Artist Focus: Davido The Hitmaker
Davido drops it like it’s hot!
Real name:David Adedeji Adeleke Stage name:Davido Date of birth:November 21, 1992 State of Origin:Osun Nationality:Nigerian Genre:Naija Pop,Dancehall,Afrobeat
His name is synonymous with success and despite being born with a silver spoon he chose not to depend on his family wealth but to carve a name for himself in the entertainment industry. It’s all about the artist whose rise has been nothing short astronomical. As a producer, he has made beats forTiwa Savage,Skales,Sauce Kid, amongst others. His name isDavido.
Born inAtlanta in theUnited States, Davido is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer. His father is business magnatePrince Adedeji Adeleke and his mother (who is now late) was a University lecturer.
Davido was raised inLagos where he attended the British International School and went on to study Business Administration atOakwood University before dropping out to make beats and record music.
His interest in music started from his university days where he purchased musical instruments and started producing beats and recording vocals. That was when he decided to shun his studies to focus on doing what he loves.
Davido returned toNigeria in 2011 and to make his father happy and bring honor to him, he went back to further his academic career atBabcock University from where he earned a degree in Music in July 2015.
He started working on his first album in 2011, the same year he broke into the music industry with the hit singleDami Duro. TitledOmo Baba Olowo, the album is an embodiment Afrobeat and Hip Hop and featuresNaeto C,Sina Rambo,B-Red,Kayswitch,Ice Prince, and2face.
Omo Baba Olowo was well-received by music critics and won Best R&B/Pop Album of the Year atThe Headies 2013. It was also nominated for Album of the year at theNigeria Entertainment Awards. The album’s lead singlesBack When (featuring Naeto C),Dami Duro, andOverseas got frequent airplay.
In February 2013, Davido releasedGobe, a single produced byShizzi. Its video was shot inSouth Africa byGodfather Productions. The track was second position onPremium Times list of the Top 10 songs of 2013.
The singer droppedSkelewu on August 13, 2013 (it reached number 1 onAfrobiz’s Top 100 Chart) and releasedAye in February 2014. Produced byT Spize, the video was directed byClarence Peters.
As Davido’s fame grew in the entertainment industry, so did his adaptability and ability to become a team player, leading to a collaboration withMi Casa,Lola Rae,Sarkodie,Diamond Platnumz, and Tiwa Savage in June 2014 on a song forDSTV’s Africa Rising campaign which was set up to inspire Africans to take part in community investment projects.
Davido featured American rapperMeek Mill onFans Mi and won the Best African Act at theMOBO Awards in November 2017, becoming the first artist on the continent to give a live performance at the event.
He became the first African music star to receive an award onBET's main stage and it was presented to him by Hollywood actorOmari Hardwick and actressTika Sumpter.
Davido collaborated with U.S. singerChris Brown in August 2019 on his songBlow My Mind. It became a smash hit and the video was largely praised.
His second studio albumA Good Time was released on November 22, 2019, and was supported by the previously releasedBlow My Mind,Fall, andAssurance.
Davido has cited the likes ofDon Jazzy,2baba,Sound Sultan, andWande Coal as musical influences and as an artist has nurtured others to rise up in the industry. A good example is artistsMayorkun andLil Frosh who are currently signed under hisDMWlabel.
As the industry continues to undergo changes, artists like Davido continue to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. His most peculiar artistic trait is knowing what the fans want and giving it to them consistently.
With several hits under his name and an impressive portfolio of achievements, Davido is one of the industry’s most sought artists because he delivers like no one else!