special shout-out from Rihanna.
The song and album also earned the 32-year-old his first GRAMMY nods. Along with the song's nomination for Best African Music Performance, "FEEL" was up for Best Global Music Performance and Timeless was up for Best Global Music Album at the 2024 GRAMMYs.
While Davido has drawn inspiration from traditional Nigerian music since the beginning of his career, the Amapiano-tinged "UNAVAILABLE" was arguably the singer's most innovative take on his roots yet. As one of his biggest songs to date, it also proved that Davido is eager to continue pushing the boundaries of African music — and he's become a global star because of it.