Whether or not you like him, Davido is a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian Music Industry. The Music star is a reigning king in the Nigerian music scene and beyond.
On the 17th of February 2021, 30BG fans woke up to a piece of good news, Davido had bagged another win with “If” getting certified Gold in the US. This will be the singer’s second single to be certified Gold in the US after another 2017 single, ‘Fall.’
This news also means that his songs become the only Afrobeat Solo single to achieve that status in the US.
In 2020, the singer was having his songs certified in South Africa, Canada and USA, his album, “A Good Time” passed the One Billion Streams benchmark. The year saw him reaping the reward of a decade long effort and hard work.
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Rise To Fame
The singer came to spotlight in 2011 with “Dami Duro“, then released his debut album, “Omo Baba Olowo” in 2012 which was his starting point.
Between 2013-2104, the singer dropped songs like “Gobe” which became a popular street lingo and “Skelekwu” which popularized a dance routine of the same name, the Love-themed “Aye”, a collaborative single with South African duo Mafikizolo, titled “Tchelete (Goodlife).”
He was set to drop his sophomore album, “The Baddest” in 2015 but due to circumstances and his signing with Sony Music in 2016, it was cancelled.
Instead, he released an EP, “Son of Mercy” which saw him experiment with foreign sounds and it wasn’t received too well.
The singer in several interviews admits he wasn’t pleased about the EP and wasn’t given the choice to pick the songs. This also meant he was without a hit song for almost a year.
2017 would, however, break the dry spell after he released the Tekno-produced “If” which became an instant hit. He followed it with the Kiddomant-produced “Fall“.
“Fall” would later go on to earn several awards, certification and become the longest Nigerian charting song on International charts like Billboard.
It even became the Most viewed Nigerian Song on Youtube after it passed the 100 Million streams benchmark in 2018.
During that same year, he lost two of his close friends to the cold hands of death which led to controversies, the biggest one was of him being behind their deaths.
These accusations he addressed on “Fia“, a song produced by Fresh VDM. Then he released the Shizzi produced “Like Dat“, one of his best songs and grossly underrated.
That year laid the foundation for the new Davido fans came to experience, the man who has come to embrace his weakness. The change in his career and sound was like Steve Rogers becoming Captain America.
DMW
One respected fact about Davido is his heart of Gold. The singer launched his label, DMW in 2016 and signed Dremo and Mayorkun who he stumbled across on social media that same year.
Peruzzi and the rest would follow suit the following year. He, however, signed his first Female artist, Liya in 2020.
DMW is home to a lot of personalities apart from artists which include Music Producers like, Fresh VDM, Speroach Beatz, Napji.
Davido’s success in the Music Industry seemed to be contagious as Mayorkun, Dremo and Peruzzi are all successful artists who have all produced hits.
The label also released two collaborative singles “Mind” and “Aje” in 2018 both of which were hits.
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Achievements
Personally, Davido might count his three kids as his biggest achievements, music-wise, the list is endless.
Since his rise to fame in 2011, the singer has bagged lucrative endorsements with big brands and still continues to do till this day.
His artistry and business sense sees him sitting on the list of top 5 Nigerian Richest Musicians without the aid of his Billionaire Father.
He is a boss to successful artists and is on good term with every one of them. His Label is one of the few labels that haven’t been on the news for having issues with its artists, a common issue that seems to trail most Nigerian Labels.
Despite the odds, lack of expectations from some quarters and stigma due to his Rich Kid status, the music star has created a brand that most artists want to be associated with.
In terms of stan culture, 30 Billion Gang (the name referred to his fans) is one of the fanbases that dominate the industry.
The influence he holds over the music industry cannot be underestimated, even American Magazine, TIME named him on its Influential 100 Next List for 2021.