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Davido Before Fame: The Untold Story of an Afrobeats Star
Davido is one of the most successful and influential artists in the African music scene. He has won numerous awards, collaborated with international stars, and amassed a huge fan base across the world. But before he became the OBO (Omo Baba Olowo) that we know and love, he was just a young boy with a passion for music and a dream to make it big. This is the untold story of Davido before fame.
Early Life and Family Background
David Adedeji Adeleke was born on November 21, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. His father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist, while his mother, Veronica Adeleke, was a university lecturer and music lover. Davido is the third-born child of his parents and has an older brother, Adewale Adedeji, and two sisters, Sharon and Ashley Coco.
Davido’s family is of Yoruba ethnicity and has West African roots. He spent his early childhood in Lagos, Nigeria, where he attended nursery and primary school. He later moved back to Atlanta with his family and completed his elementary education there. He returned to Nigeria for his secondary education at the British International School in Lagos.
Davido grew up in a wealthy and influential family, but he was not spoiled or pampered. He had a humble upbringing and learned to work hard for what he wanted. He also developed a love for music at a young age, influenced by his mother who was a singer and a pianist. He listened to Nigerian musicians like Lagbaja, Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and foreign artists like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Eminem, and Tupac.
Education and Career Buildup
After graduating from high school, Davido enrolled at Oakwood University in Alabama, United States, to study business administration. However, he soon realized that his passion was not in academics but in music. He started making beats and recording vocal references on his laptop. He also joined a music group called KB International with his cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo.
Davido’s father was not happy with his son’s musical pursuits and wanted him to focus on his education. He tried to persuade Davido to quit music and return to Nigeria. But Davido was determined to follow his dream and decided to drop out of school without his father’s knowledge. He relocated to Atlanta and continued to work on his music.
In 2011, Davido traveled to Nigeria with his cousins and met Asa Asika, who became his first manager. He also met Clarence Peters, a renowned music video director, who helped him shoot his first video for his debut single “Back When” featuring Naeto C. The song was well received by the Nigerian audience and gave Davido some exposure in the industry.
Rise to Fame
Davido’s breakthrough came in 2012 when he released his second single “Dami Duro”, which became an instant hit and a club anthem. The song showcased Davido’s unique style of blending Afrobeats with pop and hip-hop elements. It also earned him the Next Rated award at The Headies 2012.
Davido followed up with his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo (OBO) in July 2012. The album featured six more singles: “Ekuro”, “Overseas”, “All of You”, “Gbon Gbon”, “Feel Alright”, and “Mary Jane”. The album was a commercial success and established Davido as one of the leading artists in the Nigerian music scene.
Davido did not rest on his laurels but continued to release hit singles between 2013 and 2015. Some of these include “Gobe”, “One of a Kind”, “Skelewu”, “Aye”, “Tchelete (Goodlife)”, “Naughty”, “Owo Ni Koko”, “The Sound”, and “The Money”. He also collaborated with other African artists like Diamond Platnumz, Mafikizolo, Tiwa Savage, Sarkodie, Runtown, Olamide, Wizkid, Meek Mill, Akon, Tinashe, Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, Popcaan, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Nas, Lil Baby, Mayorkun among others.
In 2016, Davido signed a record deal with Sony Music and founded his own label Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), which houses artists like Dremo, Yonda, Peruzzi, Mayorkun among others. He also released an EP titled Son of Mercy in October 2016, which featured the singles “Gbagbe Oshi”, “How Long”, and “Coolest Kid in Africa”.
In 2017, Davido re-negotiated his contract with Sony Music and gained more creative control over his music. He then released two of his biggest songs to date: “If” and “Fall”. These songs became global hits and broke records on various charts and platforms. They also earned him several awards and nominations, including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act, the BET Award for Best International Act: Africa, and the MOBO Award for Best African Act.
Davido released his second studio album A Good Time in November 2019. The album was supported by the previously released singles “If”, “Fall”, “Assurance”, “Blow My Mind”, and “Risky”. The album was a critical and commercial success and received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. It also featured guest appearances from Summer Walker, Gunna, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Naira Marley, Zlatan, Popcaan, Peruzzi, Dremo, Yonda among others.
Davido released his third studio album A Better Time in November 2020. The album was a follow-up to A Good Time and featured collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Nas, Lil Baby, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Mayorkun, Tiwa Savage, Bella Shmurda among others. The album was also well received by critics and fans and spawned the hit singles “FEM”, “Holy Ground”, “The Best”, and “Jowo”.
Davido released his fourth studio album Timeless in March 2023. The album was a celebration of his 10 years in the music industry and featured some of his classic songs as well as new ones. The album also had guest appearances from Burna Boy, Wizkid, Drake, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber among others. The album was hailed as a masterpiece and a landmark in Afrobeats history.
Conclusion
Davido is a living legend and a trailblazer in the African music scene. He has achieved so much in his career and has inspired many young artists to pursue their dreams. He is not only a talented musician but also a philanthropist, a businessman, a cultural ambassador, and a human rights activist. He is married to Chioma Rowland and has three children: Hailey Veronica Adeleke, Aurora Imade Adeleke, and David Adedeji Adeleke Jr. He is also one of the most-followed African artists on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Davido’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and success. He is a testament to the fact that with hard work, dedication, and talent, anything is possible. He is truly an Afrobeats star who has made his mark on the world stage.
References
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davido 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM0ASqzv57A 3: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/davido-45404.php 4: https://childhoodbiography.com/davido-childhood-story-plus-untold-biography-facts/ 5: https://nigerianfinder.com/davidos-biography-things-you-didnt-know-about-him/