Entertainment
How Davido Conquered Music Industry
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.
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.
Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.
Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.
Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.
What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.
Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.
Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.
Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.
Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.
And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.
Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.
The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.
“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.
While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.
Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”
The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.
Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.
The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.
After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.
Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.
“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”
The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.
Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.
Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.
“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.
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