Photographed by Saybin Roberson.
The proclaimed King of Afrobeats, [Davido](https://www.instagram.com/davidoofficial/?hl=en), hit the stage at The Wiltern in Los Angeles Friday, March 6, and left everything on the platform. Banging out hits like “Fall” and “Blow My Mind” with a massive surprise appearance from the songs featuring artist, Chris Brown, A Good Time Tour, fit theme thru and thru. Davido set out to share his energy and he did just that.
Prior to the show, I got a good glimpse of his work ethic, attention to detail and his overall aura. During soundcheck, he took his time making sure things were to be on point for the epic performance. With his entire team by his side and his adorable puppy [30 the Frenchy](https://www.instagram.com/30thefrenchy/?hl=en), he projected quite a cool calm just before a big storm.
Born David Adeleke in Atlanta to Nigerian heritage, Davido spent years living in both the south and beautiful Lagos, Nigeria. Crediting his mother as the foundation for his passion for music, Davido says the energy he saw in people’s movements and laughter inspired him.
“My mom loved throwing parties,” he says. “That’s like one of the first times I loved the intimate partying, dancing, loving different musicians.” One of his favorite artists growing up, Ja’ Rule. “I was a big Ja’ Rule fan, 50 Cent, everybody though, but I think from my mom, that’s what made me become a big entertainment.”
His artistry is built by his deep love of music his mother instilled in him as a youth, “I don’t think I have a sound,” he says. “Just passion for good music and good vibes, that’s what inspires it.”
While in ATL, Davido’s love and passion pushed him to begin developing his own music. However, at the time, the American market just wasn’t ready for what he had to offer. He then journeyed back to Nigeria and by fate, became a major success in his native country. So much so, the country full of color, sound and context couldn’t contain his talent and in a full-circle moment, Davido’s music enters America’s ears and the masses fell in love.
Having experienced both worlds, living in Nigeria for years throughout his life, Davido’s understanding of sound and culture has paved the way for his artistry while unintentionally bridging the gap between Afrobeats, hip hop and R&B.
“Most of us, everybody here is from Africa; so I feel like I don’t need to help you, it’s YOUR role. It’s your job to understand.” Adding emphasis, “it’s very important.”
“I have peace knowing I know exactly where I’m from. Yeah, I’m from Atlanta but I’m from Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. I know exactly where I’m bred from,” he says. “Every race is from somewhere so I find peace knowing where I’m from, and that’s perfect for me.”
Having a connection to the Motherland, he hopes his music and the spreading of culture inspires people to find their roots and share the wealth of knowledge, “You don’t know where you are walking on the road, where you are going in your life, you know that you’ve done something.”
Grateful for it all, Davido has his peace and music to bring him joy, “I’m just happy that everyone is accepted African music, the culture, it’s crazy!” relating to the show, “you’re gonna see tonight,” and it was true, I saw it.
The energy of the show was super high. Everywhere I turned, dancing, singing and screaming. Phones were up, photos were taken. Facetime conversations allowed some to virtually experience while others shared via live stream. The love was real and it was meant to be shared, knocking one of Davido’s goals off his bucket list - make people feel his music.
Having just released an album at the end of 2019, Davido’s _A Good Time_ which is compiled of songs like “If” and “Assurance” that date back to 2017 but have stood the test of time. Recorded in ATL, the album produced exclusively by Nigerian producers has been described as a body of work for everybody.
“Every time I’m in the studio I imagine performing, I imagine y’all dancing to it in the clubs, I imagine people smiling when they listen to my music.”
Being in his presence, his cool nature and high energy can also be used to describe the recording process. A go-with the flow type of guy, Davido uses what’s in him naturally to produce hit after hit.
“Sometimes my producer might come in or they have an idea, I just follow and finish up,” he says of his day to day in the studio. Even when it comes to stepping outside of his comfort zone, there almost isn’t anything he won’t do for the sake of creating, which he describes using his hit “Risky” which features Popcaan as the one-off experience that he wrote his name all over.
The hit single was created while in NYC on a press run, DJ Whoo Kid came to him and said: “I’m about to put a beat on, come on, spit!” Davido’s response, “I don’t rap,” but despite that, he continued to do a freestyle that got his team and fans hype once they got a hold of the verse via Instagram.
Standing firm on his, “I don’t rap,” statement, Davido took this as a moment to go with the positive reactions he received and “Risky” was born. “It was like a big thing on like social media and I was like, ‘you know what, I’ma make this freestyle a real song.”
Still, in 2020, his word is bond, the freestyle rap was a one-time thing but it paid big. “The freestyle made me a million dollars the next month, can’t hate on that.” But he’s firm, he’s a singer until further notice.
“For now, it’s music, music, music, music, music,” he says of this next year, emphasizing: music. “Bigging up other artists, entertainment and just peace and love. That’s all I’m about right now.”
Keeping focused, worrying about the day at hand, Davido shares he thoughts on this current moment; on tour in Los Angeles, “I love it, man, it’s the best part of the job. I love performing,” he expressed. “I got energy anyways, can’t sit in one place at one time. I like moving around so it’s my best part of the job. It’s nothing.”
As the crowd moved with him, they charged each other. Fans let loose in the audience and stood in the moment, without a worry on their mind. “People need that sometimes, even I need that sometimes. Sometimes I’m down, I perform - I’m happy,” he laughs. “So I imagine how other people feel.”
“I feel like I’m just in life to spread positivity, take care of my people and just live life; whatever comes after, comes after.”
[](https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ck6rvh3NF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
[LA 🇺🇸 !!!!!!! SOLD DA FUCK OUT!!!!! WE MADE HISTORY LAST NIGHT !! NO 🧢!!!!!!!🔥🔥🔥](https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ck6rvh3NF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
One sold-out show after another, Davido is making a lane for Afrobeats and bridging the gap between the U.S. and Nigeria, but leaving it up to you to join the wave.
“We’ve done a lot, we’ve done a crazy amount of work, crazy stuff and I just hope that it keeps climbing because the way that it’s going, it’s gonna be crazy.”
Not doing it for the recognition but for the people, “Don’t matter but I’ma get it,” he stated speaking into existence the Hollywood Star, awards and more he believes he can achieve just by putting out good energy.
“Just a stepping stone to greatness, if not greatness itself.”
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