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Critics hate me because my dad is rich – Davido
Afrobeats megastar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has spoken candidly about the intense criticism he receives, attributing much of it to his privileged upbringing.
In a recent episode of the Culture Knock Out podcast, Davido reflected on how his wealthy background has shaped public perception of his music career.
“I’m the most criticised artist in Nigeria,” Davido said. “In the beginning, they didn’t know that my dad was rich. So the stigma of a rich kid doing music didn’t end up as crazy as it should have been for me.”
According to the Timeless hitmaker, by the time fans and critics discovered that he was the son of billionaire businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke, he had already released multiple hit songs.
This gave him a solid foothold in the industry before the narrative of being a “rich kid” could undermine his credibility.
“People didn’t know my father was rich. It was too late—I already had three hit songs before they found out.”
Davido revealed that his love for music was so deep that he would have pursued it regardless of the consequences, even if it meant becoming homeless.
“I just wanted to do music. I didn’t care if I had to become homeless. At that point, that was all I wanted to do. Nothing would stop me.”
Despite the backlash that came after the public learned of his background, Davido emphasised that consistent quality and hard work have been key to silencing critics.
“Over time, people started hating me because my dad is rich. But I keep on dropping good music, and it keeps working out.”
He also drew parallels between fame and leadership, noting that criticism is inevitable when you’re at the top.
“It happens to everyone. Once you become the biggest in anything, you will get criticised. You are doing an election, people love you and vote for you. But when you become president, they hate you.”
Davido’s honesty sheds light on the complexity of celebrity life—how success, especially one associated with privilege, can often attract unfair judgment. Yet, his resilience, passion, and hit-making ability continue to make him a pillar of the Afrobeats movement.
"People didn't know my father was rich till…"
– Davido pic.twitter.com/H7xFOCmoiA
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) May 13, 2025