Entertainment

How Davido Conquered Music Industry

Published

9 years ago

April 13, 2018

Davido had a stellar 2017 and is back at the apex of the Nigerian music industry thanks to hard work and a few other factors.
Following a stellar 2017 where he was crowned as the artiste of the year at various award shows, Davido has picked off from where he stopped and The Tide examines his winning formula.
2017 will go down as one of his best years yet. It was the year where everything he touched turned to the proverbial gold. From singles like, ‘If’ to ’Fall’, Davido scored hits and ended the year on a solid note with ’Fia’ and ’Like dat’.
The singer has kicked off things in 2018 with the same energy as after putting out his single, ’Flora my flawa’, which is making major waves, his features on DJ E Cool’s ‘Ada’ and Larry Gaaga’s ‘Doe’ have also enhanced his reputation as he continues work on his sophomore album
So what exactly has been working for the Omo Baba Olowo? We take a look at five factors that has shaped the success of his career thus far.
Two years ago, Davido signed an international deal with Sony Music which gave birth to the ‘Son of Mercy’ EP.
It was a project that the young artist had hoped will help seal his breakthrough into the international market, so he changed his sound, collaborated with foreign acts and experimented in terms of what he had to offer.
But the E.P failed to do more than a sprinkle in the global waters, hence, he was forced to re-prioritize and identify where his motivation and market lies.
No artist enjoys creating in a vacuum, everyone wants acceptance and a broad audience. So for Davido, it was either for him to be a dog in no man’s land or a king in his homeland.
He made the choice, reverted to the formula that worked and has since enjoyed not just a bigger recognition but increased acceptance of his artistic prowess.
It may sound cliché but hard work has done it for the averagely talented act.
Over the past few years, Davido has put out more singles, featured in more collaborations, released more videos and performed on almost every platform across the world as any other person in the industry.
There has been no days off for him, since he chose this path and the progress has been evidenced in not just his music but his stagecraft.
Davido is putting in the work like someone without a plan b, who has no other choice but to make this succeed in life.
3. Consistently putting out relatable singles and slangs
Davido has been consistent such that everywhere you turn, there is almost a Davido song for every occasion. From ’Back when’ where he tells a story of ‘humble beginnings’, to ‘Skelewu’, where he drops the anthem for a new dance.
On ’Daddy’ with Reminisce, he joins the prayer gang of everyone who seeks wealth while with his singles like ‘Ekuro’, ‘If’, ‘fall’ and ‘flora my flawa’, he has steadily built the lover boy profile and warmed inside into the heart of his female fans.
He has also identified how endearing catch-phrases like ’30 billion in my account’ appeal to his audience and this he has utilised in most of his songs.
One major problem in the Nigerian music industry is the quality of our lyrics.
While we boast of many musicians, they mostly fall short when it comes to writing proper lyrics or creatively being able to capture their ideas into words.
Song writing is accepted as a profession and even rewarded in other parts of the world. It is however an anathema in Nigeria that exists underground but cannot be discussed publicly.
Davido has over the years understood the difference between a musician and a song writer, even though he has ended up being called out for this by several artistes.
There are claims he employed the services of sensational singer Teni Entertainer to ghostwrite on ‘Like dat’ and it does look like that is a ploy he has continued to adopt to get to his envisioned heights.

Entertainment

Why Fans No Longer Faint For Musicians – Paul Okoye

Published

7 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”

Entertainment

Davido’s Aide Offers Cash Reward For Missing Phone At Zlatan’s Wedding

Published

7 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.

Entertainment

I Ran Away From Nigeria, Never Wanted To Come Back-Chidinma

Published

7 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.