How Davido’s 5ive Album Reflects His Legacy As Afrobeats’ Most Selfless Hitmaker

The air is excited as Afrobeats lovers prepare for a thrilling flurry of releases from the genre’s biggest names. All eyes are on Davido’s highly anticipated 5ive, slated for release on 18th April, which is generating palpable excitement among fans.

In a refreshing departure from the typical drama-fuelled album rollout Afrobeats’ biggest acts tend to employ, Davido made an appearance on Cruel Santino’s Subaru World Twitch livestream. This newly launched platform is the brainchild of the Alte pioneer and has quickly gained traction, hosting notable guests like Jeriq, ZerryDL, Prettyboy DO, and Slawn. However, Davido’s visit marked a significant milestone, bringing his unparalleled star power to the stream.

During their conversation, Davido and Cruel Santino delved into his upcoming album and his career trajectory and even revisited his infamous “Jesus” comment on Odunsi’s Instagram post from years ago.

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Davido’s appearance on Santino’s livestream may not have come as a surprise to those familiar with his career. However, it highlights an often-overlooked aspect: Davido’s commitment to fostering collective growth within the Nigerian music ecosystem. In an industry where self-preservation often takes precedence over collaboration, Davido has always played an active role in the growth of Nigerian music.

What Davido does for the culture and the Nigerian music ecosystem is very impressive even though the appreciation is painfully missing, especially from his peers.

Posterity will be kind to him in this aspect of his career. That he gave so much more than anyone else.

— ADEAYO (@ade_adeayo) March 26, 2025

As the above social media interactions underscore, history will indeed smile upon Davido, recognising him not only as an artist but also as a selfless catalyst for the industry’s growth. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge and celebrate our living legends, bestowing upon them the accolades and admiration they so rightly deserve.

What we know about Davido’s ‘5ive’

With 5ive set to drop on April 18, 2025, Davido’s fifth studio album is shaping up to be a landmark release in his illustrious career. Initially slated for March 14 before being postponed, the album will launch under Davido Music Worldwide, Columbia Records, and Sony Music Entertainment, following his announcement on Instagram on December 5, 2024. During his recent Twitch live stream with Cruel Santino on Subaru World, Davido previewed unreleased tracks, hinting at a blend of his classic sound with fresh influences. Described as a project “straight from the heart,” 5ive promises to reflect his story, truth, and growth while reinforcing his selfless legacy in Afrobeats.

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The album’s tracklist has been partially revealed, with 17 tracks confirmed via sources like Apple Music. Three pre-release singles have already set the tone: Awuke featuring YG Marley, released in October 2024; Funds with Odumodublvck and Chike, dropped on December 5, 2 024; and Be There Still, an Amapiano-infused track, released on March 14, 2025. Confirmed featured artists include YG Marley, Odumodublvck, Chike, Omah Lay, Victony, Chris Brown, Victoria Monét, 450, and Shenseea, with speculation around additional names like Adekunle Gold and Asake based on studio sightings. Producers attached to the project are a powerhouse lineup: Black Culture, DJ Maphorisa, Marvey Muzique, Tempoe, Shizzi, Blaisebeatz, Selebobo, Ucee, MikabaBeatz, Louddaa, and Mike, ensuring a rich, diverse soundscape that spans Afrobeats, R&B, Afrofusion, and Fuji.

Shenseea speaks on her collab on Davido's "5ive"

"That shit is going to eat. Just make sure to tell Davido to shoot a video because I love that feature" 🔥pic.twitter.com/O0RRphtNZW

— 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦 📀 (@AlbumTalksHQ) March 30, 2025

Building the industry, not just himself

One of Davido’s greatest contributions to Nigerian music is his commitment to discovering and platforming new talent. His record label, DMW, has introduced stars like Mayorkun, Peruzzi, Dremo, Liya, Yonda, and Morravey—all of whom are finding their footing in the industry. Davido has not only signed them but has actively promoted and collaborated with them to ensure their success. He fostered an environment where they gained financial independence and career growth. His visionary leadership transformed DMW into a movement—the 30 Billion Gang—which influenced Nigerian pop culture, shaping youth culture, slang, and even fashion.

Davido’s support extends far beyond his label, with a well-documented history of collaborating with and amplifying emerging artists on his albums or their songs. A plethora of acts, including Lyta, Fave, CKay, Bella Shmurda, Minz, Focalistic, Young Jonn, Zlatan Ibile, Ajebo Hustlers, Humble Smith, Olakira, and many others, have benefitted from his patronage, experiencing significant commercial growth and increased visibility after receiving his endorsement.

His generosity extends beyond artists, as he has played a significant role in uplifting producers, songwriters, video directors, and music executives. The songwriting industry in particular owes a great deal of gratitude to Davido. In an industry where artists who employed the services of songwriters were once ridiculed, Davido was one of the first major Nigerian artists to openly embrace and credit songwriters. At a time when many artists maintained the illusion of writing all their own music, he not only worked with songwriters but also publicly acknowledged their contributions. His collaborations with talents like Peruzzi, Teni, and others helped shift the narrative, proving that using songwriters does not diminish an artist’s authenticity but rather elevates the quality of their music.

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Davido has also played a role in supporting the Alte movement. While Alte artists often operated outside the mainstream, Davido used his platform to amplify their voices, collaborating with and co-signing key figures in the scene. His work with acts like BOJ on Abracadabra and Odunsi on Divine showcased his willingness to embrace the movement. Beyond features, Davido’s participation in Santino’s Subaru Boyz Twitch livestream demonstrates his respect for the movement and its pioneers. He has helped bring more visibility to the genre, proving that there’s space for every kind of artist in Nigeria’s ever-evolving music landscape.

Davido has also contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s digital content space by collaborating with YouTube creators like Tayo Aina, a filmmaker and travel vlogger known for documenting African stories and bringing mainstream attention to high-quality narratives on YouTube. He also engaged with Korty EO for an interview that, while ultimately unreleased, showed his openness to collaborating with alternative media platforms, proving that marketing has evolved beyond TV and radio while strengthening the power of independent media in Nigeria.

Beyond music, his incredible generosity is well-documented, with the most famous example being his birthday donation, where he raised and distributed ₦250 million to orphanages across Nigeria—one of his many acts of kindness.

Giving Davido his flowers now

Davido’s impact on Nigerian music extends beyond his countless monster hits and classic albums. He has actively played a role in building an ecosystem that thrives. He has cemented his legacy as more than just one of Afrobeats’ much-famed Big 3—he is a pillar of Nigerian entertainment. A first-ballot hall of fame.

As we edge closer to 5ive, it’s important that the industry recognises that Davido’s greatest contribution isn’t just his music—it’s his unwavering commitment to uplifting everything and everyone. In an industry that often thrives on competition, he has chosen collaboration over rivalry time and time again. In a space where many guard their success, he shares his. And for that, he deserves his flowers now—not just in the future.