Davido
From his early years surrounded by the rhythms of entertainment to becoming one of the biggest names in Afrobeats, Davido‘s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Born David Adedeji Adeleke, Davido’s passion for music was ignited during his teenage years, a time when he found solace in the melodies and beats that filled his surroundings.
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Davido’s journey began with a love for entertainment, fostered by his upbringing in an environment rich with music and celebrations. Despite initially envisioning himself as a producer, his destiny as an artist unfolded gradually. Inspired by the desire to be a triple threat—engineer, producer, and songwriter—Davido aimed to establish his own label, following in the footsteps of his musical influences like Don Jazzy.
However, fate had different plans. Encouraged by his cousins, Davido took a leap of faith into the spotlight, transitioning from behind-the-scenes producer to an emerging artist. His move back to Nigeria from Atlanta marked the turning point, propelling him into a full-time music career that would soon capture the hearts of millions.
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Davido’s rise to stardom wasn’t overnight; it was a culmination of perseverance, talent, and an unwavering belief in the power of Afrobeats, globally. Reflecting on his journey, Davido emphasizes the importance of incremental breakthroughs and the relentless pursuit of success at every stage.
As Afrobeats gained global prominence, Davido played a pivotal role in its expansion, leveraging his roots and experiences to bridge cultures through music. He recognized early on the universal appeal of Afrobeats, advocating for its recognition on international platforms and paving the way for its widespread acceptance.
Collaboration lies at the heart of Davido’s artistic vision, serving as a catalyst for innovation and cross-cultural exchange. Whether working with established icons or emerging talents, Davido approaches each collaboration with a spirit of mutual respect and creative exploration.
Beyond personal success, Davido is committed to nurturing the next generation of artists, ensuring they receive guidance and support to navigate the complexities of the music industry. He sees collaboration not only as a means of artistic expression but also as a tool for empowerment and legacy building.
Davido’s journey from humble beginnings to global acclaim embodies the transformative power of music. Through his unwavering passion, dedication to authenticity, and commitment to collaboration, Davido continues to shape the landscape of Afrobeats music while inspiring a new generation of artists to follow their dreams. As he continues to evolve as an artist and a cultural ambassador, Davido’s influence on the world of music remains boundless, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage.
Davido talks about Forbes calling him “The King of Afrobeats”, how he created his album ‘Timeless’, what he has planned for his tour, the future of Afrobeats, and more!
Davido 0:00I’m ready for the genre to just go crazy
Davido 0:02I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Davido 0:09Yo what up my people, it’s your boy Davido and you’re watching Billboard News
Raina Aniftos 0:20Hey everybody, it’s Raina Aniftos with Billboard News and we’re here with singer songwriter, producer, the king of Afro beats Davido.
Raina Aniftos 0:31You just dropped your new album ‘Timeless.’ So tell me a bit about the album and the inspiration behind it.
Davido 0:39You want very out on the record out, I didn’t put out an album in like three years. So I’m just happy that you know, it’s breaking records everywhere
Raina Aniftos 0:50You have the most first day streams of any African artists on Apple Music and Spotify. What is it like to represent your home country like in such a successful way?
Davido 1:03I mean, was dope. We just made the album. You know, with low criteria, we just wanted to just go into studio and make good music. Like we didn’t plug most of it. We were just like natural vibes, you know, in the studio, not putting pressure. You know, even when picking the records, you know, normally I’d pick the whole album myself or like I’m very, very sensitive. So I pick 17 songs out of like, 68
Raina Aniftos 1:28How do you even go about picking the songs like..?
Davido 1:31So kind of like made up this formula where I said, I sent songs to like everybody, like even my friends. So I was like everybody votes and it kind of worked out.
Raina Aniftos 1:41What was the one song that was kind of common throughout everybody’s list?
Davido 1:47Definitely like unavailable.
Davido 1:54Like the intro of the album. I wasn’t gonna put it by everybody. I was like, do and then my dad liked it.
Davido 2:06The one with Angelique Kidjo. I have veto power. That one’s going
Davido 2:12Regardless if there’s no vote
Raina Aniftos 2:18That’s cool, too, that you get to also work with other artists.
Davido 2:22Definitely, there’s this is girl I found on I found on the internet doing like a cover to a song. And then I dmed her and like, “yo, your voice is amazing. Wow.” She doesn’t even believe like, I’m the one talking. She’s so good.
Raina Aniftos 2:35And now she’s on a record breaking album with you.
Davido 2:37Yeah and I signed her too.
Raina 2:41Forbes named you the “King of Afrobeats.” How does it feel to be named something like that? And to represent a genre, be the face of it.
Davido 2:51I mean, it’s true.
Davido 2:55You know, I’ve lived in both places. I’ve lived in America. I went to school out here too.
Davido 3:00In Alabama. So I was always like spreading the gospel of like, African culture. Food, the fashion you know what I’m saying. When it was time to do music like my dream was always the crossover. Where we were without crossover happen. You know, I was one of the first to get signed by major label from dead on everything just got lit.
Raina Aniftos 3:31Who were some of your musical influences growing up that have led you to create such a unique sound.
Davido 3:36I mean, growing up I was like, really like a hip hop fan. I love that. Yeah, I was like, really, really into like rap. Like I love like 50 cent. Ja Rule like I dressed like a rapper.
Raina Aniftos 3:54As far as Afro beats as a genre, it’s really been blossoming over the past few years. What do you think it is about the genre that’s connecting so much with people recently?
Davido 4:03Man it’s fresh yet you don’t say it’s been here for years? You know? Even when I was in college, I’d always play like African music because that’s what I was listening to. At the time. My friends my like, American friends always like ah, like it sounds good. So I always knew that if he got the opportunity to get heard people would like it.
Raina Aniftos 4:31You’re about to go on tour. Tell me a bit about what we can expect what you have in store what’s going on with this tour is like
Davido 4:41Man you know, I’m gonna need to challenge myself in my last tour. You know, Afrobeats wasn’t as crazy as it is now. So it’s like, Now all eyes on us
Raina Aniftos 4:57Where do you want to see the future of Afrobeats go?
Davido 5:00I’m like just happy everybody’s doing well. You know what I’m saying The future of Afrobeats
Davido 5:06I feel like it’s in good hands. So hopefully a documentary soon n aboutot only me also about the culture as well. Up we go
Raina Aniftos 5:16Up you go so many cool things ‘Timeless’ your album is out now you’re about to head out on tour. Thank you so much for speaking with me today.
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